U-373

Type

VIIC

Ordered

23 Sep 1939

Laid down

8 Dec 1939

Howaldtswerke AG, Kiel (werk 4)

Launched

5 Apr 1941

Commissioned

22 May 1941

Oblt. Paul-Karl Loeser

Commanders

22 May 1941	-	25 Sep 1943		Kptlt. Paul-Karl Loeser
26 Sep 1943	-	8 Jun 1944		Oblt. Detlef von Lehsten

Career
13 patrols

22 May 1941	-	1 Sep 1941	3. Flottille (training)
1 Sep 1941	-	8 Jun 1944	3. Flottille (active service)

Successes

3 ships sunk, total tonnage 10,263 GRT

Fate

Sunk on 8 June 1944 in the Bay of Biscay west of Brest, in position 48.10N, 05.31W, by depth charges from a British Liberator aircraft (224 Sqn RAF/G). 4 dead and 47 survivors.

Loss position

See the 3 ships hit by U-373 - View the 13 war patrols

The same aircraft also sank U-441 only some 20 minutes later.

Wolfpack operations

U-373 operated with the following Wolfpacks during its career:
   Markgraf (8 Sep 1941 - 15 Sep 1941)
   Brandenburg (15 Sep 1941 - 24 Sep 1941)
   Störtebecker (5 Nov 1941 - 16 Nov 1941)
   Seydlitz (27 Dec 1941 - 2 Jan 1942)
   Lohs (11 Aug 1942 - 21 Sep 1942)
   Draufgänger (29 Nov 1942 - 2 Dec 1942)
   Büffel (9 Dec 1942 - 15 Dec 1942)
   Ungestüm (15 Dec 1942 - 26 Dec 1942)
   Neuland (4 Mar 1943 - 13 Mar 1943)
   Dränger (14 Mar 1943 - 20 Mar 1943)
   Seewolf (21 Mar 1943 - 28 Mar 1943)
   Siegfried (22 Oct 1943 - 27 Oct 1943)
   Siegfried 3 (27 Oct 1943 - 30 Oct 1943)
   Jahn (30 Oct 1943 - 2 Nov 1943)
   Tirpitz 5 (2 Nov 1943 - 8 Nov 1943)
   Eisenhart 8 (9 Nov 1943 - 10 Nov 1943)

Attacks on this boat and other events

25 Aug 1942
At 02.05 hrs, HNoMS Acanthus obtained a radar contact ahead and to port of convoy ONS 122 and shortly thereafter sighted U-373, which dived after two rounds were fired from the 4in gun. The corvette then dropped five depth charges, but had to return to the convoy shortly afterwards. U-373 was not damaged. (Sources: ADM reports, KTB U-373)

2 Mar 1943
Atlantic, west of France: an American Liberator (USAAF A/S-Sqdn 1/E) dropped five bombs on U-373. The boat suffered moderate damage, but continued on patrol after repair. (Sources: Rohwer)

24 Jul 1943
Atlantic, west of the Madeira Isles: U-373 was attacked by Avenger and Wildcat aircraft from the US escort carrier USS Santee. The boat was damaged by a Fido homing torpedo which killed two men and wounded seven, but continued on patrol. [Matrosenobergefreiter Franz Schulte, Matrosengefreiter Peter Regneri] (Sources: Blair, vol 2, page 393)

3 Jan 1944
Mid Atlantic, west of Cadiz: a British Wellington (612 Sqdn, pilot John B. Russell) attacked, dropping depth charges. A British Liberator (224 Sqdn, pilot Harold R. Facey) then assisted, dropping eight more depth charges. U-373 was heavily damaged and returned to base. On reaching Brest on 4 Jan, two unexploded depth charges were found on the conning tower and the boat had to leave port to jettison them, a highly hazardous operation which was carried out successfully. (Sources: Blair, vol 2, page 486)

4 recorded attacks on this boat.