U-378

Type

VIIC

Ordered

16 Oct 1939

Laid down

3 May 1940

Howaldtswerke AG, Kiel (werk 9)

Launched

13 Sep 1941

Commissioned

30 Oct 1941

Kptlt. Alfred Hoschatt

Commanders

30 Oct 1941	-	11 Oct 1942	Kptlt. Alfred Hoschatt
18 Jun 1942	-	10 Sep 1942	Oblt. Peter Schrewe
10 Sep 1942	-	11 Oct 1942	Kptlt. Hans-Jürgen Zetzsche (in deputize) (German Cross in Gold) -- acting
12 Oct 1942	-	20 Oct 1943	Kptlt. Erich Mäder

Career
8 patrols

30 Oct 1941	-	28 Feb 1942	8. Flottille (training)
1 Mar 1942	-	30 Jun 1942	3. Flottille (active service)
1 Jul 1942	-	30 Apr 1943	11. Flottille (active service)
1 May 1943	-	20 Oct 1943	3. Flottille (active service)

Successes

1 warship sunk, total tonnage 1,920 tons

Fate

Sunk on 20 October 1943 in the North Atlantic north of the Azores, in position 47.40N, 28.27W, by a Fido homing torpedo and depth charges from an Avenger and Wildcat aircraft (VC-13 USN) of the US escort carrier USS Core. 48 dead (all hands lost).

Loss position

See the 1 ships hit by U-378 - View the 8 war patrols

Wolfpack operations

U-378 operated with the following Wolfpacks during its career:
   Ziethen (23 Mar 1942 - 29 Mar 1942)
   Eiswolf (29 Mar 1942 - 31 Mar 1942)
   Robbenschlag (7 Apr 1942 - 14 Apr 1942)
   Blutrausch (15 Apr 1942 - 19 Apr 1942)
   Strauchritter (29 Apr 1942 - 5 May 1942)
   Trägertod (19 Sep 1942 - 22 Sep 1942)
   Boreas (19 Nov 1942 - 9 Dec 1942)
   Eisbär (27 Mar 1943 - 30 Mar 1943)
   Meise (25 Apr 1943 - 27 Apr 1943)
   Star (27 Apr 1943 - 4 May 1943)
   Fink (4 May 1943 - 6 May 1943)
   Naab (12 May 1943 - 15 May 1943)
   Donau 2 (15 May 1943 - 19 May 1943)
   Mosel (19 May 1943 - 24 May 1943)
   Leuthen (15 Sep 1943 - 24 Sep 1943)
   Rossbach (24 Sep 1943 - 9 Oct 1943)

Attacks on this boat and other events

29 Mar 1942
14.11 hrs, Barents Sea: a U-boat was sighted off the port bow by HMS Fury, escorting the damaged HMS Trinidad. The destroyer attempted to ram, but the boat escaped by diving, and only three depth charges were dropped as the throwers were iced up. For some time it was believed that this attack sank U-585, but the target was U-378, with no damage caused. (Sources: 1977-01-01, Claude Huan)

13 Oct 1943
A Fido homing torpedo from an Avenger aircraft missed the boat. (Sources: Blair, vol 2, page 447)

2 recorded attacks 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-378 did not suffer any casualties (we know of) until the time of her loss.