Daily Event for May 12


May 12, 1943 saw the loss of 3 U-boats in the north Atlantic. The U-456 was damaged by a RAF Liberator bomber using a FIDO torpedo. The boat was on the surface when the HMS Opportune arrived on the scene. It is thought that the commander of the U-456 took the boat under to avoid further attack but, she sank due to the damage from the torpedo.

Four hundred and forty miles away the U-89 was attacked and sunk by British aircraft and two destroyers. And 59 miles from there the U-186 was sunk by HMS Hesperus. In all 150 U-boat men died in the three attacks with not a single survivor.

In return the allies lost only 2 ships to U-boats for a total of 14,251 tons along with 23 lives.

© 2006 Michael W. Pocock
MaritimeQuest.com




2005 Daily Event