List of all U-boats

U-531

Type

IXC/40

 
Ordered15 Aug 1940
Laid down22 Dec 1941 Deutsche Werft AG, Hamburg (werk 346)
Launched12 Aug 1942
Commissioned28 Oct 1942Oblt. Herbert Neckel
Commanders
28 Oct 1942 - 6 May 1943  Kptlt. Herbert Neckel
Career
1 patrol
28 Oct 1942-31 Mar 1943  4. Flottille (training)
1 Apr 1943-6 May 1943  2. Flottille (active service)
SuccessesNo ships sunk or damaged
Fate

Sunk on 6 May 1943 in the North Atlantic north-east of Newfoundland, in position 52.48N, 45.18W, by depth charges from the British destroyer HMS Vidette. 54 dead (all hands lost). (FDS/NHB, October 1991).

Loss position

View the 1 war patrol

Previously recorded fate

  • Sunk by the destroyer HMS Oribi and the corvette HMS Snowflake on 6 May 1943 in position 52.13N, 44.50W. (Postwar assessment)
    Notes. This attack in fact caused the loss of U-125.

Wolfpack operations

U-531 operated with the following Wolfpacks during its career:
   Meise (25 Apr 1943 - 27 Apr 1943)
   Star (27 Apr 1943 - 4 May 1943)
   Fink (4 May 1943 - 6 May 1943)

Attacks on this boat and other events

22 Apr 1943
While racing from Kiel to join wolfpack Fink the boat was attacked twice by aircraft from Iceland, suffering minor damage. The first was a British Catalina (Sqdn 190/S) at 15.29 hrs and the second a British Fortress (Sqdn 206/D) at 22.00 hrs.

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-531 did not suffer any casualties (we know of) until the time of her loss.

U-boat Emblems

We have 1 emblem entry for this boat. See the emblem page for this boat or view emblems individually below.


Seal with World

Media links


German U-Boat Losses During World War II

Niestle, Axel


U-Boat Operations of the Second World War - Vol 2

Wynn, Kenneth


Hitler's U-boat War, Vol II

Blair, Clay




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