U-804

Type

IXC/40

Ordered

7 Dec 1940

Laid down

1 Dec 1942

Deutsche Schiff und Maschinenbau AG, Bremen (werk 362)

Launched

1 Apr 1943

Commissioned

4 Dec 1943

Oblt. Herbert Meyer

Commanders

4 Dec 1943

9 Apr 1945

Oblt. Herbert Meyer

Career
2 patrols

4 Dec 1943	-	30 Jun 1944	4. Flottille (training)
1 Jul 1944	-	30 Sep 1944	10. Flottille (active service)
1 Oct 1944	-	9 Apr 1945	33. Flottille (active service)

Successes

1 warship sunk, total tonnage 1,300 tons

Fate

Sunk 9 April, 1945 in the Kattegat in position 57.58N, 11.15E, by rockets from 13 British Mosquito aircraft (Sqdn. 143, 235 & 248). 55 dead (all hands lost).

Loss position

See the 1 ships hit by U-804 - View the 2 war patrols

Attacks on this boat

16 Jun 1944
The boat was attacked by a Norwegian Mosquito aircraft (Sqdn 333/R). 8 men were wounded but the boat was not seriously damaged.

16 Jun 1944
Aircraft attack, aircraft shot down:The boat was attacked by a Norwegian Mosquito aircraft (Sqdn 333/R, crew Jacob M. Jacobsen and Per C. Hansen).

8 men from U-804 were wounded in the action. The air crew was saved by U-1000 on 18 June and taken to Norway for questioning.

2 Aug 1944
An American hunter-killer group was sent to destroy the U-804 and on this day they found the boat. U-804 fought back and sank the destroyer escort USS Fiske and then eluded the attacked and continued its patrol. (Sources: Blair, vol 2, page 595)

9 Apr 1945
While en route from Norway to Kiel U-804 and U-1065 were attacked by Mosquitos of the RAF Banff Strike Wing under the command of Sqn. Ldr. H. H. K. Gunnis, DFC. Both boats exploded, leaving no survivors. Four aircraft were hit by flying debris, one being destroyed and the other three forced to land in Sweden. U-843 was also sunk in the same sortie, 44 dead and 12 survivors. (Sources: http://www.scotshistoryonline.co.uk/sorties.html)

4 recorded attacks on this boat.

General notes on this boat

While en route from Norway to Kiel U-804 and U-1065 were attacked by Mosquitos of the RAF Banff Strike Wing under the command of Sqn. Ldr. H. H. K. Gunnis, DFC. Both boats exploded, leaving no survivors. Four aircraft were hit by flying debris, one being destroyed and the other three forced to land in Sweden. The Banff Wing also sank U-843 on the same sortie, 44 dead and 12 survivors

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