U-523

Type

IXC

Ordered

14 Feb, 1940

Laid down

4 Aug, 1941

Deutsche Werft AG, Hamburg (werk 338)

Launched

15 Apr, 1942

Commissioned

25 Jun, 1942

Oblt. Werner Pietzsch

Commanders

25 Jun, 1942 - 25 Aug, 1943

Kptlt. Werner Pietzsch

Career

4 patrols

25 Jun, 1942 - 31 Jan, 1943 4. Flottille (training)
1 Feb, 1943 - 25 Aug, 1943 10. Flottille (front boat)

Successes

1 ship sunk for a total of 5.848 GRT

Fate

Sunk 25 Aug, 1943 in the North Atlantic west of Vigo, in position 42.03N, 18.02W, by depth charges from the British destroyer HMS Wanderer and the British corvette HMS Wallflower. 17 dead and 37 survivors.

See the 1 ships hit by U-523 - View the 4 war patrols

Wolfpack operations

U-523 operated with the following Wolfpacks during its career:
Burggraf (26 Feb, 1943 - 6 Mar, 1943)
Westmark (6 Mar, 1943 - 11 Mar, 1943)

Attacks on this boat

24 May, 1943
At 11.22 hours, the outbound boat was attacked with 6 bombs by a British Whitley aircraft (RAF Sqdn 10 OTU / J, pilot Sgt C.S. Chatton) in the Bay of Biscay. The boat suffered severe damages and was forced to abandon patrol. (Sources: Norman Franks)

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-523 did not suffer any casualties (we know of) until the time of her loss.