List of all U-boats

U-503

Type

IXC

 
Ordered25 Sep 1939
Laid down29 Apr 1940 Deutsche Werft AG, Hamburg (werk 293)
Launched5 Apr 1941
Commissioned10 Jul 1941Kptlt. Otto Gericke
Commanders
10 Jul 1941 - 15 Mar 1942  Kptlt. Otto Gericke
Career
1 patrol
10 Jul 1941-1 Feb 1942  2. Flottille (training)
1 Feb 1942-15 Mar 1942  2. Flottille (active service)
SuccessesNo ships sunk or damaged
Fate

Sunk on 15 March 1942 in the North Atlantic south-east of Newfoundland, in position 45.50N, 48.50W, by depth charges from a US Hudson aircraft (VP-82 USN). 51 dead (all hands lost).

Loss position

View the 1 war patrol

Attacks on this boat and other events

15 Mar 1942
The sinking of U-503 The boat was bombed and sunk south-east of Newfoundland by a PBO-1 Hudson (VP-82 USN, pilot CPO Donald F. Mason, DFC, USNR) from Argentia escorting convoy ON 72. The PBO-1 Hudsons were 20 Hudson Mk.IIIAs diverted from Lend-Lease to equip USN Sqdn VP-82, and were responsible for the first two U-boat sinkings by US forces: U-656 on 1 March and U-503 on 15 March 1942.

1 recorded attack 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-503 did not suffer any casualties (we know of) until the time of her loss.


Media links


German U-Boat Losses During World War II

Niestle, Axel


U-Boat Operations of the Second World War - Vol 1

Wynn, Kenneth


Hitler's U-boat War

Blair, Clay




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