U-857

Type

IXC/40

Ordered

5 Jun 1941

Laid down

16 Nov 1942

AG Weser, Bremen (werk 1063)

Launched

25 May 1943

Commissioned

16 Sep 1943

Kptlt. Rudolf Premauer

Commanders

16 Sep 1943

30 Apr 1945

Kptlt. Rudolf Premauer

Career
3 patrols

16 Sep 1943	-	31 May 1944	4. Flottille (training)
1 Jun 1944	-	30 Sep 1944	10. Flottille (active service)
1 Oct 1944	-	30 Apr 1945	33. Flottille (active service)

Successes

2 ships sunk, total tonnage 15,259 GRT
1 ship damaged, total tonnage 6,825 GRT

Fate

Missing since 30 April 1945 in the North Atlantic off the US East Coast. 59 dead (all hands lost). (FDS/NHB, April 1994).

Loss position

See the 3 ships hit by U-857 - View the 3 war patrols

U-857 sent its last radio message on 7 March 1945 from approx. position 49°N, 36°W while en route to its operational area off Cape Hatteras. The boat was posted as missing when it failed to return or signal its position after cessation of hostilities.

Because U-879 was lost while operating in the same area as U-857 in April 1945 it is unclear which U-boat was responsible for three attacks on merchant ships between 14 and 23 April and which one was sunk by the depth charge attacks carried out by four US warships on 30 April.

Another possibility is that one of them was sunk by a US blimp (airship) that made a claim of dropping a homing torpedo on a submarine on 18 April 1945.

Previously recorded fate

Sunk 7 April, 1945 in the North Atlantic east of Boston, USA, in position 42.22N, 69.46W, by depth charges from the US destroyer escort USS Gustafson. (Postwar assessment)
Notes. This attack was actually against a nonsub target.

Schnorchel-fitted U-boat

This boat was fitted with a Schnorchel underwater-breathing apparatus in September 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-857 did not suffer any casualties (we know of) until the time of her loss.