List of all U-boats
U-287
Type | VIIC | |||||||||
| Ordered | 5 Jun 1941 | |||||||||
| Laid down | 8 Aug 1942 | Bremer Vulkan-Vegesacker Werft, Bremen-Vegesack (werk 52) | ||||||||
| Launched | 13 Aug 1943 | |||||||||
| Commissioned | 22 Sep 1943 | Ltnt. Heinrich Meyer | ||||||||
| Commanders |
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| Career 1 patrol |
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| Successes | No ships sunk or damaged | |||||||||
| Fate |
Scuttled on 16 May 1945 in the Elbe estuary off Cuxhaven-Altenbruch, in approx. position 53.50N, 08.50E. Wreck broken up. 44 survivors (no casualties). | |||||||||
| Final location | ||||||||||
U-287 was on patrol east of the Orkney Islands when it received the order to cease fire and its crew decided to return to Germany instead to surrender to the nearest Allied forces as instructed. Knowing that they would be punished for disobeying orders and destroying their U-boat they landed 36 crew members with dinghies at Cuxhaven-Altenbruch, where the population helped them to change into civilian clothes and to head home to their families. The commander, II. WO, LI and five ratings scuttled U-287 further upstream, went ashore on the other side of the Elbe where the LI and three of the ratings voluntarily went into captivity, telling the interrogators that they were the only four survivors from U-287 that struck a mine upon entering the Elbe estuary on 16 May 1945. They apparently told their story so convincing that this made up fate remained the official cause of loss for more than 40 years until the veterans eventually shared the true story of the sinking.
Men lost from U-boats
Unlike many other U-boats, which during their service lost men due to accidents and various other causes, U-287 did not suffer any casualties (we know of) until the time of her loss.
U-boat Emblems
We have 1 emblem entry for this boat. See the emblem page for this boat or view emblems individually below.
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Media links
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