List of all U-boats
U-464
Type | XIV | |||||||||
| Ordered | 15 Aug 1940 | |||||||||
| Laid down | 18 Mar 1941 | Deutsche Werke AG, Kiel (werk 295) | ||||||||
| Launched | 20 Dec 1941 | |||||||||
| Commissioned | 30 Apr 1942 | Kptlt. Otto Harms | ||||||||
| Commanders |
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| Career 1 patrol |
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| Successes | No ships sunk or damaged | |||||||||
| Fate |
Sunk on August 20 1942 south-east of Iceland in position 61.25N, 14.40W by a US Catalina flying boat. 2 dead and 52 survivors. | |||||||||
| Loss position | ||||||||||
Attacks on this boat and other events
20 Aug 1942
Milch cow boat U-464 was surprised by an American Catalina flying boat from squadron VP-73 during rough weather, and the five depth charges it dropped left the boat unable to dive. Although the boat could still manage eight knots on the surface, it was a sitting duck for further attacks from Allied forces nearby. Kptlt. Harms decided to scuttle the boat and make for an Icelandic trawler that was nearby. The Skaftfellingur then rescued the crew and they were afterwards interned as POWs in England.
1 recorded attack on this boat.
General notes on this boat
20 Aug 1942.
On 20 Aug 1942 U-464 was surprised by a Catalina flying boat of squadron VP-73 in rough weather, whose five depth charges left the boat unable to dive. Although the boat could still manage 8 knots (15 kph)on the surface, it was a sitting duck for further attacks from Allied forces nearby. Kptlt. Harms decided to scuttle the boat and make for an Icelandic trawler that was close by.
The trawler Skaftfellingur approached the sinking U-boat and commenced rescue operations. The Germans seemed hesitant to leave their boat, but after one of them had been pulled over to the trawler after being thrown a line, rest of the crew jumped into the water. The trawler's crew of seven (reduced for hazardous waters) then brought the 52 German survivors on board, put them on the fore deck by the bows, and told them to stay there. The Icelandic crew had small arms but in the confusion the Germans actually got hold of them but only inspected them and did not threaten the Icelanders. About 15 minutes after pulling the Germans out of the water two British destroyers arrived and captured the Germans.
The story found in some sources that the Germans boarded and overpowered the trawler crew, which they certainly could have after the rescue, and headed for Norway or Germany is not true.
The Icelandic captain was even given the 3rd degree by a British court in Fleetwood, Lancashire, England about this event since the British were a bit curious about this incident.
In July 1999 the German Navy gave formal thanks to the Icelandic seamen who rescued the German U-boat men on that day. This took place in Reykjavik during a visit by a group of U-boats.
For more see the article The Skaftfellingur and U 464 by the Deutches U-boot Museum.
Men lost from U-boats
Unlike many other U-boats, which during their service lost men due to accidents and various other causes, U-464 did not suffer any casualties (we know of) until the time of her loss.
Media links
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