U-1227

Type

IXC/40

Ordered

14 Oct 1941

Laid down

1 Feb 1943

Deutsche Werft AG, Hamburg (werk 390)

Launched

18 Sep 1943

Commissioned

8 Dec 1943

Oblt. Friedrich Altmeier

Commanders

8 Dec 1943

10 Apr 1945

Oblt. Friedrich Altmeier

Career
1 patrol

8 Dec 1943	-	31 Jul 1944	31. Flottille (training)
1 Aug 1944	-	31 Dec 1944	2. Flottille (active service)
1 Jan 1945	-	10 Apr 1945	33. Flottille (active service)

Successes

1 warship a total loss, total tonnage 1,370 tons

Fate

Damaged by British night-time carpet bombing on 9 April 1945 and taken out of service at Kiel 10 April 1945. Scuttled on 3 May 1945. Later raised and broken up.

Final location

See the 1 ships hit by U-1227 - View the 1 war patrol

Attacks on this boat and other events

4 Oct 1944
The boat attempted a bold surface attack on a convoy under a bright moon and was quickly discovered and counter-attacked by the escorts. She managed to torpedo the Canadian frigate HMCS Chebogue during the hour-long pursuit by escorts. The frigate was a total loss, but the boat escaped and continued the patrol. (Sources: Blair, vol 2, page 645)

12 Oct 1944
The boat was being hunted by several US hunter-killer groups, and on the 12th the USS Card group finally found her, and two of its destroyers subjected her to attack with gunfire, Hedgehogs and depth charges for 3 hours before the boat managed to slip away. (Sources: Blair, vol 2, page 645)

8 Nov 1944
The boat was attacked by convoy escorts when attempting to launch an attack. Damage was so severe the commander was forced to break off the attack and retreat westward to make repairs. The boat subsequently resumed her patrol. (Sources: Blair, vol 2, page 646)

11 Nov 1944
Once again a hunter-killer group found and depth charged the boat. Yet again she escaped, but with further damage, and when the schnorkel broke down had to return to Norway (the schnorkel was repaired en route). (Sources: Blair, vol 2, page 646)

4 recorded attacks on this boat.

Schnorchel-fitted U-boat

This boat was fitted with a Schnorchel underwater-breathing apparatus and sailed equipped with it in September 1944 but it was of course installed prior to that date.

Read more about the Schnorchel and see list of fitted boats.

Men lost from U-boats

Unlike many other U-boats, which during their service lost men due to accidents and various other causes, U-1227 did not suffer any casualties (we know of) until the time of her loss.