German submarine U-821

U-Boat Infobox
type=VIIC
fieldpost number=
yard number=
order date=
keel=February 10, 1941
launch=June 26, 1943
commission=October 11, 1943
yard=Oderwerke, Stettin
U-Boat Patrol
startdate=Start Date
enddate=End Date
assigned unit=Assigned Unit
U-Boat Patrol
startdate=March 19, 1944
enddate=April 12, 1944
assigned unit=1st FlotillaU-Boat Patrol
startdate=June 6, 1944
enddate=June 10, 1944
assigned unit=1st FlotillaU_Boat Command
startdate=January, 1944
enddate=June, 1944
name=Kptlt. Ulrich Knackfuss
U_Boat Sink
type=Type of Ship Sunk
total=Number of Ships Sunk
tonnage=Gross Registered Tonnage
U_Boat Sink
type=Commercial Vessels
total=None
tonnage=0
U_Boat Sink
type=Military Vessels
total=None
tonnage=0

"U-821" was a short-lived German submarine built by Oderwerke in Stettin during World War II for service in the Second Battle of the Atlantic. She only participated in two brief combat patrols, one of which ended after four days when she was sunk by allied aircraft. "U-821" was built in Stettin at a small shipyard, and thus took eighteen months to complete, being ready by in October 1943. the boat was of the VII Type, which possessed long range cruising capabilities as well as five torpedo tubes.

War Patrols

Following her sea trials and warming-up period, "U-821" departed Bergen, Norway in March 1944 for her first war patrol, during which she spent 24 fruitless days in the North Atlantic before returning to Brest, France for resupply. Her second patrol was more eventful, as just four days out from Brest and not far from Ushant, Royal Air Force aircraft spotted and attacked the U-boat on the surface. Her captain made the decision to battle it out rather than dive, and engaged in a running engagement with three Mosquito aircraft of 248 Squadron and a large B-24 Liberator bomber of 206 Squadron. One Mosquito was shot down in the clash, but rockets and depth charges took their toll on the submarine which soon sank, taking with her 50 sailors. One survivor was pulled from the sea by small German Naval units a few hours later.

References

* Sharpe, Peter, "U-Boat Fact File", Midland Publishing, Great Britain: 1998. ISBN 1-85780-072-9.
* [http://www.uboat.net/boats/u821.htm U-boat.net webpage for "U-821"]

See Also: List of U-boats