List of all U-boats
U-448
Type | VIIC | |||||||||
| Ordered | 6 Aug 1940 | |||||||||
| Laid down | 1 Jul 1941 | F Schichau GmbH, Danzig (werk 1508) | ||||||||
| Launched | 23 May 1942 | |||||||||
| Commissioned | 1 Aug 1942 | Oblt. Helmut Dauter | ||||||||
| Commanders |
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| Career 4 patrols |
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| Successes | No ships sunk or damaged | |||||||||
| Fate |
Sunk on 14 April 1944 in the North Atlantic north-east of the Azores, in position 46.22N, 19.35W, by depth charges from the Canadian frigate HMCS Swansea and the British sloop HMS Pelican. 9 dead and 42 survivors. | |||||||||
| Loss position | ||||||||||
Wolfpack operations
U-448 operated with the following Wolfpacks during its career:
Neptun (18 Feb 1943 - 28 Feb 1943)
Wildfang (28 Feb 1943 - 5 Mar 1943)
Westmark (6 Mar 1943 - 7 Mar 1943)
Amsel (22 Apr 1943 - 3 May 1943)
Amsel 3 (3 May 1943 - 6 May 1943)
Rhein (7 May 1943 - 10 May 1943)
Elbe 2 (10 May 1943 - 14 May 1943)
Rossbach (24 Sep 1943 - 9 Oct 1943)
Schlieffen (14 Oct 1943 - 18 Oct 1943)
Preussen (22 Feb 1944 - 14 Mar 1944)
Attacks on this boat and other events
22 Mar 1943
The target of the depth charge attack on 22 March 1943 in the Bay of Biscay west of Nantes, France in position 46.47N, 09.58W, by a British Wellington bomber (Sqdn. 172/G), credited with sinking U-665, was in fact U-448, which escaped unscathed. (Sources: 1992-05-01, FDS/NHB)
17 Oct 1943
Aircraft attack, aircraft shot down: Canadian Sunderland JM712 (RCAF Sqdn 422/S, pilot F/L P.T. Sargent)
The flying boat attacked U-448 at 12.48 hrs after obtaining a radar contact near convoy ONS 20. U-281 was nearby and assisted by putting up flak during the first attack run. The four depth charges dropped fell short, so the aircraft turned around for a second run, exchanging gunfire with both boats. The Sunderland then dropped two depth charges on U-448, but was heavily hit by flak, which killed the nose gunner and mortally wounded the navigator. The pilot had to ditch in heavy seas near the convoy. He and two aircrew died in the crash, but the remaining seven were picked up by HMS Drury. U-448 was seriously damaged by the last two depth charges and was forced to return to base. Strafing killed one man and wounded two. [Oberbootsmaat Fritz Döhler] (Sources: Franks/Zimmerman)
2 recorded attacks on this boat.
General notes on this boat
17 May 1943. On 17 May, 1943 U-448 was forced to return to base from the North Atlantic by serious technical problems.
Men lost from the boat
17 Oct 1943
Aircraft attack, aircraft shot down:
Canadian Sunderland JM712 (RCAF Sqdn 422/S, pilot F/L P.T. Sargent)
The flying boat attacked U-448 at 12.48 hrs after obtaining a radar contact near convoy ONS 20. U-281 was nearby and assisted by putting up flak during the first attack run. The four depth charges dropped fell short, so the aircraft turned around for a second run, exchanging gunfire with both boats. The Sunderland then dropped two depth charges on U-448, but was heavily hit by flak, which killed the nose gunner and mortally wounded the navigator. The pilot had to ditch in heavy seas near the convoy. He and two aircrew died in the crash, but the remaining seven were picked up by HMS Drury. U-448 was seriously damaged by the last two depth charges and was forced to return to base. Strafing killed one man and wounded two. [Oberbootsmaat Fritz Döhler]
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.
 Cat |
General Assault Badge |
Media links
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