List of all U-boats

U-185

Type

IXC/40

 
Ordered15 Aug 1940
Laid down1 Jul 1941 AG Weser, Bremen (werk 1025)
Launched2 Mar 1942
Commissioned13 Jun 1942Kptlt. August Maus (Knights Cross)
Commanders
13 Jun 1942 - 24 Aug 1943  Kptlt. August Maus (Knights Cross)
Career
3 patrols
13 Jun 1942-31 Oct 1942  4. Flottille (training)
1 Nov 1942-24 Aug 1943  10. Flottille (active service)
Successes9 ships sunk, total tonnage 62,761 GRT
1 ship damaged, total tonnage 6,840 GRT
Fate

Sunk on 24 August 1943 in the North Atlantic west of the Canary Islands, in position 27.00N, 37.06W, by depth charges from an Avenger aircraft (VC-13 USN/T-5), assisted by two Wildcat aircraft (VC-13 USN), of the US escort carrier USS Core. 29 dead and 22 survivors.

Loss position

See the 10 ships hit by U-185 - View the 3 war patrols

14 men from U-604 also perished on this boat that had previously saved them.

Wolfpack operations

U-185 operated with the following Wolfpacks during its career:
   Westwall (8 Nov 1942 - 16 Dec 1942)

Attacks on this boat and other events

10 Mar 1943
After sinking two ships from convoy KG 123 in the Caribbean the boat was counter-attacked and forced to abandon a second attack. (Sources: Blair, vol 2, page 219)

14 Jun 1943
Aircraft attack, aircraft shot down:British Whitley bomber (10 OTU RAF/G)

U-564 was sunk in this attack. The aircraft had to ditch at sea.

12 Jul 1943
On 12 July 1943 some 90 miles (145 km) off Recife, Brazil, U-185 was attacked by a US Liberator aircraft (VB-107 USN/B-7). Although the bomber crew believed they had crippled the boat, U-185s radio report stated the attack caused only minor damage.

3 Aug 1943
Aircraft attack, aircraft shot down: US Liberator aircraft (VB-107 USN, pilot LtCdr Bertram J. Prueher). Shot down while accompanying the crippled U-604 which was later scuttled and the crew taken over by U-185.

3 Aug 1943
While seeking the crippled U-604 a US Liberator aircraft (VB-107 USN) instead attacked the accompanying U-185, depth charging her and wounding one man.

5 recorded attacks on this boat.

General notes on this boat

We have a detailed article on the sinking of U-185 with scores of action photos.

Men lost from the boat

3 Aug 1943
While seeking the crippled U-604 a US Liberator aircraft (VB-107 USN) instead attacked the accompanying U-185, depth charging her and wounding one man.

  Related: For more info on such losses see - Men lost from U-boats -

U-boat Emblems

We have 1 emblem entry for this boat. See the emblem page for this boat or view emblems individually below.


Sea Dragon

Media links


Battle Beneath the Waves

Stern, Robert C.


U-Boat Operations of the Second World War - Vol 1

Wynn, Kenneth


German U-Boat Losses During World War II

Niestle, Axel


Hitler's U-boat War, Vol II

Blair, Clay


Hitler's U-boat War

Blair, Clay




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