Operation Details

Seehund (i)

'Seehund' (i) was a U-boat wolfpack operation off the coast of South Africa and in the Indian Ocean (5 February/19 April 1943).

,

The boats of this wolfpack refuelled and replenished from U-459 in the South Atlantic before moving to their operational area, where the boats then operated singly. Kapitänleutnant Erich Würdemann’s U-506 sank the 5,212-ton British Sabor and 4,768-ton Norwegian Tabor; Kapitänleutnant Hans Pauckstadt’s U-516 the 4,764-ton British Helmspey, 6,187-ton US Deer Lodge, 10,782-ton Free Dutch submarine depot ship Colombia and 3,663-ton Panamanian Nortun; Kapitänleutnant Werner Witte’s U-509 the 4,937-ton British Queen Anne and 7,129-ton British City of Baroda; and Kapitänleutnant Georg Lassen’s U-160 the 7,191-ton US Roger B. Taney, 7,176-ton US James B. Stephens and 4,986-ton British Aelybryn as well as making three attacks on the DN.21 convoy on 3/4 March to sink the 7,166-ton US Harvey W. Scott, sink the 5,961-ton British Nirpura, damage the 10,356-ton Dutch Tibia, sink the 5,087-ton British Empire Mahseer, sink the 7,268-ton British Marietta E, and damage the 4,868-ton British Sheaf Crown.

,

The DN.21 convoy comprised only 11 ships supported by the corvette Nigella and anti-submarine trawlers Norwich City, Sondra and Viviana which were supplemented, though only after U-160's success, by the destroyers Quiberon and Relentless.

,

Kapitänleutnant Asmus Nicolai Clausen’s U-182, operating at the same time off South Africa, sank the 7,173-ton British Ocean Courage, 4,836-ton British Llanashe, 7,177-ton US Richard D. Spaight, 5,047-ton British Aloe and 5,838-ton Greek Adelfotis. While returning to Europe, U-182 was sunk on 16 May, to the west of Madeira, by the US destroyer Mackenzie of Task Force 62 escorting the UGS.8 convoy.

,

The other boats returned safely after replenishing from U-117.

Basic Overview

Theater

Nations Involved

Protagonists Antagonists