U-Boat Operations

U-53	Type VIIB
Feldpost Number	M 10 424
Construction Yard	F.Krupp Germaniawerft AG, Kiel-Gaarden
Yard Number	588
Ordered	15th May 1937
Keel laid	13th Mar 1937
Launched	6th May 1939
Commissioned	24th Jun 1939
Baubelehrung	Marinelehrwerkstatt, Kiel
Training, Flotillas and Duties
06.39 - 12.39	U-Flottille Wegener, Kiel Ausbildungsboot (under training) Frontboot (operational)
01.40 - 02.40	7.U-Flottille, Kiel & St.Nazaire Frontboot (operational)
Commanders
24.06.39 - 08.39	OL Dietrich Knorr see also: U-51
08.39 - 12.39	KL Ernst-Günther Heinicke see also: U-3 U-51
12.39 - 01.40	OL Georg Heinrich Schonder see also: U-58 U-77 U-200
01.40 - 14.01.40	KL Ernst-Günther Heinicke see also: U-3 U-51
15.01.40 - 23.02.40	KK Harald Grosse see also: U-8 U-34 U-22

Operations information for U-53
29.08.1939 - 30.09.1939 First Sailing - active patrol U-53 left Wilhelmshaven under the command of Ernst-Günter Heinicke on 29th Aug 1939 and arrived at return on 30th Sep 1939 after four and a half weeks. Ernst-Günter Heinicke hit two ships on this patrol. On 15th Sep 1939 he sank the British 8,825 ton Cheyenne. On 17th Sep 1939 he sank the British 5,193 ton Kafiristan.
21.10.1939 - 30.11.1939 Second Sailing - active patrol On the 21st Oct 1939, U-53 left Kiel under the command of Ernst-Günter Heinicke and after more than five weeks arrived at return on 30th Nov 1939.
02.02.1940 - 23.02.1940 Third Sailing U-53 departed under Harald Grosse from Wilhelmshaven on 2nd Feb 1940 and arrived at return on 23rd Feb 1940 after three weeks. Harald Grosse hit six ships on this patrol. On 11th Feb 1940 he sank the Norwegian 4,114 ton Snestad. On 11th Feb 1940 he damaged the British 8,022 ton Imperial Transport. On 12th Feb 1940 he sank the Swedish 3,927 ton Dalarö. On 13th Feb 1940 he sank the Swedish 1,022 ton Norna. On 14th Feb 1940 he sank the Danish 2,095 ton Martin Goldschmidt. On 18th Feb 1940 he sank the Spanish 2,140 ton Banderas. You can read more about the Norwegian ship listed for this patrol at www.warsailors.com. Click the link for more information on Snestad.

Notes for U-53

We have 50 crew names for this boat. click here for crew names of U 53
You can perform other crew searches here. Note that the number of names we give possibly includes prior crew members.

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