Patrol info for U-53
| Departure | Arrival / Fate | Duration | ||
| 29 Aug 1939 | Wilhelmshaven | 30 Sep 1939 | Kiel | 33 days |
Commander | Officers * |
 Kptlt. Ernst-Günter Heinicke |
1WO Oblt. Heinrich Schonder |
Daily positions, sinkings and allied attacks during the patrol of U-53
We have 30 daily positions for the 33 days U-53 was at sea.
Departure from Wilhelmshaven on 29 Aug 1939.
30 Aug 1939 - 31 Aug 1939 - 1 Sep 1939 - 2 Sep 1939 - 3 Sep 1939 - 4 Sep 1939 - 5 Sep 1939 - 6 Sep 1939 - 7 Sep 1939 - 8 Sep 1939 - 9 Sep 1939 - 10 Sep 1939 - 11 Sep 1939 - 12 Sep 1939 - 13 Sep 1939 - 14 Sep 1939 - 15 Sep 1939 - 16 Sep 1939 - 17 Sep 1939 - 18 Sep 1939 - 19 Sep 1939 - 20 Sep 1939 - 21 Sep 1939 - 22 Sep 1939 - 23 Sep 1939 - 24 Sep 1939 - 25 Sep 1939 - 26 Sep 1939 - 27 Sep 1939 - 28 Sep 1939 - 29 Sep 1939 -
Arrival at Kiel on 30 Sep 1939.
Ships hit by U-53 during this patrol
| Date | U-boat | Commander | Name of ship | Tons | Nat. | Convoy | Map | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 Sep 1939 | U-53 | Ernst-Günter Heinicke |  | Cheyenne | 8,825 |  | br | A | |
| 17 Sep 1939 | U-53 | Ernst-Günter Heinicke | | Kafiristan | 5,193 | | br | B | |
| 14,018 | |||||||||
2 ships sunk (14,018 tons). Legend | |||||||||
General Events during this patrol
We have no events listed for this patrol.
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Attacks on U-53 during this patrol
17 Sep 1939
Swordfish torpedo bombers from the British aircraft carrier HMS Courageous fired on the boat and forced her to dive. Some gunners who were left topside perished. Later that day HMS Courageous was sunk by U-29. (Sources: Blair, vol 1, page 90)
About this data
If you believe we have missed an attack on a German U-boat in this listing please let us know.
See all patrols for U-53
* These are officers that later became commanders themselves.