List of all U-boats

U-373

Type

VIIC

 
Ordered23 Sep 1939
Laid down8 Dec 1939 Howaldtswerke AG, Kiel (werk 4)
Launched5 Apr 1941
Commissioned22 May 1941Oblt. Paul-Karl Loeser
Commanders
22 May 1941 - 25 Sep 1943  Kptlt. Paul-Karl Loeser
26 Sep 1943 - 8 Jun 1944  Oblt. Detlef von Lehsten
Career
13 patrols
22 May 1941-1 Sep 1941  3. Flottille (training)
1 Sep 1941-8 Jun 1944  3. Flottille (active service)
Successes3 ships sunk, total tonnage 10,263 GRT
Fate

Sunk on 8 June 1944 in the Bay of Biscay west of Brest, in position 48.10N, 05.31W, by depth charges from a British Liberator aircraft (224 Sqn RAF/G). 4 dead and 47 survivors.

Loss position

See the 3 ships hit by U-373 - View the 13 war patrols

The same aircraft also sank U-441 only some 20 minutes later.

Wolfpack operations

U-373 operated with the following Wolfpacks during its career:
   Markgraf (8 Sep 1941 - 15 Sep 1941)
   Brandenburg (15 Sep 1941 - 24 Sep 1941)
   Störtebecker (5 Nov 1941 - 16 Nov 1941)
   Seydlitz (27 Dec 1941 - 2 Jan 1942)
   Lohs (11 Aug 1942 - 21 Sep 1942)
   Draufgänger (29 Nov 1942 - 2 Dec 1942)
   Büffel (9 Dec 1942 - 15 Dec 1942)
   Ungestüm (15 Dec 1942 - 26 Dec 1942)
   Neuland (4 Mar 1943 - 13 Mar 1943)
   Dränger (14 Mar 1943 - 20 Mar 1943)
   Seewolf (21 Mar 1943 - 28 Mar 1943)
   Siegfried (22 Oct 1943 - 27 Oct 1943)
   Siegfried 3 (27 Oct 1943 - 30 Oct 1943)
   Jahn (30 Oct 1943 - 2 Nov 1943)
   Tirpitz 5 (2 Nov 1943 - 8 Nov 1943)
   Eisenhart 8 (9 Nov 1943 - 10 Nov 1943)

Attacks on this boat and other events

25 Aug 1942
At 02.05 hrs, HNoMS Acanthus obtained a radar contact ahead and to port of convoy ONS 122 and shortly thereafter sighted U-373, which dived after two rounds were fired from the 4in gun. The corvette then dropped five depth charges, but had to return to the convoy shortly afterwards. U-373 was not damaged. (Sources: ADM reports, KTB U-373)

2 Mar 1943
Atlantic, west of France: an American Liberator (USAAF A/S-Sqdn 1/E) dropped five bombs on U-373. The boat suffered moderate damage, but continued on patrol after repair. (Sources: Rohwer)

24 Jul 1943
Atlantic, west of the Madeira Isles: U-373 was attacked by Avenger and Wildcat aircraft from the US escort carrier USS Santee. The boat was damaged by a Fido homing torpedo which killed two men and wounded seven, but continued on patrol. [Matrosenobergefreiter Franz Schulte, Matrosengefreiter Peter Regneri] (Sources: Blair, vol 2, page 393)

3 Jan 1944
Mid Atlantic, west of Cadiz: a British Wellington (612 Sqdn, pilot John B. Russell) attacked, dropping depth charges. A British Liberator (224 Sqdn, pilot Harold R. Facey) then assisted, dropping eight more depth charges. U-373 was heavily damaged and returned to base. On reaching Brest on 4 Jan, two unexploded depth charges were found on the conning tower and the boat had to leave port to jettison them, a highly hazardous operation which was carried out successfully. (Sources: Blair, vol 2, page 486)

4 recorded attacks on this boat.

Men lost from the boat

24 Jul 1943
Atlantic, west of the Madeira Isles: U-373 was attacked by Avenger and Wildcat aircraft from the US escort carrier USS Santee. The boat was damaged by a Fido homing torpedo which killed two men and wounded seven, but continued on patrol. [Matrosenobergefreiter Franz Schulte, Matrosengefreiter Peter Regneri]

10 Nov 1943
A lookout on U-373 broke his arm in rough weather.

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

U-boat Emblems

We have 2 emblem entries for this boat. See the emblem page for this boat or view emblems individually below.


Stork on blue Shield

Coat of Arms of Graz

Media links


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


Dark Sky, Deep Water

Franks, Norman


Hitler's U-boat War

Blair, Clay




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