U-456

Type

VIIC

Ordered

16 Jan, 1940

Laid down

3 Sep, 1940

Deutsche Werke, Kiel (werk 287)

Launched

21 Jun, 1941

Commissioned

18 Sep, 1941

Oblt. Max-Martin Teichert

Commanders

18 Sep, 1941 - 12 May, 1943

Kptlt. Max-Martin Teichert (Knights Cross)

Career

11 patrols

18 Sep, 1941 - 1 Jan, 1942  6. Flottille (training)
1 Jan, 1942 - 30 Jun, 1942  6. Flottille (front boat)
1 Jul, 1942 - 30 Nov, 1942  11. Flottille (front boat)
1 Dec, 1942 - 12 May, 1943  1. Flottille (front boat)

Successes

6 ships sunk for a total of 31.528 GRT
1 auxiliary warship sunk for a total of 251 GRT
1 warship damaged for a total of 11.500 tons

Fate

Almost certainly sank in an diving accident on 12 May, 1943 in the North Atlantic, in position 46.39N, 26.54W, while facing the British destroyer HMS Opportune after being badly damaged by a Fido homing torpedo from a British Liberator aircraft (Sqdn 86/B). 49 dead (all hands lost).

See the 8 ships hit by U-456 - View the 11 war patrols

The loss of U-456
Kptlt. Max Teichert was on the surface when the destroyer HMS Opportune was summoned to the scene by the Liberator aircraft who had just delivered a crippling blow to the U-boat. He decided to take a chance and dive to evade capture but the boat almost certainly sank immediately to the ocean floor, taking the entire crew with it.

Previously recorded fate (Last revised by FDS/NHB during October 1989). More on revised fates

Sunk 13 May, 1943, in the North Atlantic, in position 48-37N, 22-39W, by the Canadian corvette HMCS Drumheller and the British frigate HMS Lagan and depth charges from a Canadian Sunderland aircraft (Sqdn G/423).

Wolfpack operations

U-456 operated with the following Wolfpacks during its career:
Landknecht (22 Jan, 1943 - 28 Jan, 1943)
Drossel (30 Apr, 1943 - 12 May, 1943)

Attacks on this boat

6 May, 1943
During convoy attack against the SL 128 the boat was seriously damaged by depth charges or bombs but was able to repair the damages and continue the patrol (Sources: Blair, vol 2, page 296)

1 recorded attacks on this boat.

General notes on this boat

The Sinking of HMS Edinburgh
During the convoy battle for QP-11, U-456 badly damaged the British cruiser HMS Edinburgh (11,500 tons) with two torpedo hits on 30 April, 1942. The damaged Edinburgh was then put under tow to the Kola Fjord when she was attacked by three German destroyers (Hermann Schoemann, Z 24 and Z 25) and hit by one more torpedo from Z-24. Then she was sunk by a coup de grâce from the British destroyer HMS Foresight.

The cruiser was loaded with gold meant to pay a Russian debt to the British government for its war aid. The gold was later raised from the wreck.

Men lost from U-boats

Unlike many other U-boats, which during their service lost men due to accidents and various other causes, U-456 did not suffer any casualties (we know of) until the time of her loss.