List of all U-boats

U-288

Type

VIIC

 
Ordered5 Jun 1941
Laid down7 Sep 1942 Bremer Vulkan-Vegesacker Werft, Bremen-Vegesack (werk 53)
Launched15 May 1943
Commissioned26 Jun 1943Oblt. Willy Meyer
Commanders
26 Jun 1943 - 3 Apr 1944  Oblt. (R) Willy Meyer
Career
2 patrols
26 Jun 1943-31 Jan 1944  8. Flottille (training)
1 Feb 1944-3 Apr 1944  13. Flottille (active service)
SuccessesNo ships sunk or damaged
Fate

Sunk on 3 April 1944 in the Barents Sea east of Bear Island, in position 73.44N, 27.12E, by depth charges, rockets and strafing from a British Swordfish aircraft (819 Sqn FAA/C) of the British escort carrier HMS Activity and the British Avenger & Wildcat aircraft (846 Sqn FAA/G & Y) of the British escort carrier HMS Tracker. 49 dead (all hands lost).

Loss position

View the 2 war patrols

For the following sequence of photographs that show U-288 being attacked shortly before sinking we would like to thank David Tolley who's father Raymond Tolley was an Air Artificer aboard HMS Tracker during that time.

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Wolfpack operations

U-288 operated with the following Wolfpacks during its career:
   Boreas (2 Mar 1944 - 5 Mar 1944)
   Orkan (5 Mar 1944 - 10 Mar 1944)
   Blitz (24 Mar 1944 - 30 Mar 1944)
   Hammer (30 Mar 1944 - 3 Apr 1944)

Attacks on this boat and other events

3 Apr 1944
Aircraft attack, aircraft shot down:British Swordfish (Sqdn )

The boat was lost in this attack.

1 recorded attack 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-288 did not suffer any casualties (we know of) until the time of her loss.


Media links

Image
German U-Boat Losses During World War II

Niestle, Axel

Image
U-Boat Operations of the Second World War - Vol 1

Wynn, Kenneth

Image
Hitler's U-boat War, Vol II

Blair, Clay




As an Amazon Associate uboat.net earns a commission from qualifying purchases.