U-405

Type

VIIC

Ordered

16 Oct 1939

Laid down

8 Jul 1940

Danziger Werft AG, Danzig (werk 106)

Launched

4 Jun 1941

Commissioned

17 Sep 1941

Korvkpt. Rolf-Heinrich Hopmann

Commanders

17 Sep 1941

1 Nov 1943

KrvKpt. Rolf-Heinrich Hopman (German Cross in Gold)

Career
8 patrols

17 Sep 1941	-	28 Feb 1942	8. Flottille (training)
1 Mar 1942	-	30 Jun 1942	1. Flottille (active service)
1 Jul 1942	-	28 Feb 1943	11. Flottille (active service)
1 Mar 1943	-	1 Nov 1943	6. Flottille (active service)

Successes

2 ships sunk, total tonnage 11,841 GRT
3 warships sunk, total tonnage 361 tons (lost aboard transport ships)

Fate

Sunk on 1 November 1943 in the North Atlantic north of the Azores, in position 49.00N, 31.14W, by depth charges, ramming and small arms fire from the US destroyer USS Borie, during a storm. 49 dead (all hands lost).

Loss position

See the 5 ships hit by U-405 - View the 8 war patrols

Wolfpack operations

U-405 operated with the following Wolfpacks during its career:
   Wrangel (11 Mar 1942 - 18 Mar 1942)
   Strauchritter (2 May 1942 - 5 May 1942)
   Nebelkönig (27 Jul 1942 - 14 Aug 1942)
   Trägertod (12 Sep 1942 - 18 Sep 1942)
   Boreas (19 Nov 1942 - 9 Dec 1942)
   Neptun (18 Feb 1943 - 3 Mar 1943)
   Westmark (6 Mar 1943 - 11 Mar 1943)
   Siegfried (25 Oct 1943 - 27 Oct 1943)
   Siegfried 1 (27 Oct 1943 - 30 Oct 1943)

Attacks on this boat and other events

4 May 1943
19.24 hrs, Bay of Biscay, outbound: three bombs from British Halifax bomber A for Apple of RAF Sqdn 502 left the boat with an oil leak that that could not be stemmed. The patrol was aborted on 12 May. (Sources: Rohwer )

18 May 1943
NW of Finisterre, inbound: the boat was bombed by Australian Sunderland flying boat S for Sugar of RAAF Sqdn 10. No damage. (Sources: Rohwer)

2 recorded attacks on this boat.

Men lost from U-boats

Unlike many other U-boats, which during their service lost men due to accidents and various other causes, U-405 did not suffer any casualties (we know of) until the time of her loss.