Gerhard Feiler

Korvettenkapitän (Crew 33)

Successes
3 ships sunk, total tonnage 14,983 GRT
1 warship sunk, total tonnage 840 tons
1 ship damaged, total tonnage 9,382 GRT

Born	6 Sep 1909		Breslau
Died	8 Jan 1990	(80)	Bremen, Germany

If you can help with photo or any information on this Officer please contact us at gummi@uboat.net.

Ranks

8 Apr 1934		Offiziersanwärter
1 Jul 1934		Fähnrich zur See
1 Oct 1936		Leutnant zur See
1 Jun 1938		Oberleutnant zur See
1 Nov 1940		Kapitänleutnant
1 Jan 1945		Korvettenkapitän

Decorations

1939		Iron Cross 2nd Class
1940		Destroyer War Badge
1 Apr 1942		U-boat War Badge 1939
1942		Iron Cross 1st Class
14 Feb 1944		German Cross in Gold

U-boat Commands

U-boat	From	To
U-653	25 May 1941	30 Sep 1943	7 patrols (412 days)

Gerhard Feiler joined the German Navy (Reichsmarine) in 1933. He served on the destroyer Z 20 Karl Galster from Oct 1938 to June 1940. He then joined the U-boat training programme in July and finished the training during Jan 1941.

From Jan 1941 to April 1941 he trained as U-boat commander with the 24th Flotilla and the 7th Flotilla . He was then assigned as Baubelehrung (construction) commander before taking command of his type VIIC boat U-653 on 25 May 1941.

He served on the boat for more than 2 years before being sent to shore duty. First he served with the 1st Flotilla from Oct 1943 - Jan 1944 but then he spent 3 months as a training officer with the 20th training flotilla. Feiler was the training commander of the 19th Flotilla to the end of the war.

Sources

Busch, R. and Röll, H-J. (1998). German U-boat commanders of World War II.

Patrol info for Gerhard Feiler

	U-boat	Departure		Arrival
1.	U-653	13 Dec 1941	Kiel	13 Jan 1942	Brest	Patrol 1,	32 days
2.	U-653	31 Jan 1942	Brest	30 Mar 1942	Brest	Patrol 2,	59 days
3.	U-653	25 Apr 1942	Brest	6 Jul 1942	Brest	Patrol 3,	73 days
4.	U-653	5 Aug 1942	Brest	31 Aug 1942	Brest	Patrol 4,	27 days
5.	U-653	27 Oct 1942	Brest	29 Dec 1942	Brest	Patrol 5,	64 days
6.	U-653	28 Jan 1943	Brest	31 Mar 1943	La Pallice	Patrol 6,	63 days
7.	U-653	10 Jun 1943	La Pallice	11 Sep 1943	Brest	Patrol 7,	94 days
7 patrols, 412 days at sea

Ships hit by Gerhard Feiler

Date	U-boat	Name of ship	Tons		Convoy
28 Feb 1942	U-653	Leif	1,582	nw
17 May 1942	U-653	Peisander	6,225	br
7 Jun 1942	U-653	USS Gannet (AVP 8)	840	am

24 Feb 1943	U-653	Madoera (d.)	9,382	nl	ON-166
12 Mar 1943	U-653	Thomas Hooker	7,176	am	ON-168
			25,205
4 ships sunk (15,823 tons) and 1 ship damaged (9,382 tons). Legend We have a picture of this vessel. (d.) means the ship was damaged.