| History | |
|---|---|
| Name | U-443 |
| Ordered | 13 April 1940 |
| Builder | Schichau-Werke, Danzig |
| Yard number | 1498 |
| Laid down | 10 February 1941 |
| Launched | 31 January 1942 |
| Commissioned | 18 April 1942 |
| Fate | Sunk on 23 February 1943[1] |
| General characteristics | |
| Class & type | Type VIICsubmarine |
| Displacement | |
| Length |
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| Beam |
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| Height | 9.60 m (31 ft 6 in) |
| Draught | 4.74 m (15 ft 7 in) |
| Installed power |
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| Propulsion |
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| Speed |
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| Range | |
| Test depth |
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| Complement | 4 officers, 40–56 enlisted |
| Armament |
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| Service record[2][3] | |
| Part of |
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| Identification codes | M 44 676 |
| Commanders |
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| Operations |
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| Victories |
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German submarineU-443 was aType VIICU-boat built forNazi Germany'sKriegsmarine for service duringWorld War II.
She waslaid down atSchichau-Werke,Danzig, on 10 February 1941,launched on 31 January 1942 andcommissioned on 18 April withOberleutnant zur See Konstantin von Puttkamer in command. She served with the8th U-boat Flotilla for training, then with the9th flotilla from 1 October 1942 until 31 December 1942, and the29th flotilla from 1 January 1943 until 23 February for operations.
U-443 completed three patrols, sinking threemerchant ships totalling 19,435 gross register tons (GRT) and one warship of 1,087 GRT.
German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorterType VIIB submarines.U-443 had a displacement of 769 tonnes (757 long tons) when at the surface and 871 tonnes (857 long tons) while submerged.[4] She had a total length of 67.10 m (220 ft 2 in), apressure hull length of 50.50 m (165 ft 8 in), abeam of 6.20 m (20 ft 4 in), a height of 9.60 m (31 ft 6 in), and adraught of 4.74 m (15 ft 7 in). The submarine was powered by twoGermaniawerft F46 four-stroke, six-cylindersuperchargeddiesel engines producing a total of 2,800 to 3,200 metric horsepower (2,060 to 2,350 kW; 2,760 to 3,160 shp) for use while surfaced, twoAEG GU 460/8–27double-acting electric motors producing a total of 750 metric horsepower (550 kW; 740 shp) for use while submerged. She had two shafts and two 1.23 m (4 ft)propellers. The boat was capable of operating at depths of up to 230 metres (750 ft).[4]
The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 17.7 knots (32.8 km/h; 20.4 mph) and a maximum submerged speed of 7.6 knots (14.1 km/h; 8.7 mph).[4] When submerged, the boat could operate for 80 nautical miles (150 km; 92 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph); when surfaced, she could travel 8,500 nautical miles (15,700 km; 9,800 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph).U-443 was fitted with five 53.3 cm (21 in)torpedo tubes (four fitted at the bow and one at the stern), fourteentorpedoes, one8.8 cm (3.46 in) SK C/35 naval gun, 220 rounds, and a2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 anti-aircraft gun. The boat had acomplement of between forty-four and sixty.[4]
U-443 began her operational service when she departedKiel on 1 October 1942 and sailed out into the Atlantic, clearing the northern coast of Scotland. On 9 October in rough weather, a lookout broke his arm. The U-boat sank two ships fromConvoy ON 139 in mid-Atlantic on 22 October, but was then forced to submerge where she was held by the escort ships until the convoy had escaped. She subsequently steamed intoBrest in occupied France, arriving on 4 November.
Her second sortie saw her leave Brest on 29 November 1942, penetrate the heavily defendedStrait of Gibraltar, sink two more ships in the western Mediterranean and arrive at the Italian port ofLa Spezia on 22 December.
The U-boat left La Spezia on 16 February 1943 and headed southwest. She was sunk with all hands on 23 February northwest ofAlgiers bydepth charges from theescort destroyersHMS Bicester,Lamerton andWheatland.[1]
U-443 took part in twowolfpacks, namely:
| Date | Ship Name | Nationality | Tonnage[Note 1] | Fate[5] |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22 October 1942 | Donax | 8,036 | Sunk | |
| 22 October 1942 | Winnipeg II | 9,807 | Sunk | |
| 11 December 1942 | HMS Blean | 1,087 | Sunk | |
| 14 December 1942 | Edencrag | 1,592 | Sunk |