List of all U-boats

U-523

Type

IXC

 
Ordered14 Feb 1940
Laid down4 Aug 1941 Deutsche Werft AG, Hamburg (werk 338)
Launched15 Apr 1942
Commissioned25 Jun 1942Oblt. 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 (active service)
Successes1 ship sunk, total tonnage 5,848 GRT
Fate

Sunk on 25 August 1943 in the North Atlantic west of Vigo, Spain, 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.

Loss position

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 (24 Feb 1943 - 5 Mar 1943)
   Westmark (6 Mar 1943 - 11 Mar 1943)
   Stürmer (11 Mar 1943 - 20 Mar 1943)
   Seeteufel (23 Mar 1943 - 30 Mar 1943)

Attacks on this boat and other events

24 May 1943
11.22 hrs, Bay of Biscay, outbound: six bombs from a British Whitley bomber (10 OTU RAF/J, pilot Sgt C.S. Chatton) caused severe damage and the boat was forced to return to base at Lorient. (Sources: Norman Franks)

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


Media links


U-Boat Operations of the Second World War - Vol 2

Wynn, Kenneth


Hitler's U-boat War, Vol II

Blair, Clay


German U-Boat Losses During World War II

Niestle, Axel




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