Hi Felix

A little statistical analysis of the 40 U-boats lost in May 1943 shows:
10 boats were lost on the 1st war patrol of their commander
8 boats were lost on the 2nd war patrol of their commander

But the commanders of the remaining 22 boats were experienced with three or more war patrols, among them were three commanders who had been awarded the Knights Cross and a fourth that got this award posthumous.

As B. Henderson already pointed out in his post, the U-boat and its attack method of chasing a convoy on the surface and attack it at night had become obsolete. Very long range aircraft and aircraft from escort carriers prevented the U-boats from finding and keeping contact with a convoy and radar technology made it possible for the escorts and aircraft to see through the cover of darkness. New weapons like the Hedgehog and the Fido homing torpedo were easier to use than normal depth charges and usual lethal when obtaining a hit - with such weapons the experience of the U-boat commander or his crew didn't matter.

Best regards
Rainer

Crew member of uboat.net