U-461

Type

XIV

Ordered

14 May, 1940

Laid down

9 Dec, 1940

Deutsche Werke, Kiel (werk 292)

Launched

8 Nov, 1941

Commissioned

30 Jan, 1942

Oblnt. Hinrich-Oscar Bernbeck

Commanders

30 Jan, 1942 - 21 Apr, 1942	Kptlt. Hinrich-Oscar Bernbeck
22 Apr, 1942 - 30 Jul, 1943	KrvKpt. Wolf-Harro Stiebler

Career

6 patrols

30 Jan, 1942 - 30 Jun, 1942  4. Flottille (training)
1 Jul, 1942 - 31 Oct, 1942  10. Flottille (front boat)
1 Nov, 1942 - 30 Jul, 1943  12. Flottille (front boat)

Successes

No ships sunk or damaged

Fate

Sunk on July 30, 1943 in the Bay of Biscay north-west of Cape Ortegal, Spain in position 45.33N, 10.48W, by Australian Sunderland aircraft (U/461 Sqn.). 53 dead and 15 survivors.

View the 6 war patrols

Attacks on this boat

23 Apr, 1943
The milkcow U-461 was attacked in the Bay of Biscay by a Leigh-Light equipped Canadian Wellington aircraft (Sqdn 172/M) with three bombs. The boat suffered slight damage and as a result left an oil trace.

1 recorded attacks on this boat.

Men lost from U-boats

Unlike many other U-boats, which during their service lost men due to accidents and various other causes, U-461 did not suffer any casualties (we know of) until the time of her loss.