U-boat patrols

Patrol info for U-473


DepartureArrival / FateDuration
24 Apr 1944Lorient6 May 1944Lost13 days

Commander

Officers *


Kptlt. Heinz Sternberg

Daily positions, sinkings and allied attacks during the patrol of U-473


We have 6 daily positions for the 13 days U-473 was at sea.

Departure from Lorient on 24 Apr 1944.
25 Apr 1944 - 26 Apr 1944 - 27 Apr 1944 - 28 Apr 1944 - 29 Apr 1944 - 30 Apr 1944 - 1 May 1944 - 2 May 1944 - 3 May 1944 - 4 May 1944 - 5 May 1944 -
Sunk on 6 May 1944.

Ships hit by U-473 during this patrol

Date U-boat Commander Name of ship Tons Nat. ConvoyMap
3 May 1944U-473Heinz Sternberg USS Donnell (DE 56) (t.)1,400amCU-22A
 1,400

1 ship sunk (1,400 tons).

Legend
We have a picture of this vessel.
(t.) means the ship was a total loss (included in ships & tonnage lost).

General Events during this patrol

We have no events listed for this patrol.

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Attacks on U-473 during this patrol

28 Apr 1944
03.27 hrs, Bay of Biscay, outbound: the boat was attacked using the Leigh Light by Halifax Mk.II aircraft HX152 (RAF Sqdn 58/M, pilot F/L W.D.C. Erskine-Crum) after being located on radar. The aircraft dropped seven depth charges following an exchange of gunfire, which damaged the port wing. The pilot barely regained control, but brought the Halifax to St. Eval, where four cannon hits to the wing and one to the port mainplane were discovered. Despite being straddled by depth charges U-473 was not damaged. (Sources: Franks/Zimmerman)

29 Apr 1944
02.15 hrs, Bay of Biscay, outbound: Polish Wellington bomber HF386 (RAF Sqdn 304/2W, pilot F&L Leslaw Miedzybrodzki) dropped six depth charges on U-473 after located her on radar. U-473 repulsed the attack with flak and then held the shadowing aircraft at a distance for an hour. No damage. (Sources: Franks/Zimmerman)

3 May 1944
While attacking convoy CU 22, the boat torpedoed the escorting USS Donnell and dived to 180m (590 ft) to escape the counter-attack from the other escorts. Despite 34 depth charges being dropped, U-473 suffered only minor damage.

About this data
If you believe we have missed an attack on a German U-boat in this listing please let us know.


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* These are officers that later became commanders themselves.

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