Service history German submarine U-275

1 service history

1.1 1st patrol
1.2 2nd patrol
1.3 3rd , 4th patrols
1.4 5th patrol
1.5 6th patrol
1.6 7th , 8th patrols
1.7 9th patrol , loss
1.8 wolfpacks

service history

after training 8th u-boat flotilla, boat became operational on 1 june 1943 when transferred 3rd flotilla. u-275 carried out series of short voyages between kiel in germany , bergen , trondheim in norway in august 1943.

1st patrol

the boat s first patrol proper began when departed bergen on 24 september 1943. entered atlantic ocean after negotiating gap between iceland , faroe islands. unsuccessfully attacked lockheed hudson southwest of iceland. reached la pallice in occupied france on 28 october.

2nd patrol

the boat s second foray divided series of short bursts between la pallice , brest between november 1943 , april 1944. during 1 of these sallies sank uss leary, american destroyer, on 24 december 1943.

another moment of drama came when submarine obliged return base on 3 january captain suffering appendicitis.

3rd , 4th patrols

patrol number 3 short, starting , finishing in brest on 20 , 23 may 1944.

not long after d-day (6 june 1944) on fourth sortie, having been identified cryptanalysis of enigma intercepts, confirmed solo photographic reconnaissance spitfire no. 541 squadron raf, attacked no less 8 hawker typhoon strike attack aircraft of no. 263 squadron raf while tied in saint peter port harbour, guernsey on 14 june. no damage caused submarine; escorting vessels not lucky.

5th patrol

while negotiating relatively shallow waters of english channel, submarine discovered aircraft vectored hunter-killer group onto her. spent 7 hours being chased before shook off pursuers.

the situation had become dire boat chased every time raised periscope. reached comparative safety in boulogne on 2 august 1944.

u-275 reached boulogne in night 31 juli on 1 august 1944.

6th patrol

it decided send u-275 norwegian waters. sailed westward, long way around british isles. had reached bergen on 18 september 1944, when attacked total of 8 de havilland mosquitos. 2 armed tse tse 6-pounder cannon, 4 more equipped depth charges, (they 248 squadron), while last two, 235 squadron, there escorts.

the submarine grounded in water 9 m (30 ft) deep. strafed , bombed while half submerged. however, luck on u-boat s side; 1 cannon jammed , 2 bombs failed release. coastal battery fired on british aircraft, causing them leave scene of attack. u-boat, having suffered damage, made way destination.

7th , 8th patrols

these 2 patrols relatively trouble-free, boat did return french atlantic coast, docking @ st. nazaire on 10 february 1945.

9th patrol , loss

having departed st. nazaire on 25 february 1945, headed english channel once more. on 8 march sank lornaston northwest of fécamp. on 10th struck mine off beachy head , sank.

forty-eight men died; there no survivors.

wolfpacks

u-275 took part in 4 wolfpacks, namely.

leuthen (15–24 september 1943)
rossbach (24 september - 9 october 1943)
borkum (18 december 1943 - 3 january 1944)
dragoner (21–22 may 1944)




^ channel islands occupation review no 36. channel island art & books. may 2008. p. 115.