U-359

Type

Sunk on 26 July 1943 in the Caribbean Sea east of Jamaica, in position 18.06N, 75.00W, by depth charges from a US Mariner aircraft (VP-32 USN/P-12). 47 dead (all hands lost). (Axel Niestlé, December 1997).

Loss position

View the 3 war patrols

Previously recorded fate

Sunk on 28 July, 1943 by Mariner aircraft P-1 of USN Squadron VP-32. (Postwar assessment)
Notes. This attack in fact sank the U-159.

Wolfpack operations

U-359 operated with the following Wolfpacks during its career:
   Neptun (18 Feb 1943 - 28 Feb 1943)
   Wildfang (28 Feb 1943 - 5 Mar 1943)
   Westmark (6 Mar 1943 - 11 Mar 1943)
   Amsel (26 Apr 1943 - 3 May 1943)
   Amsel 4 (3 May 1943 - 6 May 1943)
   Rhein (7 May 1943 - 10 May 1943)
   Elbe 2 (10 May 1943 - 12 May 1943)

Attacks on this boat and other events

3 Jul 1943
Aircraft attack, aircraft shot down:American B-24 Liberator (1st A/S Sqdn USAAF, pilot 1Lt H.W. Fraser)

Approx. 18.15 hrs, west of Oporto, Portugal: U-359 andU-466 both fired at the aircraft as it strafed them, and three bombs fell between the boats before they dived at 18.26 hrs. The Germans observed AA hits on the bomber, and it apparently crashed shortly after the attack, killing all ten aircrew. Both U-boats escaped unscathed

(Sources: Franks/Zimmerman)

1 recorded attack on this boat.

Men lost from U-boats

Unlike many other U-boats, which during their service lost men due to accidents and various other causes, U-359 did not suffer any casualties (we know of) until the time of her loss.