List of all U-boats
U-603
Type | VIIC | |||||||||||||||||||||
Ordered | 22 May 1940 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Laid down | 27 Feb 1941 | Blohm & Voss, Hamburg (werk 579) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Launched | 16 Nov 1941 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Commissioned | 2 Jan 1942 | Kptlt. Kurt Kölzer | ||||||||||||||||||||
Commanders |
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Career 5 patrols |
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Successes | 4 ships sunk, total tonnage 22,406 GRT | |||||||||||||||||||||
Fate |
Missing since 19 February 1944 in the North Atlantic. There is no explanation for its loss. 51 dead (all hands lost). (Axel Niestlé, January 2001). | |||||||||||||||||||||
Loss position |
U-603 sent its last radio message from approx. position 48.57N, 23.45W at 2245hrs on 18 February 1944 while operating as part of wolfpack Hai 1 against the convoys ONS-29 and ON-224. The boat was reported missing after repeatedly failing to report its position on 16 March 1944.
Previously recorded fate
- Sunk 1 March 1944 in the North Atlantic, in position 48.55N, 26.10W, by depth charges from the US destroyer escort USS Bronstein.
Notes. The attack was actually directed against a non-sub target.
Wolfpack operations
U-603 operated with the following Wolfpacks during its career:
Ritter (14 Feb 1943 - 26 Feb 1943)
Burggraf (4 Mar 1943 - 5 Mar 1943)
Raubgraf (7 Mar 1943 - 20 Mar 1943)
Oder (17 May 1943 - 19 May 1943)
Mosel (19 May 1943 - 24 May 1943)
Trutz (1 Jun 1943 - 16 Jun 1943)
Trutz 2 (16 Jun 1943 - 29 Jun 1943)
Geier 1 (30 Jun 1943 - 14 Jul 1943)
Leuthen (15 Sep 1943 - 24 Sep 1943)
Rossbach (24 Sep 1943 - 9 Oct 1943)
Igel 2 (15 Feb 1944 - 17 Feb 1944)
Hai 1 (17 Feb 1944 - 22 Feb 1944)
Preussen (22 Feb 1944 - 1 Mar 1944)
Attacks on this boat and other events
4 Dec 1942
While inbound with the captain ill the boat found a convoy, reported its position and began shadowing. The convoy escorts forced her down and dropped depth charges for two hours. No damage was caused, and although U-603 was denied the chance to attack, her contact reports brought in other U-boats. (Sources: Blair, vol 2, page 123)
8 Jul 1943
An attack by a British Catalina flying boat (202 Sqn RAF, pilot G. Powell) left the boat with minor damage. (Sources: Blair, vol 2, page 345)
13 Oct 1943
An Avenger aircraft from USS Card dropped a Fido homing torpedo, but the boat was not damaged.
3 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-603 did not suffer any casualties (we know of) until the time of her loss.
Media links
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