U-921

Type

VIIC

Ordered

6 Jun 1941

Laid down

15 Oct 1941

Neptun Werft AG, Rostock (werk 508)

Launched

3 Apr 1943

Commissioned

30 May 1943

Oblt. Wolfgang Leu

Commanders

30 May 1943	-	24 May 1944	Oblt. Wolfgang Leu
24 May 1944	-	31 May 1944	Ltn. Hans-Joachim Neumann
1 Jun 1944	-	24 Sep 1944	Oblt. (R) Alfred Werner

Career
2 patrols

30 May 1943	-	31 May 1944	8. Flottille (training)
1 Jun 1944	-	24 Sep 1944	13. Flottille (active service)

Successes

No ships sunk or damaged

Fate

Missing since 24 September 1944 in the Norwegian Sea west of Bear Island. There is no explanation for its loss. 51 dead (all hands lost). (Axel Niestlé, December 1997).

Loss position

View the 2 war patrols

U-921 sent its last radio message on 24 September 1944 from approx. position 74.45N, 13.50E stating that it had to return to port due to unspecified damage. The boat was ordered to postpone its return voyage and to operate against convoy RA-60, but was posted as missing on 2 October 1944 when it failed to arrive at Narvik after the end of the convoy battle.

Previously recorded fate

Sunk 30 Sept 1944 in the Arctic Ocean northwest of Hammerfest, Norway, in position 72.32N, 12.55E, by depth charges from aircraft of the British escort carrier HMS Campania. (Postwar assessment)
Notes. This attack was in fact against U-636 and U-968 inflicting no damage.

Wolfpack operations

U-921 operated with the following Wolfpacks during its career:
Grimm (9 Sep 1944 - 2 Oct 1944)

Attacks on this boat and other events

24 May 1944
Aircraft attack, aircraft shot down: Canadian Sunderland flying boat DV990 (RCAF Sqn 422/R, pilot F/O G.E. Holley)

14.20 hrs, off Norway: the boat was attacked while searching for U-476, which had been badly damaged in an air attack earlier in the day. The Sunderland was hit by flak during the attack run and and crashed into the sea after dropping three depth charges (no damage). The crew of 12 all died.

(Sources: Franks/Zimmerman)

24 May 1944
After shooting down one Sunderland at 14.20 hours, U-921 was sighted shortly afterwards by Sunderland DW111 (RCAF Sqn 423/S, pilot F/L R.H. Nesbitt), responding to a Mayday call, which had apparently observed the first Sunderland crash from a distance of about 12 miles (19 km). U-921 avoided the five depth charges it dropped, but strafing wounded three men, including the commander, Oblt. Wolfgang Leu. Oblt. Leu got both wounded crewmen below as the boat was diving, then closed the hatch, sacrificing himself to prevent the boat sinking. U-921 reached Trondheim on 26 May under the command of the I WO. (An American submarine commander was awarded the Medal of Honor for the selfsame act of heroism in the Pacific). (Sources: Franks/Zimmerman)

2 recorded attacks on this boat.