List of all U-boats

U-403

Type

VIIC

 
Ordered23 Sep 1939
Laid down20 May 1940 Danziger Werft AG, Danzig (werk 104)
Launched26 Feb 1941
Commissioned25 Jun 1941Oblt. Heinz-Ehlert Clausen
Commanders
25 Jun 1941 - 15 Jun 1943  Kptlt. Heinz-Ehlert Clausen
16 Jun 1943 - 18 Aug 1943  Kptlt. Karl-Franz Heine
Career
8 patrols
25 Jun 1941-31 Aug 1941  5. Flottille (training)
1 Sep 1941-30 Jun 1942  7. Flottille (active service)
1 Jul 1942-28 Feb 1943  11. Flottille (active service)
1 Mar 1943-18 Aug 1943  9. Flottille (active service)
Successes2 ships sunk, total tonnage 12,946 GRT
Fate

Sunk on 18 August 1943 in the North Atlantic south of Dakar, in position 13.42N, 17.36W, by depth charges from a French Wellington aircraft (344 Sqn RAF/HZ697). 49 dead (all hands lost). (FDS/NHB, June 1993).

Loss position

See the 2 ships hit by U-403 - View the 8 war patrols

Previously recorded fate

  • Sunk 18 Aug, 1943 in the mid-Atlantic near Dakar, in position 14.11N, 17.40W, by depth charges from a British Hudson aircraft (Sqdn. 200/O). (Postwar assessment)
    Notes. This attack was also against the U-403 without inflicting heavy damages.

Wolfpack operations

U-403 operated with the following Wolfpacks during its career:
   Aufnahme (7 Mar 1942 - 11 Mar 1942)
   Blücher (11 Mar 1942 - 18 Mar 1942)
   Bums (6 Apr 1942 - 14 Apr 1942)
   Blutrausch (15 Apr 1942 - 18 Apr 1942)
   Nebelkönig (7 Aug 1942 - 14 Aug 1942)
   Trägertod (12 Sep 1942 - 19 Sep 1942)
   Falke (15 Jan 1943 - 19 Jan 1943)
   Haudegen (19 Jan 1943 - 15 Feb 1943)
   Taifun (15 Feb 1943 - 20 Feb 1943)
   Amsel (26 Apr 1943 - 3 May 1943)
   Amsel 4 (3 May 1943 - 6 May 1943)
   Rhein (7 May 1943 - 10 May 1943)

Attacks on this boat and other events

6 Feb 1943
A Canadian Canso flying boat (RCAF Sqdn 5) strafed and dropped three bombs on the boat off Newfoundland, causing moderate damage. (Sources: Rohwer)

10 May 1943
18.41 hrs, mid Atlantic: a British Swordfish aircraft (FAA Sqdn 811/M) from HMS Biter (D 97), escorting convoy HX 237 strafed U-403 and dropped two bombs. No damage. (Sources: Rohwer)

30 Jul 1943
The boat was proceeding on the surface with U-43 when Avenger and Wildcat aircraft from the US escort carrier USS Santee. Both boats dived: two depth charges were dropped on U-403, and a Fido homing torpedo was launched at U-43. U-403 escaped, but U-43 was lost with her crew of 55. (Sources: Blair, vol 2, page 397)

18 Aug 1943
An attack on U-403 on 18 Aug. 1943 in the Atlantic off Dakar in position 14.11N, 17.40W, in which a British Hudson bomber (Sqdn. 200/O) dropped depth charges, was believed to have sunk her, but in fact caused only minor damage.

The boat was sunk later the same day in another attack.

(Sources: 1993-06-01, FDS/NHB)

4 recorded attacks on this boat.

General notes on this boat

10 May 1943. The boat had a gunnery duel with the Dutch merchant ship Dexterous.

Men lost from U-boats

Unlike many other U-boats, which during their service lost men due to accidents and various other causes, U-403 did not suffer any casualties (we know of) until the time of her loss.

U-boat Emblems

We have 1 emblem entry for this boat. See the emblem page for this boat or view emblems individually below.



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


Hitler's U-boat War

Blair, Clay




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