U-413

Type

VIIC

Ordered

15 Aug 1940

Laid down

25 Apr 1941

Danziger Werft AG, Danzig (werk 114)

Launched

15 Jan 1942

Commissioned

3 Jun 1942

Oblt. Gustav Poel (Knights Cross)

Commanders

3 Jun 1942	-	19 Apr 1944		Kptlt. Gustav Poel (Knights Cross)
20 Apr 1944	-	20 Aug 1944		Oblt. Dietrich Sachse

Career
7 patrols

3 Jun 1942	-	31 Oct 1942	8. Flottille (training)
1 Nov 1942	-	20 Aug 1944	1. Flottille (active service)

Successes

5 ships sunk, total tonnage 36,885 GRT
1 warship sunk, total tonnage 1,100 tons

Fate

Sunk on 20 August 1944 in the English Channel south of Brighton, in position 50.21N, 00.01W, by depth charges from the British escort destroyer HMS Wensleydale and the British destroyers HMS Forester and HMS Vidette. 45 dead and 1 survivor.

Loss position

See the 6 ships hit by U-413 - View the 7 war patrols

Wolfpack operations

U-413 operated with the following Wolfpacks during its career:
   Westwall (8 Nov 1942 - 19 Nov 1942)
   Jaguar (10 Jan 1943 - 31 Jan 1943)
   Pfeil (1 Feb 1943 - 9 Feb 1943)
   Adler (11 Apr 1943 - 13 Apr 1943)
   Meise (13 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 - 26 May 1943)
   Schlieffen (14 Oct 1943 - 22 Oct 1943)
   Siegfried (22 Oct 1943 - 27 Oct 1943)
   Siegfried 2 (27 Oct 1943 - 30 Oct 1943)
   Körner (30 Oct 1943 - 2 Nov 1943)
   Tirpitz 2 (2 Nov 1943 - 8 Nov 1943)
   Eisenhart 8 (9 Nov 1943 - 11 Nov 1943)

Attacks on this boat and other events

19 Nov 1942
The target of the attack on 19 Nov. 1942 in the Atlantic SW of Cape St. Vincent in position 35.38N, 11.48W by British Hudson bomber (608 Sqn RAF/C), credited with sinking U-98, was in fact U-413, which escaped, but with severe damage.

8 Jun 1944
A British Halifax (502 Sqn RAF, pilot J. Spurgeon) dropped four 600 lb (272kg) bombs on the boat. The aircraft suffered severe flak damage, but the boat was also damaged, and was forced to return to base at Brest. (Sources: Blair, vol 2, page 583)

2 recorded attacks on this boat.

Schnorchel-fitted U-boat

This boat was fitted with a Schnorchel underwater-breathing apparatus and sailed equipped with it in August 1944 but it was of course installed prior to that date.

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-413 did not suffer any casualties (we know of) until the time of her loss.