U-473
Type | VIIC | |||
| Ordered | 20 Jan 1941 | |||
| Laid down | 1 Dec 1941 | Deutsche Werke AG, Kiel (werk 304) | ||
| Launched | 17 Apr 1943 | |||
| Commissioned | 16 Jun 1943 | Kptlt. Heinz Sternberg | ||
| Commanders |
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| Career | 2 patrols | 16 Jun 1943 - 31 Dec 1943 5. Flottille (training) 1 Jan 1944 - 6 May 1944 9. Flottille (front boat) | ||
| Successes | 1 warship a total loss for a total of 1,400 tons | |||
| Fate | Sunk 6 May, 1944 at 0200 hrs in the North Atlantic west south-west of Ireland, in position 49.29N, 21.22W, by depth charges from the British sloops HMS Starling, HMS Wren and HMS Wild Goose. 23 dead and 30 survivors. | |||
See the 1 ships hit by U-473 - View the 2 war patrols
Attacks on this boat
28 Apr 1944
At 03.27 hours, the outbound boat was attacked by the Leigh light equipped Halifax Mk.II aircraft HX152 (58 Sqdn RAF/M, pilot F/L W.D.C. Erskine-Crum) after being located by radar in the Bay of Biscay. After an exchange of gunfire, the aircraft dropped 7 depth charges but was itself hit by AA fire in the port wing. The pilot barely regained control and brought the Halifax safe to St. Eval where they discovered four cannon hits in the wing and one on the port mainplane. U-473 was straddled by the depth charges but not damaged. (Sources: Franks/Zimmerman)
29 Apr 1944
At 02.15 hours, the outbound boat was attacked by the Polish Wellington aircraft HF386 (304 Sqdn RAF/2W, pilot F&L Leslaw Miedzybrodzki) after being located by radar in the Bay of Biscay. U-473 was not damaged by the six depth charges dropped and defended herself by AA fire which then held the shadowing aircraft at distance for one hour. (Sources: Franks/Zimmerman)
3 May 1944
While attacking the convoy CU-22, the boat torpedoed the escorting USS Donnell and dived to 180 meters to escape the counter-attack of the other escorts. 34 depth charges were dropped that only slightly damaged the boat.
3 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-473 did not suffer any casualties (we know of) until the time of her loss.
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