U-763

Type

VIIC

Ordered

15 Aug 1940

Laid down

21 Jan 1941

Kriegsmarinewerft (KMW), Wilhelmshaven (werk 146)

Launched

16 Jan 1943

Commissioned

13 Mar 1943

Oblt. Ernst Cordes

Commanders

13 Mar 1943	-	31 Oct 1944	Kptlt. Ernst Cordes
Aug, 1944	-	Oct, 1944	Ltn. Kurt Braun
1 Nov 1944	-	24 Jan 1945	Oblt. Karl-Heinz Schröter

Career
4 patrols

13 Mar 1943	-	31 Oct 1943	8. Flottille (training)
1 Nov 1943	-	30 Sep 1944	3. Flottille (active service)
1 Oct 1944	-	31 Oct 1944	33. Flottille (active service)
1 Nov 1944	-	29 Jan 1945	24. Flottille (training)

Successes

1 ship sunk, total tonnage 1,499 GRT

Fate

Scuttled 29 Jan, 1945 in Köningsberg at the Schichau shipyard, in position 54.42N, 20.32E, after being damaged by Soviet bombs. (Axel Niestlé, December 1994).

Loss position

See the 1 ships hit by U-763 - View the 4 war patrols

Wolfpack operations

U-763 operated with the following Wolfpacks during its career:
Rügen 3 (28 Dec 1943 - 31 Dec 1943)

Attacks on this boat and other events

4 Feb 1944
Aircraft attack, aircraft shot down: 08.21 hrs, Bay of Biscay, NNW of Cape Finisterre: British Liberator BZ795 (53 Sqdn RAF/F, pilot Sgt T.A. Patey)

The aircraft was shot down by the inbound U-76, with the loss of all 7 crew. The depth charges dropped did no damage.

(Sources: Franks/Zimmerman)

5 Feb 1944
01.35 hrs, Bay of Biscay, NE of Cape Ferrol: the inbound boat was attacked by British Liberator BZ815 (53 Sqdn RAF/D, pilot P/O L.L. Esler, RCAF). U-763s Naxos apparatus detected the aircraft radar, and accurate AA fire damaged its tail during the attack run. The depth charges missed, and Aphrodite decoys successfully diverted the aircraft from further attacks. (Sources: Franks/Zimmerman)

5 Feb 1944
02.15 hrs, Bay of Biscay, NNE of Cape Ferrol: the inbound boat was attacked by British Wellington HF282 (172 Sqdn RAF/M, pilot F/O C.S. Rowland). The aircraft was hit in both wings, the fuselage and the tail by AA fire and forced to return to base, the depth charges fell astern of the boat without causing damage. (Sources: Franks/Zimmerman)

5 Feb 1944
Aircraft attack, aircraft shot down: British Halifax (502 Sqdn RAF/R, pilot F/O F.T. Culling-Mannix, RNZAF)

22.05 hrs, Bay of Biscay, west of Bordeaux: the inbound boat scored repeated AA hits on the Halifax during its first attack run, and it crashed, killing the crew of 8.

(Sources: Franks/Zimmerman)

5 Jul 1944
U-763, having attacked convoy ETC 26 in the English Channel, managed to escape despite being hunted for 30 hours during which a staggering total of 550 depth charges were dropped. (Sources: Blair, vol 2, page 587)

24 Sep 1944
The attack by British B-24 Liberator (RAF sqdn 224/A) on 24 Sept, 1944 at 61.00N, 04.07E, just off Sognefjord, north of Bergen, formerly credited with sinking U-855, was actually against U-763, causing only moderate damage. (Sources: 1987-09-01, FDS/NHB)

6 recorded attacks on this boat.

General notes on this boat

23 Aug 1944. Ltnt. Kurt Braun as acting Commander brought U-763 from La Pallice in France via Bergen, Norway to Flensburg in Germany to join the 33rd U-Flotilla. He celebrated his 21st birthday on 23 Aug, 1944, 4 days out from La Pallice.

Schnorchel-fitted U-boat
This boat was fitted with a Schnorchel underwater-breathing apparatus in April 1944. Read more about the Schnorchel and see list of fitted boats.

Men lost from U-boats

Unlike many other U-boats, which during their service lost men due to accidents and various other causes, U-763 did not suffer any casualties (we know of) until the time of her loss.