Wolf pack Leuthen

"Leuthen" was a wolf pack of German U-boats that operated during the battle of the Atlantic in World War II.

ervice history

"Leuthen" was formed in September 1943 and was established to renew the attack on the North Atlantic route. Following the defeats of May 1943, and the devastating losses incurred by the U- boat Arm ("U-Bootwaffe",UBW) then, Adm Dönitz had withdrawn from attacks on the North Atlantic route while awaiting tactical and technical improvements.By September 1943 these were ready.

"Leuthen" operated against convoys ONS.18 and ON 202, which were travelling together; U-boats from "Leuthen" sank 6 ships (of 36,442 GRT and 3 escorts in this battle, but lost 3 boats ( "U-229", "U-338", and "U-341") destroyed, and 3 forced to return with damage, in attacks by aircraft and surface vessels.

"Leuthen" was disbanded after this assault, at the end of September; of the remaining 15 boats, 3 returned to base and 12 formed the core of a new patol line, code-named "Rossbach".

U-boats involved

*
*U-229
*U-238
*U-260
*U-270
*U-275
*U-305
*U-338
*U-341
*U-377
*U-378
*U-386
*U-402
*U-442
*U-584
*U-603
*U-641
*U-645
*U-666
*U-731
*U-758
*U-952

The name

The name "Leuthen" was a reference to the battle of Leuthen fought by Frederick the Great during the Seven Years War.

External links

* http://uboat.net/ops/wolfpacks/index.html?id=91

References

* Jak P M Showell "U-Boat Warfare: The Evolution of the Wolf-Pack" (2002) ISBN 0-7110-2887-7