U-183

Type

IXC/40

Ordered

15 Aug 1940

Laid down

28 May 1941

AG Weser, Bremen (werk 1023)

Launched

9 Jan 1942

Commissioned

1 Apr 1942

Korvkpt. Heinrich Schäfer

Commanders

1 Apr 1942	-	19 Nov 1943		Kptlt. Heinrich Schäfer
20 Nov 1943	-	23 Apr 1945		Kptlt. Fritz Schneewind (German Cross in Gold)

Career
6 patrols

1 Apr 1942	-	30 Sep 1942	4. Flottille (training)
1 Oct 1942	-	30 Sep 1944	2. Flottille (active service)
1 Oct 1944	-	23 Apr 1945	33. Flottille (active service)

Successes

4 ships sunk, total tonnage 19,260 GRT
1 ship a total loss, total tonnage 6,993 GRT

Fate

Sunk at 0729hrs on 23 April 1945 in the Java Sea north of Soerabaja, in position 04.57S, 112.52E, by a torpedo from the US submarine USS Besugo. 54 dead and 1 survivor.

Loss position

See the 5 ships hit by U-183 - View the 6 war patrols

Wolfpack operations

U-183 operated with the following Wolfpacks during its career:
   Luchs (4 Oct 1942 - 6 Oct 1942)
   Panther (7 Oct 1942 - 11 Oct 1942)
   Hartherz (3 Feb 1943 - 7 Feb 1943)

Attacks on this boat and other events

19 Mar 1944
At 1150 hours (zone -6.5), HMS Stoic (Lt. P.B. Marriott, DSO, RN), attacked but missed the German submarine U-183 with four torpedoes North of Sumatra in position 06°09'N, 95°09'E.

1 recorded attack on this boat.

General notes on this boat

* Fritz Schneewind was born on 10 April, 1917 in Padang/Sumatra. Thus, his life ended in the same region it began.

U-183 was one of the Monsun boats that patrolled in the Far East.

Men lost from the boat

13 May 1944
One man was killed in an accident working in a diving cell while preparing U-183 for the next patrol in the Far East. The boat sailed from Penang on 17 May. [Obermaschinenmaat Erich Adelsheimer]

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