Vor 75 Jahren : ein heftiger Schlag gegen die U-Boote

[Urs Heßling]

moin,

Am 30.7.1943 gingen alle drei in einer Gruppe fahrenden Unterseeboote, davon 2 "Milchkühe", durch Angriffe von Flugzeugen des Coastal Command und Sloops von F.J.Walkers 2. Unterstützungsgruppe verloren.
https://www.uboat.net/boats/u461.htm
https://www.uboat.net/boats/u462.htm
https://www.uboat.net/boats/u504.htm

Gruß, Urs

[wirbelwind]

Hallo,
zu der von Urs beschriebenen Versenkung der 3 U-Boote steht unter anderem im Kemp, dass diese den ersten Luftangrif mit ihrer Flak abwehren konnten, doch die aus 9 Ju 88 bestehende ständige Luftwaffenpatrouille hatte nicht genügend Treibstoff, um eingreifen zu können. Beim 2. Luftangriff durch britisch-amerikanische Flugzeuge wurde U 462 so schwer beschädigt, dass es nicht mehr tauchen konnte. Eine Liberator griff die Boote in einem Tieffliegerangriff an, zog das konzentrierte Feuer der Flak aller 3 Boote auf sich, musste getroffen abdrehen, ermöglichte es aber einer Sunderland der britischen Luftwaffe von achtern anzugreifen. Dabei wurde U 461 so schwer getroffen, dass es innerhalb weniger Sekunden sank. Die Schiffe der 2. Sicherungsgruppe waren inzwischen auf Schussweite heran gekommen und belegten U 462 mit 112 Granaten. Die ,,Kite" erzielte aus rund 12 km Entfernung einen Volltreffer auf U 462. Bei Herannahen der Sicherungsschiffe hatte der Kommandant von U 462, Oberltn. z. S. B. Vowe, den Befehl gegeben, dass Boot zu verlassen u. leitete die Selbstversenkung ein. U 504 wurde mehrmals angegriffen, da es sehr tief getaucht war. Erst durch Schleichfahrt konnten die Sicherungsschiffe ,,Woodpecker" und ,,Wild Goose" U 504 den Todesstoß versetzen. Bei U 461 und U 462 gab es Überlebende, die Aufnahme auf den Sicherungsschiffen fanden. Bitter für die ,,Milchkühe", bereits am 24.07.1943 war mit U 459 unter KK z. V. von Wilamowitz-Möllendorf, schon ein Boot vom Typ XIV versenkt worden.
Ist den bekannt, zu welchem Unternehmen U 461, U 462 u. U 504 ausliefen bzw. warum sie zusammentrafen? 2 ,,Milchkühe" auf einen Fleck finde ich schon etwas merkwürdig.
MfG Wirbelwind

[Che_Guevara]

Es ist schon ein (grausamer)Zufall, dass U-461 von einer RAAF Sunderland mit der Kennung 461/U versenkt worden ist.

This strange co-incidence occurred during an epic anti-submarine engagement, which drew in combined forces on both sides.  This engagement illustrates the intensity of the fighting during Doenitz's 'group sailing' experiments in mid-1943, when groups of U-boats travelled together on the surface to provide mutual anti-aircraft defence.

Two strategically valuable 'milk-cow' U-tankers (U-461 and U-462) and a Type IX (U-504), were travelling together outbound through the Bay of Biscay.  The group of boats was spotted by RAF Liberator 53/O, which homed-in an amazing collection of aircraft, including a Sunderland from RAF 228 Squadron, a 210 Squadron RAF Catalina flying boat, two Halifaxes from RAF 502 Squadron, a USN 19th Squadron Liberator and a RAAF Sunderland, 461/U, flown by Flight Lieutenant Dudley Marrows.  Nearby British ships of the Royal Navy 2nd Support Group also raced towards the position.

Another aircraft that followed the homing signals was a Luftwaffe Ju88C fighter, which threatened the 228 Squadron Sunderland, forcing it to jettison its exposed depth-charges and retire from the battle.  The slow Catalina also retreated.  - The German fighter then departed the scene, having achieved this result without firing a shot.

The remaining Allied aircraft circled the U-boat group, which stayed on the surface at speed in calm sea conditions and good visibility.  Halifax 502/B made an ineffective bombing attack and was damaged by the boats' accurate defensive fire.  It had to run for home.

Halifax 502/S then attacked from higher altitude and dropped a total of five 600-pound bombs in three attacks, which holed the U-tanker U-462 and caused it to circle.

Further approaches were beaten off by the flak, until Liberator 53/O succeeded in bravely diving through the barrage, but it was heavily hit and unable to make an accurate attack.  53/O had to flee to an emergency landing in Portugal.

Luckily, this dramatic distraction allowed Marrows in Sunderland 461/U to get in close, before he was noticed by the defence.  Machine-gun fire from Marrows' Sunderland silenced the gunners of U-461.  He skimmed in so low over the wave-tops that the other two boats did not have a clear shot past U-461.  Marrows released his depth-charges and zoomed over the conning tower of U-461, sinking the large U-tanker.

Marrows returned to the flotsam of U-461 and dropped a liferaft to the 25-30 swimmers seen amongst the wreckage, but only 15 of these men were eventually picked up by HMS Woodpecker.

Soon afterwards - not lacking in courage - Marrows made a determined approach towards U-504, but he had to break away, as British naval shells were starting to impact the sea surface.  U-462 was scuttled just as shellfire from the fast-closing 2nd Support Group began to come in, and 64 survivors were later picked up.  U-504 took cover by submerging, but was then systematically hunted down with sonar by the 2nd Support Group and destroyed underwater by depth-charge (with total loss of life).

As if Marrows' crew had not had enough excitement for this day, on the way home they spotted another U-boat...  Marrows decided to attack it with his last remaining depth-charge, but his Sunderland was further damaged by defensive fire and he was unable to drop his bomb.  After this, Marrows headed for home, low on fuel.  His mighty Sunderland was subsequently written-off due to the damage from these battles.

Marrows was later able to obtain some souvenirs of U-461 (via the famous Captain Walker of the RN 2nd Support Group) - the U-boat captain's life-preserver and keys.  Marrows also later met U-461's captain, Wolf Stiebler, whose life had been saved by the raft that Marrows dropped (against RAF policy) to his erstwhile enemies.

Two months later, Marrows and his crew were very lucky to survive an hour-long running battle with six Ju88C twin-engined fighter aircraft.  Their Sunderland was critically damaged and they had to ditch.  A cramped life-raft kept them safe until they were picked up the next day.

http://www.3squadron.org.au/subpages/raaf.htm