U-445

Type

VIIC

Ordered

6 Aug 1940

Laid down

9 Apr 1941

F Schichau GmbH, Danzig (werk 1505)

Launched

19 Mar 1942

Commissioned

30 May 1942

Oblt. Heinz-Konrad Fenn

Commanders

30 May 1942	-	27 Jan 1944		Oblt. Heinz-Konrad Fenn
27 Jan 1944	-	24 Aug 1944		Oblt. Rupprecht Fishler, Graf von Treuberg

Career
9 patrols

30 May 1942	-	31 Oct 1942	8. Flottille (training)
1 Nov 1942	-	24 Aug 1944	6. Flottille (active service)

Successes

No ships sunk or damaged

Fate

Sunk on 24 August 1944 in the Bay of Biscay south-west of Brest, France, in position 47.21N, 05.50W, by depth charges from the British frigate HMS Louis. 52 dead (all hands lost).

Loss position

View the 9 war patrols

Wolfpack operations

U-445 operated with the following Wolfpacks during its career:
   Drachen (22 Nov 1942 - 3 Dec 1942)
   Panzer (3 Dec 1942 - 9 Dec 1942)
   Büffel (9 Dec 1942 - 15 Dec 1942)
   Ungestüm (15 Dec 1942 - 25 Dec 1942)
   Robbe (16 Feb 1943 - 13 Mar 1943)
   Igel 2 (6 Feb 1944 - 14 Feb 1944)

Attacks on this boat and other events

2 Jan 1944
Early in the morning a British Halifax bomber (Sqdn 58, T.A. Griffiths) dropped five depth charges. No damage. (Sources: Blair, vol 2, page 486)

14 Feb 1944
The boat fired at a "destroyer" but was attacked in return by British Support Group 3. The boat was severely damaged but got away. (Sources: Blair, vol 2, page 500)

14 Aug 1944
Aircraft attack, aircraft shot down:British Wellington (Sqdn 172/K)

Aircraft shot down on the Brest - La Pallice route.

3 recorded attacks on this boat.

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-445 did not suffer any casualties (we know of) until the time of her loss.