The U-flak boats

The U-flak boats were 4 VIIC boats (U-441, U-256, U-621 and U-953) that were modified to act as surface escorts for the incoming/outgoing attack u-boats operating from the French Atlantic bases. They had greatly increased anti-aircraft fire-power and were intended as aircraft traps.

3 more U-boats were taken aside as additional U-flak boats (U-211, U-263 and U-271) but none of them was completed as Flak boats although conversion did certainly start on all of them. They were eventually returned to duty as traditional VIIC attack boats.

More to come

Knightz


The U-flak boats
Credit uboat.net
Gudmundur Helgason and Marcin Jedrzejewski

U-flak - the origins of the idea

On 31/08/42 U-256 (on her first cruise sailing from Kiel on 28/07/42 to proceed to Lorient via the
North Atlantic) was seriously damaged by Whitley 'B' of Sq 502. The boat was nearly scrapped but it was
decided to adapt her into a U-flak - a heavily AA armed boat intended to lure unsuspecting aircraft to a
deadly trap. It was expected to stop heavy losses in the Bay of Biscay inflicted by Allied aircraft
by deploying a number of U-flaks.

Although U-256 was the first boat to be converted into a U-flak, the reconstruction was delayed.
In the meantime, on 16/04/43, it was decided to convert U-441 in the same way. The third and fourth
Flakvierling mounts available (20mm quadruple sets) and the first experimental 37mm automatic gun were
installed on U-441. Also, a battery of 86mm line-carrying AA rockets was installed (but this idea proved
unworkable).

It is sometimes indicated that two additional single 20mm guns were also carried.
The fuel capacity was limited to Bay of Biscay operations only.
Only 5 torpedoes were carried - in the tubes - for self-defence (room was needed for additional
gunners taken aboard).

U-441 after her conversion and renaming as U-flak 1

Admiral Dönitz himself inspected the boat and gave her the new name U-Flak 1.

In April-May 1943, U-441 was rebuilt as U-flak 1, the first of three U-flak boats. Perhaps the most noticeable
change in her appearance was a greatly expanded Wintergarten (bridge), which had an additional gun platform
erected in front of the conning tower. As the boat was to act as an aircraft trap she received greatly
increased fire-power in the form of:

2x 2cm quadruple anti-aircraft machine guns
1x 3.7cm machine gun
and additional MG 42 machine guns (which were mostly effective in boosting morale).

These new anti-aircraft-weapons required a lot of additional men, so instead of a normal crew of 44-48, there
were now 67 on board. Also aboard was Marine-Stabsarzt Dr. Pfaffinger, an experienced U-boat doctor.

A few days before the first patrol in her new role, the commander, Kptlt Klaus Hartmann, became seriously ill,
and the former commander of U-563, Kptlt. Götz von Hartmann, replaced him.

U-441 Type VIIC

Ordered 5 Jan 1940

Laid down 15 Oct 1940 F Schichau GmbH, Danzig (werk 1492)
Launched 13 Dec 1941

Commissioned 21 Feb 1942 Kptlt. Klaus Hartmann
Commanders
21 Feb 1942 - 15 May 1943 Kptlt. Klaus Hartmann
16 May 1943 - 5 Aug 1943 Kptlt. Götz von Hartmann (German Cross in Gold)
6 Aug 1943 - 8 Jun 1944 Kptlt. Klaus Hartmann

Career
9 patrols
21 Feb 1942 - 30 Sep 1942 5. Flottille (training)

1 Oct 1942 - 1 May 1943 1. Flottille (active service)

1 May 1943 - 1 Nov 1943 1. Flottille (active service)

1 Nov 1943 - 8 Jun 1944 1. Flottille (active service)

Wolfpack operations
U-441 operated with the following Wolfpacks during its career:
Panther (10 Oct 1942 - 16 Oct 1942)
Puma (16 Oct 1942 - 29 Oct 1942)
Spitz (22 Dec 1942 - 28 Dec 1942)
Falke (28 Dec 1942 - 14 Jan 1943)
Neuland (6 Mar 1943 - 13 Mar 1943)
Dränger (14 Mar 1943 - 20 Mar 1943)
Seewolf (21 Mar 1943 - 28 Mar 1943)
Schill (25 Oct 1943 - 31 Oct 1943)
Hinein (26 Jan 1944 - 3 Feb 1944)
Igel 1 (3 Feb 1944 - 17 Feb 1944)
Hai 1 (17 Feb 1944 - 22 Feb 1944)
Preussen (22 Feb 1944 - 1 Mar 1944)
Dragoner (21 May 1944 - 28 May 1944)

Attacks on this boat and other events


20 Mar 1943

The boat was attacked by a Sunderland flying boat west of Ireland. Minor damage.

Wolfpack operation
Dränger (14 Mar 1943 - 20 Mar 1943)

More to come when I have the time to compile the information correctly and in a timeline of events. This thread will focus on U-441 after her conversion and renaming as U-flak 1.
I hope to start other threads of U-441 and her exploits in the future

Gott mit uns ! Happy Hunting

Knightz