U-968
Type | VIIC | |||
| Ordered | 5 Jun 1941 | |||
| Laid down | 14 May 1942 | Blohm & Voss, Hamburg (werk 168) | ||
| Launched | 4 Feb 1943 | |||
| Commissioned | 18 Mar 1943 | Ltnt. Otto Westphalen (Knights Cross) | ||
| Commanders |
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| Career | 7 patrols | 18 Mar 1943 - 29 Feb 1944 5. Flottille (training) 1 Mar 1944 - 8 May 1945 13. Flottille (front boat) | ||
| Successes | 2 ships sunk for a total of 14,386 GRT 1 warship sunk for a total of 1,350 tons 1 ship damaged for a total of 8,129 GRT 1 ship a total loss for a total of 7,200 GRT 1 warship a total loss for a total of 1,350 tons | |||
| Fate | Surrendered at Narvik, Norway on 8 May, 1945. Transferred to Loch Eriboll, Scotland, on 19 May and later to Loch Ryan for Operation Deadlight. Operation Deadlight (post-war Allied operation, info) | |||
See the 6 ships hit by U-968 - View the 7 war patrols
The U-boats that were in the Narvik area at the end of the war were all moved to the Skjomenfjord upon Allied orders to avoid conflicts with the Norwegians on 12 May. On 15 May, a German convoy of four ships (the fleet tender Grille with the staff of FdU Norwegen aboard, the fleet oiler Kärnten and the depot ships Huascaran and Stella Polaris) and 15 U-boats (U-278, U-294, U-295, U-312, U-313, U-318, U-363, U-427, U-481, U-668, U-716, U-968, U-992, U-997 and U-1165) left for transfer to Trondheim, but was intercepted after two days by the 9th Escort Group off the Norwegian coast and officially capitulated. While the ships were allowed to proceed to Trondheim, the U-boats were escorted to Loch Eriboll, Scotland, arriving on 19 May. All U-boats were later that month transferred to Lisahally or Loch Ryan for Operation Deadlight.
Attacks on this boat
19 Jul 1944
At 11.40 hours, the boat was attacked twice with depth charges by a British Liberator aircraft (RAF Sqdn 86/R, pilot F/L W.F.J. Harwood) and only slightly damaged, but strafing killed one AA gunner and wounded six more [Bootsmaat Werner Hahne]. The boat returned to base for repairs and re-manning. (Sources: Franks)
1 recorded attack on this boat.
Men lost from the boat
19 Jul 1944
1 AA gunner was killed and 6 more wounded during a battle with a Liberator aircraft (Sqdn 86/R).[Bootsmaat Werner Hahne]
Related: For more info on such losses see - Men lost from U-boats -
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