U-468
Type | VIIC | |||
| Ordered | 15 Aug 1940 | |||
| Laid down | 1 Jul 1941 | Deutsche Werke AG, Kiel (werk 299) | ||
| Launched | 16 May 1942 | |||
| Commissioned | 12 Aug 1942 | Oblt. Klemens Schamong | ||
| Commanders |
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| Career | 3 patrols | 12 Aug 1942 - 31 Jan 1943 5. Flottille (training) 1 Feb 1943 - 11 Aug 1943 3. Flottille (front boat) | ||
| Successes | 1 ship sunk for a total of 6,537 GRT | |||
| Fate | Sunk 11 Aug, 1943 near Bathurst, in position 12.20N, 20.07W, by depth charges from a British Liberator aircraft (Sqdn. 200/D), which was shot down by U-468. 44 dead and 7 survivors. | |||
See the 1 ships hit by U-468 - View the 3 war patrols
Wolfpack operations
U-468 operated with the following Wolfpacks during its career:
Ritter (14 Feb 1943 - 26 Feb 1943)
Raubgraf (7 Mar 1943 - 14 Mar 1943)
Rhein (8 May 1943 - 11 May 1943)
Elbe I (11 May 1943 - 13 May 1943)
Attacks on this boat
14 Mar 1943
While shadowing convoy ON 170 the boat was attacked and held down for hours by the corvette Gentian causing the boat to loose contact with the convoy. Date is approximate. (Sources: Blair, vol 2, page 259)
22 May 1943
The boat was attacked by an Avenger aircraft from the escort carrier USS Bogue (pilot Roger C. Kuhn) causing severe damages and forcing the boat to abandon patrol - arriving in France on May 29. (Sources: Blair, vol 2, page 336)
11 Aug 1943
The sinking of U-468
Aircraft attack, aircraft shot down:British B-24 Liberator BZ832 (200 Sqdn RAF/D, pilot F/O L.A. Trigg, RNZAF).
At 09.45 hours, the boat was attacked by the Liberator southwest of Dakar. AA fire hit the aircraft several times and set it on fire, but the Liberator continued the attack and dropped six depth charges from the port quarter and then crashed into the sea, killing all 8 crewmen. Two depth charges fell very close and had a devastating effect on the stern of the U-boat, that sank rapidly shortly afterwards. Less than half of the crew managed to abandon ship but many were injuried or poisoned by chlorine gas and drowned or died of exhaustion or shark attacks. Only the commander and six crewmen rescued themselves on a rubber dinghy that floated free from the aircraft wreck and were later picked up by HMS Clarkia on 13 August.
(Sources: Franks/Zimmerman)3 recorded attacks on this boat.
General notes on this boat
11 Aug 1943. Incredible bravery
The pilot of the B-24 Liberator, Flying Officer Lloyd Trigg RNZAF, that sank the U-468 but perished with his entire crew in the attack was awarded the Victoria Cross based solely on the testimony of the officers of the U-boat, including its commander Klemens Schamong. This was the only such case in the war where a statement from the enemy resulted in such a high decoration. The aircraft pressed home its attack even though it was extremely low and on fire, a case of incredible bravery.
Men lost from U-boats
Unlike many other U-boats, which during their service lost men due to accidents and various other causes, U-468 did not suffer any casualties (we know of) until the time of her loss.
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