U-356

Type

VIIC

Ordered

26 Oct 1939

Laid down

11 May 1940

Flensburger Schiffsbau-Ges, Flensburg (werk 475)

Launched

17 Sep 1941

Commissioned

20 Dec 1941

Oblt. Georg Wallas

Commanders

20 Dec 1941	-	2 Dec 1942		Kptlt. Georg Wallas
3 Dec 1942	-	27 Dec 1942		Oblt. Günther Ruppelt

Career
2 patrols

20 Dec 1941	-	1 Sep 1942	6. Flottille (training)
1 Sep 1942	-	27 Dec 1942	6. Flottille (active service)

Successes

3 ships sunk, total tonnage 13,649 GRT
1 ship damaged, total tonnage 7,051 GRT

Fate

Sunk on 27 December 1942 in the North Atlantic north of the Azores, in position 45.30N, 25.40W, by depth charges from the Canadian destroyer HMCS St. Laurent and the Canadian corvettes HMCS Chilliwack, HMCS Battleford and HMCS Napanee. 46 dead (all hands lost).

Loss position

See the 4 ships hit by U-356 - View the 2 war patrols

Wolfpack operations

U-356 operated with the following Wolfpacks during its career:
   Pfeil (12 Sep 1942 - 22 Sep 1942)
   Blitz (22 Sep 1942 - 26 Sep 1942)
   Tiger (26 Sep 1942 - 30 Sep 1942)
   Wotan (5 Oct 1942 - 19 Oct 1942)
   Raufbold (11 Dec 1942 - 22 Dec 1942)
   Spitz (22 Dec 1942 - 27 Dec 1942)

Men lost from U-boats

Unlike many other U-boats, which during their service lost men due to accidents and various other causes, U-356 did not suffer any casualties (we know of) until the time of her loss.