U-275

Type

VIIC

Ordered

10 Apr 1941

Laid down

18 Jan 1942

Bremer Vulkan-Vegesacker Werft, Bremen-Vegesack (werk 40)

Launched

8 Oct 1942

Commissioned

25 Nov 1942

Ltnt. Helmut Bork

Commanders

25 Nov 1942	-	Jul, 1944		Oblt. (R) Helmut Bork (German Cross in Gold)
Jul, 1944	-	10 Mar 1945		Oblt. Helmuth Wehrkamp

Career
9 patrols

25 Nov 1942	-	31 May 1943	8. Flottille (training)
1 Jun 1943	-	30 Sep 1944	3. Flottille (active service)
1 Oct 1944	-	10 Mar 1945	11. Flottille (active service)

Successes

1 ship sunk, total tonnage 4,934 GRT
1 warship sunk, total tonnage 1,090 tons

Fate

Sunk on 10 March 1945 in the English Channel south of Newhaven, in position 50.36N, 00.04E, by a mine in the British field Brazier E. 48 dead (all hands lost).

Loss position

See the 2 ships hit by U-275 - View the 9 war patrols

Wolfpack operations

U-275 operated with the following Wolfpacks during its career:
   Leuthen (15 Sep 1943 - 24 Sep 1943)
   Rossbach (24 Sep 1943 - 9 Oct 1943)
   Borkum (18 Dec 1943 - 3 Jan 1944)
   Dragoner (21 May 1944 - 22 May 1944)

Attacks on this boat and other events

1 Oct 1943
The boat reported an unsuccessful attack by a Hudson. (Sources: Blair, vol 2, page 428)

14 Jun 1944
17.15 hrs: U-275 was attacked by twelve British Typhoons from 263 Sqdn RAF when leaving the harbour of St. Peter Port, Guernsey. The U-boat was not damaged, but two of the escorting patrol vessels were. (Sources: BdU)

22 Jul 1944
An aircraft sighted the boat when she rose to periscope depth to take bearings in the English Channel north of Brest, and vectored in a British hunter-killer group which pursued the boat for seven hours. No damage. (Sources: Blair, vol 2, page 604)

24 Jul 1944
On entering the Bay of Seine the boat was hunted for eight hours by a hunter-killer group, but managed to elude her pursuers once again. After that she was attacked again each time the periscope was raised. U-275 finally managed to enter Boulogne on 1 Aug. Date is approximate. (Sources: Blair, vol 2, page 604)

18 Sep 1944
09.20 hrs, off Utvaer, Norway, inbound: the boat was attacked by eight Mosquitos on an anti-submarine strike mission. The formation consisted of two Tsetse Mosquitos (248 Sqdn RAF/E and O), four aircraft each carrying two Mark XI depth charges (248 Sqdn RAF/B, J, U and V) and two escorting fighters (RAF Sqdn 235/J and H). When U-275 attempted to dive she grounded at a depth of 9m (30 ft) and was strafed and bombed twice while half submerged. The bombs of one aircraft failed to release, and the 6pdr gun of another jammed during the second run, but six depth charges fell close to the boat and at least 11 hits were observed by the Tsetse Mosquitos, and numerous cannon hits by other aircraft. The Mosquitos left when a nearby coastal battery opened fire on them, observing the U-boat limping away with a list to port. (Sources: KTB U-275/ADM199-1786)

5 recorded attacks on this boat.

General notes on this boat

3 Jan 1944. On 3 January 1944 U-275 had to return to base because the commander was suffering from appendicitis.

Schnorchel-fitted U-boat

This boat was fitted with a Schnorchel underwater-breathing apparatus and sailed equipped with it in August 1944 but it was of course installed prior to that date.

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-275 did not suffer any casualties (we know of) until the time of her loss.