List of all U-boats

U-673

Type

VIIC

Ordered

20 Jan 1941

Laid down

20 Jan 1942

Howaldtswerke Hamburg AG, Hamburg (werk 822)

Launched

27 Feb 1943

Commissioned

8 May 1943

Oblt. Gerhard Haelbich

Commanders

8 May 1943	-	14 Aug 1943	Kptlt. Gerhard Haelbich
15 Aug 1943	-	31 Jul 1944	Oblt. Heinz-Gerd Sauer
1 Aug 1944	-	24 Oct 1944	Oblt. Ernst-August Gerke

Career
5 patrols

8 May 1943	-	31 May 1944	5. Flottille (training)
1 Jun 1944	-	20 Jun 1944	6. Flottille (active service)
21 Jun 1944	-	31 Jul 1944	13. Flottille (active service)
1 Aug 1944	-	24 Oct 1944	6. Flottille (active service)

Successes

No ships sunk or damaged

Fate

Beached at 0115hrs on 24 October 1944 in the North Sea on the Smaskjer reef at the entrance to Felsafjord north of Stavanger, Norway, in position 59.17N, 05.57E, after a collision with U-382.

Salvaged on 9 November 1944, taken to Stavanger and decommissioned. The hulk was captured by British forces in May 1945 and broken up.

Loss position

View the 5 war patrols

Wolfpack operations

U-673 operated with the following Wolfpacks during its career:
Hartmut (23 Feb 1944 - 28 Feb 1944)

Attacks on this boat and other events

1 Apr 1944
The boat was attacked and damaged by a convoy escort, forcing it to return to base.

1 recorded attack on this boat.

Schnorchel-fitted U-boat

This boat was fitted with a Schnorchel underwater-breathing apparatus in August 1944.

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-673 did not suffer any casualties (we know of) until the time of her loss.