List of all U-boats

U-431

Type

VIIC

 
Ordered23 Sep 1939
Laid down4 Jan 1940 F Schichau GmbH, Danzig (werk 1472)
Launched2 Feb 1941
Commissioned5 Apr 1941Kptlt. Wilhelm Dommes (Knights Cross)
Commanders
5 Apr 1941 - 6 Jan 1943  Kptlt. Wilhelm Dommes (Knights Cross)
15 Dec 1942 - 21 Oct 1943  Oblt. Dietrich Schöneboom (Knights Cross)
Career
16 patrols
5 Apr 1941-1 Jul 1941  3. Flottille (training)
1 Jul 1941-31 Dec 1941  3. Flottille (active service)
1 Jan 1942-21 Oct 1943  29. Flottille (active service)
Successes6 ships sunk, total tonnage 7,679 GRT
1 auxiliary warship sunk, total tonnage 313 GRT
2 warships sunk, total tonnage 3,548 tons
1 ship damaged, total tonnage 3,560 GRT
1 warship damaged, total tonnage 450 tons
Fate

Sunk on 21 October 1943 in the Mediterranean Sea east of Cartagena, Spain, in position 37.23N, 00.35E, by depth charges from a British Wellington aircraft (179 Sqn RAF/Z). 52 dead (all hands lost). (FDS/NHB, November 1987).

Loss position

See the 11 ships hit by U-431 - View the 16 war patrols

Previously recorded fate

  • Sunk 30 Oct, 1943 in the Mediterranean southeast of Toulon, France, in position 43.04N, 05.57E, by a torpedo from the British submarine HMS Ultimatum. (Postwar assessment)
    Notes. This attack was actually against U-73 inflicting no damage.

Wolfpack operations

U-431 operated with the following Wolfpacks during its career:
   Brandenburg (15 Sep 1941 - 1 Oct 1941)

Attacks on this boat and other events

3 Nov 1942
After being severely damaged in an aircraft attack off the coast of Algiers U-431 was forced to return to base.

1 recorded attack 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-431 did not suffer any casualties (we know of) until the time of her loss.

U-boat Emblems

We have 2 emblem entries for this boat. See the emblem page for this boat or view emblems individually below.


Crosses and Crown

Horrido

Media links


U-Boat Attack Logs

Daniel Morgan and Bruce Taylor


amazon.co.uk
(£ 38.25)


Hitler's U-boat War, Vol II

Blair, Clay


U-Boat Operations of the Second World War - Vol 1

Wynn, Kenneth


German U-Boat Losses During World War II

Niestle, Axel


Hitler's U-boat War

Blair, Clay


Submarines versus U-boats

Jones, Geoffrey




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