U-921
Type | VIIC | |||||||
| Ordered | 6 Jun 1941 | |||||||
| Laid down | 15 Oct 1941 | Neptun Werft AG, Rostock (werk 508) | ||||||
| Launched | 3 Apr 1943 | |||||||
| Commissioned | 30 May 1943 | Oblt. Wolfgang Leu | ||||||
| Commanders |
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| Career | 2 patrols | 30 May 1943 - 31 May 1944 8. Flottille (training) 1 Jun 1944 - 2 Oct 1944 13. Flottille (front boat) | ||||||
| Successes | No ships sunk or damaged | |||||||
| Fate | Listed as missing in the Arctic Ocean north-west of Narvik, Norway on 2 October 1944. 51 dead (all hands lost). | |||||||
No explanation exists for its loss. Probably already lost before Sept 29.
Previously recorded fate
(Last revised by Axel Niestlé during December 1997. More on revised fates.
Sunk 30 Sept, 1944 in the Arctic Ocean northwest of Hammerfest, Norway, in position 72.32N, 12.55E, by depth charges from aircraft of the British escort carrier HMS Campania.
This attack was in fact against U-636 and U-968 inflicting no damage.
Attacks on this boat
24 May 1944
Aircraft attack, aircraft shot down:
Canadian Sunderland aircraft DV990 (422 Sqdn RCAF/R, pilot F/O G.E. Holley)
At 14.20 hours, the boat was attacked by the Sunderland off Norway while searching for U-476 which had been badly damaged by an aircraft earlier that day. The aircraft was hit by AA fire during the attack run and and crashed into the sea after dropping three depth charges that caused no damage. All 12 crewmen were lost.
(Sources: Franks/Zimmerman)24 May 1944
At 14.20 hours, the boat had shot down a Sunderland aircraft but was shortly thereafter spotted by the Sunderland DW111 (423 Sqdn RCAF/S, pilot F/L R.H. Nesbitt) which had heard a SOS message and apparently observed the crash of the other plane from a distance of about 12 miles. U-921 avoided the five depth charges dropped but strafing wounded three crewmen, including the commander, Oblt. Wolfgang Leu. As the boat crash dived Leu got both his wounded men down the hatch but did not manage to get down into the tower himself. He slammed the hatch down as the boat dove and was drowned. On 26 May, the boat reached Trondheim, Norway under the command of the IWO. (An American submarine commander received the Medal of Honor for the very same act in the Pacific). (Sources: Franks/Zimmerman)
2 recorded attacks on this boat.
Men lost from the boat
24 May 1944
A Canadian Sunderland aircraft (Sqdn 422/R) attacked the boat. The aircraft was shot down but not before wounding 3 men, including the Commander, Oblt. Wolfgang Leu. As the boat crash dived Leu got both his wounded men down but did not manage to get down into the tower himself. He slammed the hatch down as the boat dove and was drowned. The boat reached Trondheim, Norway under the command of the I WO on the 26th. (An American submarine commander received the Medal of Honor for the very same act in the Pacific).
Related: For more info on such losses see - Men lost from U-boats -
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Related page: U-boats Missing in Action. |

