U-858

Type

IXC/40

Ordered

5 Jun 1941

Laid down

11 Dec 1942

AG Weser, Bremen (werk 1064)

Launched

17 Jun 1943

Commissioned

30 Sep 1943

Kptlt. Thilo Bode

Commanders

30 Sep 1943

14 May 1945

Kptlt. Thilo Bode

Career
2 patrols

30 Sep 1943	-	30 Apr 1944	4. Flottille (training)
1 May 1944	-	30 Sep 1944	2. Flottille (active service)
1 Oct 1944	-	8 May 1945	33. Flottille (active service)

Successes

No ships sunk or damaged

Fate

Surrendered on 14 May 1945 at Lewes, Delaware, USA (Waller & Niestlé, 2010).

Post war information (see more post-war boats):
Transferred to Philadelphia Navy Yard, Penn on 19 May 45. Moved to New London, CT on 5 Jun 45. Minor refit. Used for limited trials in early 1946. Scuttled by US submarine USS Sirago on 21 Nov 1947 after being used for torpedo trials near New England. Map position is approximate.

Final location

View the 2 war patrols

Wolfpack operations

U-858 operated with the following Wolfpacks during its career:
Seewolf (14 Apr 1945 - 1 May 1945)

Attacks on this boat and other events

19 Sep 1944
At 20.10 hours, the boat was attacked by B-24 Liberator BZ984 (206 Sqdn RAF/S, pilot P. Carlisle) west of Stadlandet, Norway. U-858 was searching for the disabled U-867 when she was attacked with seven depth charges. Evading the attack by a sharp turn to port the boat crash dived and was attacked with another depth charge shortly after diving, but escaped with minor damage. For some time it was thought that U-865 was sunk in this attack, but the large oil patch and 21 dinghies sighted by the crew of the aircraft about 20 minutes after the attack were actually from the scuttled U-867. (Sources: BdU KTB/ADM199-1786)

1 recorded attack on this boat.

General notes on this boat

14 May 1945. U-858 was originally docked near Fort Miles, Delaware, where the crew were held, and was then taken to the Philadelphia Naval Yard. She was the first German warship to surrender to U.S. forces.

Men lost from U-boats

Unlike many other U-boats, which during their service lost men due to accidents and various other causes, U-858 did not suffer any casualties (we know of) until the time of her loss.