U-731

Type

Sunk on 15 May 1944 in the Strait of Gibraltar north of Tangier, in position 35.54N, 05.45W, by depth charges from the British patrol vessel HMS Kilmarnock, the British A/S trawler HMS Blackfly and two US Catalina aircraft (VP-63 USN/P-1 & P-14). The British corvette HMS Aubretia had also been ordered to participate in the hunt. 54 dead (all hands lost).

Loss position

View the 4 war patrols

Wolfpack operations

U-731 operated with the following Wolfpacks during its career:
   Iller (12 May 1943 - 15 May 1943)
   Donau 1 (15 May 1943 - 26 May 1943)
   Leuthen (15 Sep 1943 - 24 Sep 1943)
   Rossbach (24 Sep 1943 - 9 Oct 1943)
   Rügen 7 (28 Dec 1943 - 2 Jan 1944)
   Rügen 6 (2 Jan 1944 - 7 Jan 1944)
   Rügen (7 Jan 1944 - 26 Jan 1944)
   Stürmer (26 Jan 1944 - 3 Feb 1944)
   Igel 2 (3 Feb 1944 - 16 Feb 1944)

Attacks on this boat and other events

19 May 1943
The target of the depth chage attack on 19 May 1943 SE of Cape Farewell, Greenland in position 55.09N, 35.18W by a British B-24 Liberator bomber (Sqdn. 120/T), formerly credited with sinking U-954, was in fact U-731, which escaped unscathed. (Sources: 1991-10-01, FDS/NHB)

4 Oct 1943
Six men were wounded, including the commander, when a British Hudson bomber (Sqdn 269/S) attacked. The boat was able to continue the patrol despite being damaged.

12 Oct 1943
The boat was attacked by three Avenger aircraft from USS Card. U-731 had another air attack one week previously in which six men, including the commander, were wounded and the boat was damaged.

3 recorded attacks on this boat.

Men lost from the boat

4 Oct 1943
Six men were wounded, including the commander, when a British Hudson bomber (Sqdn 269/S) attacked. The boat was able to continue the patrol despite being damaged.

Related: For more info on such losses see - Men lost from U-boats -