U-390

Type

VIIC

Ordered

21 Nov 1940

Laid down

6 Dec 1941

Howaldtswerke AG, Kiel (werk 21)

Launched

23 Jan 1943

Commissioned

13 Mar 1943

Ltnt. Heinz Geissler

Commanders

13 Mar 1943

5 Jul 1944

Oblt. (R) Heinz Geissler

Career
3 patrols

13 Mar 1943	-	30 Nov 1943	5. Flottille (training)
1 Dec 1943	-	5 Jul 1944	7. Flottille (active service)

Successes

1 auxiliary warship sunk, total tonnage 545 GRT

Fate

Sunk at 1500hrs on 5 July 1944 in the English Channel, Seine Bay, in position 49.52N, 00.48W, by depth charges from the British destroyer HMS Wanderer and the British frigate HMS Tavy. 48 dead and 1 survivor. (Whinney, B The U-Boat Peril, Cassell 1986).

Loss position

See the 1 ships hit by U-390 - View the 3 war patrols

The sole survivor OMech Erich Stein was picked up by HMS Wanderer.

This boat is a dive site

U-390 has been dived onto but we're not sure about the conditions there, like depth, visibility and alike.

Position (lat, long): 49.52, -0.48

See more U-boat dive sites.

Wolfpack operations

U-390 operated with the following Wolfpacks during its career:
   Coronel 2 (15 Dec 1943 - 17 Dec 1943)
   Rügen 3 (23 Dec 1943 - 7 Jan 1944)
   Rügen (7 Jan 1944 - 26 Jan 1944)
   Stürmer (26 Jan 1944 - 3 Feb 1944)

Schnorchel-fitted U-boat

This boat was fitted with a Schnorchel underwater-breathing apparatus in April 1944.

Read more about the Schnorchel and see list of fitted boats.

Men lost from U-boats

Unlike many other U-boats, which during their service lost men due to accidents and various other causes, U-390 did not suffer any casualties (we know of) until the time of her loss.