Op-16-Z                                                                                                     S E C R E T
	Copy No.  ____ of 51
	NAVY DEPARTMENT
	OFFICE OF THE CHIEF OF NAVAL OPERATIONS
	WASHINGTON
	Final Report - G/Serial 43
	REPORT ON THE
	INTERROGATION OF SURVIVORS FROM U-453
	SUNK 21 MAY 1944
	DISTRIBUTION:
	BAD
	BUORD
	BUSHIPS
	BUSHIPS (Code 515)
	BUSHIPS (Code 815)
	COMINCH (F-21)
	COMINCH (F-4253)
	COMINCH (F-45)
	COMINCH (FX-40)
	COMINCH (FX-43)
	COMNAVEU
	DNI (Ottawa)
	G-2 (Col. Sweet)
	Op-16-1 via Op-16-1-F
	Op-16-FA-4
	Op-16-P
	Op-16-W
	Op-20-G
	Op-23-C
	SONRD
	Lt. Cdr. V. R. Taylor
	C.O. Naval Unit, Tracy, Calif.
	Lt. J. I. Eiband (CSDIC, AFHQ)
	Lt. S. R. Hatton (CSDIC, AFHQ)
	Lt. J. T. Rugh, Jr., (JICA ME)
	COMASDEVLANT
	CINCLANT
	COM8THFLEET
	Op-30
	MINE DISPOSAL SCHOOL
	COM4THFLEET
	6 September 1944
	S E C R E T

 

	S E C R E T
	TABLE OF CONTENTS
	Page CHAPTER I.   INTRODUCTION 1         II.   DETAILS OF U-453 2         III.   CREW OF U-453 8         IV.   EARLY HISTORY & FIRST ELEVEN PATROLS OF U-453 11         V.   MINELAYING PATROLS OF U-453 14         VI.   FIFTEENTH PATROL OF U-453 16         VII.   SIXTEENTH PATROL OF U-453 18         VIII.   SEVENTEENTH AND LAST PATROL OF U-453 19           IX.   SINKING OF U-453 21         X.   OTHER U-BOATS 24       ANNEX   CREW LIST OF U-453 AND U.S. EQUIVALENTS OF GERMAN NAVAL RANKS AND RATINGS.
	S E C R E T

 

	S E C R E T
	CHAPTER I.  INTRODUCTION
	U-453, a 500-ton Type VIIC U-boat, was sunk on her 17th patrol at about 0040, 21 May 1944 in approximate position 38.07 N. - 16.43 E.  The ships involved in the action were H.M. Ships TERMAGENT, TENACIOUS and LIDDESDALE.  U-453 first drew attention to herself by attacking S.S. FORT MISSANABIE at 1715, 19 May 1944.  Two hours later the first of many depth charge attacks was made.  The U-boat remained submerged until forced to surface by battery exhaustion, lack of air and sever damage to much of her equipment.
	Oberleutnant z. S. Dierk Lührs was U-453's commander on the last three patrols.  The previous fourteen patrols were made under Kapitänleutnant Egon von Schlippenbach.  Lührs, four other officers and forty five men were saved.  One crew member was a casualty at the sinking.  H.M.S. TERMAGENT and TENACIOUS brought fifteen survivors to Taranto from where they reached the United States about mid-July.  The balance of 35 prisoners was landed at Palermo by H.M.S. LIDDESDALE and the bulk of these reached a U.S. interrogation center only in mid-August 1944.
	U-453 carried no new equipment and her patrols in the Mediterranean were devoid of any outstanding accomplishments.  Prisoners claimed that the total tonnage sunk by U-453 amounted to about 70,000 tons, not including 26,000 tons torpedoes and possibly sunk.  The details of three minelaying patrols (12-14th patrols) are described in Chapter V.
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	S E C R E T
	CHAPTER II.  DETAILS OF U-453
	NUMBER
	U-453.
	TONNAGE
	500 tons
	TYPE
	VII-C
	BUILDING YARD
	Deutsche Werke, Kiel.
	COMMISSIONING
	Spring 1941.
	FIELD POST NUMBER
	M-43787.
	PATRON CITY
	Nürnberg.
	INSIGNIA
	(A)  Coat of Arms of Nürnberg.
	(B)  A Sword on a blue and yellow shield.  This insignia was added when Oberleutnant Lührs succeeded Kapitänleutnant von Schlippenbach.
	COLOR
	Camouflaged in gray with black blotches.
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	S E C R E T
	FLOTILLA
	29th Flotilla, Pola Base
	BRIDGE STRUCTURE & ARMAMENT
	1.  7th & 8th Patrols - 88-mm. gun forward of conning tower.  One 20-mm. cannon amidships on Platform I.  One retractable twin Breda 12.5-mm. machine gun forward of 20-mm. gun on Platform I.
	Note:  This armament may have been carried on patrols previous to the 7th patrol.
	2.  9th to 11th Patrols - Platform I widened and lengthened.  A second twin Breda machine gun added on port side of Platform I.
	3.  12th to 14th Patrols - New bridge structure fitted including Platforms I and II.
	88-mm. deck gun removed.
	Both twin Breda machine guns removed.
	Two single 20-mm. cannons installed on Platform I.
	One quadruple 20-mm. mount fitted on Platform II.
	4.  15th to 17th Patrols - The single 20-mm. cannons on Platform I were replaced by twin 20-mm cannons.
	5.  Demountable machine guns were type MG-81.  Note:  One prisoner mentioned that a new 30-mm. cannon for use on U-boats had been developed.
	PRESSURE PROOF AMMUNITION CONTAINERS
	Two containers on Platform I; three containers on Platform II of which one was located aft of the quadruple 20-mm. mount.
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	S E C R E T
	TORPEDO TUBES
	Four forward; one aft.
	TORPEDOES
	On 15th, 16th & 17th patrols, carried a total of twelve torpedoes.  On 15th & 17th patrols carried four round-nose T-5 torpedoes; on 16th patrol carried two round-nose T-5 torpedoes.  Note:  LUT torpedoes not carried by any U-boats operating in the Mediterranean.
	TORPEDO STOWAGE (Last patrol)
	Tubes #1 and #3 contained T-3 FAT II.
	Tubes #2 and #5 contained T-5.
	Tubes #4 contained T-3.
	On bow plates - one T-3 FAT II, one T-5; under bow plates one T-3 FAT II, three T-3's; under stern plates one T-5.
	PISTOLS
	Pi-2 pistols carried for each T-3 and T-3 FAT II torpedo;
	Pi-4c for T-5 torpedo; two Pi-2 pistols carried in reserve.
	UPPER DECK CONTAINERS
	Removed sometime prior to 7th patrol (late 1942).
	MINES
	Carried only on 12th, 13th and 14th patrols.  See Chapter V.
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	S E C R E T
	PROPULSION
	(A)  G.W. Diesels
	(B)  Siemens Electric Motors.
	SWITCHBOARD
	Siemens.
	SUPERCHARGER
	Kapsel Gebläse (Roote's type).
	COMPRESSORS
	One Junkers Air Compressor.
	One electric Compressor.
	SCHNORCHEL  (Extensible Diesel Air Intake and Diesel Exhaust)
	Not fitted.
	CONVERTERS
	(A)  6 KVA.
	(B)  1.5 KVA.
	(C)  0.3 KVA.
	RADAR
	Not fitted.
	R.D.B.  (Radar Decoy Balloons)
	Carried.  Believed by prisoners to be outmoded by now.
	R.D.S.  (Radar Decoy Spar Buoys)
	Not carried.
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	S E C R E T
	D/F GEAR
	Long-wave Lorenz D/F set; used primarily for underwater reception of radio traffic at periscope depth.
	TRANSMITTERS
	(a)  200-watt short-wave transmitter.
	(b)  150-watt long-wave transmitter.
	(c)  40-watt emergency transmitter.
	RECEIVERS
	(a)  "Main" Telefunken receiver.
	(b)  Elag 10/12 receiver.
	(c)  All wave receiver.
	U.K. GEAR
	Not fitted.
	UNDERWATER TELEGRAPHY (U.T.)
	Fitted but never used.
	HYDROPHONES
	Multiple unit hydrophones (G.H.G.)
	ECHO SOUNDER
	Fitted.
	S.B.T.  (Submarine Bubble Target)
	Fitted.
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	G.S.R. (German Search Receiver)
	Wanz G-2.
	Borkum.
	Naxos.
	G.S.R. AERIALS
	Fixed type basket aerial.
	Naxos finger aerial.
	GREATEST DEPTH
	Approximately 260 meters while under depth-charge attack and out of control on 20 May 1944.
	NICKNAME OF BOAT AT POLA
	"MICKEY" (Nickname of Engineer Officer).
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	S E C R E T
	CHAPTER III.  CREW OF U-453
	COMPLEMENT
	U-453's crew totaled 51, divided as follows:  Four regularly assigned officers, one extra officer, sixteen petty officers and thirty enlisted men.
	OFFICERS
	On 7th Patrol (and possibly on previous patrols):
	Commander: Kapitänleutnant Freiherr Egon von Schlippenbach (1934 Term).     Executive Officer: Oberleutnant Vogel (probably Hans of the October 1937 Term).     Second Watch Officer: Leutnant Peter Gerlach (December 1939 Term).     Engineer Officer: Oberleutnant (Ing.) Werner Kronenberg (October 1939 Term).
	On 8th and 9th Patrols:
	Commander: Kapitänleutnant Freiherr Egon von Schlippenbach.     Executive Officer: Leutnant Peter Gerlach     Second Watch Officer: Leutnant Günther Stührmann (October 1940 Term).     Engineer Officer: Oberleutnant (Ing.) Werner Kronenberg.
	On 11th - 14th Patrols:
	Commander: Kapitänleutnant Freiherr Egon von Schlippenbach.     Executive Officer: Leutnant Günther Stührmann     Second Watch Officer: Heinz Jürgen Greg, Leutnant d.R.
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	Engineer Officer: Oberleutnant (Ing.) Werner Kronenberg.
	On 15th Patrol:
	Commander: Oberleutnant Dierk Lührs (October 1938 Term).     Executive Officer: Leutnant Stührmann.     Second Watch Officer: Heinz Jürgen Greb.     Engineer Officer: Leutnant (Ing.) Urlich Wiese (May 1941 Term).
	On 17th (last) Patrol:
	Commander: Oberleutnant Dierk Lührs     Executive Officer: Heinz Jürgen Greb.     Second Watch Officer: Leutnant Friedrich Thomsen (October 1940 Term).     Engineer Officer: Leutnant (Ing.) Urlich Wiese.
	(A)  Schlippenbach
	Believed to have been in command of U-453 since commissioning (Spring 1941).  He was one of the oldest Mediterranean U-boat commanders.  After his 13th patrol he was awarded the Knight's Cross to the Iron Cross for the sinking of 52,000 tons, damaging an additional 26,000 tons, and for two minelaying patrols.  Several prisoners made mention of the sinking of an Allied hospital ship by U-453 at some time prior to the 7th patrol.  For this Schlippenbach was supposedly court-martialed but acquitted.
	(B)  Gerlach
	Casualty as Commander of U-223, 30 March 1944.
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	S E C R E T
	(C)  Lührs
	Believed to have served on U-596 as Executive Officer before taking over U-453.
	(D)  Thomsen
	Served as Third Watch Officer on 16th patrol.
	Note:  On 8th patrol, two midshipmen were carried.  On the last patrol one extra officer, Oberfähnrich (Ing.) Hans Heinrich Burckhardt, was aboard.
	Petty Officers and Men
	As a group, the petty officers and men were far more experienced than crews made prisoners from U-boats which operate in the Atlantic.  All were security-conscious and not many were in a cooperative mood when interrogated.
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	S E C R E T
	CHAPTER IV.  EARLY HISTORY & FIRST ELEVEN PATROLS OF U-453
	EARLY HISTORY
	U-453 is believed to have been commissioned at the Deutsche Werke, Kiel, early Spring 1941.  Her trials and exercises in the Baltic took place during spring and summer of that year.  It is assumed that she may have been ready for her first patrol sometime in the fall of 1941.
	FIRST SIX PATROLS
	Prisoners interrogated were unable to shed any light on the first six patrols of U-453.  However, from other sources it is known that by July 1942 the U-boat had completed four patrols of which one or more were made in the Mediterranean.  At one time she was reported at Salamis, Greece, and later information placed her in the Ionian Sea in September 1942.  On some of the patrols preceding the 7th, U-453 was based at La Spezia.
	SEVENTH PATROL
	The seventh patrol of U-453 took place from late November to about 19 December 1942, starting from and returning to La Spezia.  The U-boat was unsuccessful, missing with several torpedoes while firing at a group of destroyers.
	EIGHTH PATROL
	U-453 left La Spezia about 14 January 1943, remaining at sea for about a month.  It was stated that a convoy was attacked and one
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	ship was claimed sunk and three were torpedoed.  U-453 was attached to the part of the 29th Flotilla based at Pola.
	NINTH PATROL
	The ninth patrol of U-453 started early in April 1943.  After passing through the Strait of Messina the U-boat operated off Algiers and Oran.  A convoy was attacked on the surface and two ships were claimed sunk and one damaged.  Thereupon U-453 submerged and was subject to a light counter-attack.  (O.N.I. Note:  This may have been the attack made on Convoy UGS-7.  SIDI-BEL ABBES, French freighter of 4,392 tons and MICHIGAN, U.S. freighter of 5,594 tons were sunk in approximate position 36.00 N. - 01.25 W.)  U-453 returned to Pola about 10 May 1943.
	TENTH PATROL
	U-453 sailed from Pola about 2 June 1943 for an operational area in the Ionian Sea and off Cirenaica.  Prisoners stated that out of a convoy two ships were sunk and one was torpedoed.  The tonnage claimed sunk or damaged was estimated at about 21.000 tons.  (O.N.I. Note:  SS YOMA, British freighter of 8,131 tons, was torpedoed and sunk at 1530, 17 June 1943 in position 33.03 N. - 22.02 E. while in convoy GTX-2.  She carried troops of various nationalities and about 500 lives were lost.  It is not certain whether U-453 was responsible for this sinking.)  The U-boat returned to Pola about 3 July 1943.
	ELEVENTH PATROL
	U-453 left on her eleventh patrol about 20 July 1943.  Soon thereafter a group of destroyers was attacked.  When the destroyer at
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	which a torpedo was aimed turned unexpectedly a warship of considerably greater tonnage was believed torpedoed.  Four days after reporting this incident to Control U-453 received a message which stated that no Italian U-boat, S-boat, Torpedo Bomber or German U-boat or S-boat fired torpedoes on that day and that a battleship damaged by torpedoes was towed into Gibraltar.  A prisoner stated that they were of the opinion that they torpedoed H.M.S. MALAYA.  (O.N.I. Note:  On 23 July 1943 H.M. Cruiser NEW FOUNDLAND was torpedoed in the Mediterranean; she proceeded under her own power to Malta.)
	U-453 was thought to have operated south of Sicily, but her patrol there was without further success.
	On her way back to Pola she came close to having her career ended in the Strait of Otranto.  On 13 August 1943 the bridge watch suddenly sighted the bow of a British submarine.  An emergency turn was executed and four torpedoes missed the U-boat.  So close were the torpedoes to U-453 that they could be clearly heard throughout the boat.  About ten minutes later all four torpedoes exploded at the end of their run and U-453 then submerged, returning to Pola 15 August 1943.  (O.N.I. Note:  At 0059, 13 August 1943, H.M. Submarine UNSHAKEN fired four torpedoes at a fully surfaced U-boat in position 40.23 N. - 18.53 E.  The torpedoes were fired just as the U-boat turned and consequently they missed.)
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	S E C R E T
	CHAPTER V.  MINELAYING PATROLS OF U-453
	(12-13-14 patrols)
	DETAILS OF MINELAYING
	(A)  Mines:
	Twenty-four TMB mines carried on all three patrols.
	Stowed as follows:
	Three mines in each of the five torpedo tubes.
	Nine mines stowed under bow plates.
	(B) Torpedoes:
	Two Y-3 torpedoes carried on these patrols.  Stowed one forward and one aft under plates.
	(C)  Minelaying Procedure:
	Mines laid from periscope depth at slow speed.  The spacing of mines was timed, the interval between each mine being about 40 to 50 seconds.
	(D)  Position of Mine Fields:
	Exact location unknown, but believed to be just seaward of outer harbors of Brindisi and Bari.
	TWELFTH PATROL (First Mine Patrol)
	U-453 sailed from Pola about 24 September 1943, arriving off Brindisi several days later.  One prisoner stated that U-453 followed an Italian cruiser through the net.  The water was very shallow and at one time before the mines were laid the U-boat showed parts of her superstructure while having only about ten inches of water under her keel.
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	S E C R E T
	All but one of the mines were expelled at night.  The last mine in tube #1 could not be launched because of a failure of the discharge gear in that tube.  About two hours were required for the actual minelaying, then torpedoes were loaded into one of the forward tubes and into the stern tube and U-453 set course for Pola where she arrived about 5 October 1943.
	THIRTEENTH PATROL (Second Mine Patrol)
	The second mining expedition of U-453 started about 2 November 1943 and took her to Bari.  The mines were laid without incident and U-453 returned to Pola about 12 November 1943.  Her commander was awarded the Knight's Cross to the Iron Cross.
	FOURTEENTH PATROL (Third Mine Patrol)
	U-453 left Pola 24 November 1943 and again laid mines at Brindisi.  It was stated that the U-boat cruised submerged just outside the harbor while discharging her load of mines.  Several prisoners mentioned that at this time they heard propeller noises, but only one prisoner mentioned that the U-boat was depth-charged just outside of the harbor.  No verification of this claim could be obtained from other crew members.  U-453 returned to Pola on 1 December 1943.  It may be of interest to note that crew members were unaware of any possible sinkings due to the mines laid by them.
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	S E C R E T
	CHAPTER VI.  FIFTEENTH PATROL OF U-453
	U-453, now under command of Oberleutnant Lührs, successor to Schlippenbach, sailed from Pola on her fifteenth patrol about 10 January 1944.
	OPERATIONAL AREA
	The U-boat patrolled in the eastern Mediterranean, ranging as far south as the approaches to the Suez Canal and north along the Levant coast without, however, encountering any targets.
	RAMMING OF FOUR SAILING VESSELS
	Lührs, apparently desperate for some showing of success on his first command, sighted four small sailing vessels one night.  A 20-mm. shell was fired across the bow of the first of the vessels which were sailing in line.  The crews speedily abandoned their ships and U-453 then rammed each vessel amidships.  In so doing, the bow of U-453 was damaged slightly.  (O.N.I. Note:  Two unidentified schooners were shelled and sunk 1 February 1944 in positions 36.00 N. - 35.00 E.  It is not certain that these were some of the vessels attacked by U-453.)
	ATTACK BY BOMBER
	Several days after the sinking of the four sailing vessels U-453, while cruising on the surface, was discovered at night by a bomber believed to have been a Mosquito.  Four bombs were dropped from low altitude, but they fell not close enough to do any damage.  Some prisoners felt that they had been located by a new search device - possibly infra-red light; others
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	mentioned the use of a search-light by the plane.  In any event, no search contact was picked up on the boat's G.S.R. sets.  The bridge watch of U-453 fired about 20 rounds of 20-mm. shell when the bomber approached the second time.  Prisoners believed that the airplane crashed into the sea.  (O.N.I. Note:  This may have been the attack delivered by a plane of Squadron 17 on 3 February 1944 in 34.14 N. - 35.15 E.)
	RETURN TO BASE
	U-453 was ordered to put into Salamis, Greece, where she arrived about 7 February 1944.
	ACCIDENTAL SHOOTING
	At Salamis new mounts for the demountable machine guns were fitted.  A member of the anti-aircraft crew tested the new mounts and accidentally fired several rounds, killing the quartermaster of U-453, A German Army Lieutenant and the base commander at Salamis, Kapitänleutnant Müller.  (O.N.I. Note:  Not known which Müller.)  An entry in a diary marks the date of 17 February 1944 and it is possible that the shooting occurred at that time.
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	S E C R E T
	CHAPTER VII.  SIXTEENTH PATROL OF U-453
	DEPARTURE
	U-453 sailed from Salamis at 1430, 7 March 1944.  She is believed to have operated in the Ionian Sea.
	ATTACK ON CONVOY
	At 0423, 18 March, two ships were claimed torpedoed and another ship estimated at 8,000 tons was attacked.  All three ships were sailing in convoy.  Explosions were heard and it was hoped that the targets had sunk.  (O.N.I. Note:  No sinkings have been reported in the Mediterranean on 18 March 1944.)  U-453 was not counter-attacked.
	RETURN TO POLA
	U-453 returned to Pola 25 March 1944.  About one-half the crew was given leave.  Routine repairs were finished by late April and on 26 April the trial run was made.
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	S E C R E T
	CHAPTER VIII.  SEVENTEENTH & LAST PATROL OF U-453
	DEPARTURE
	U-453 sailed on her last patrol at 1935, 30 April 1944.  Soon complaints about the slip-shod work at the Pola yard were made.  The D/F gear for instance had to be repaired aboard ship.  One prisoner went so far as to say that the responsibility for the sinking of U-453 could be traced directly to the base commander at Pola.
	CONTACT WITH AIRPLANE
	Three or four days later out of Pola an airplane was sighted at night.  A few bursts of anti-aircraft fire were directed at it; the plane veered off without delivering an attack.  U-453 submerged as soon as the unidentified plane was out of sight.
	U-453 PASSES THROUGH THE STRAIT OF OTRANTO
	Prisoners were aware of the fact that the passage through the Strait of Otranto was to some degree dangerous.  A sigh of relief was heaved by all when the U-boat's commander announced the safe passage about 5 May.  As far as could be ascertained, no special precautions were taken to negotiate the Strait.  U-453 maintained its schedule of proceeding submerged by day and surfacing at night for several hours, during which time the passage itself seems to have been made.
	OPERATIONAL AREA
	For the next two weeksU-453 cruised in her operational area in the Ionian Sea.  No sightings of ships or planes were made.
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	ATTACK ON CONVOY
	U-453 submerged as was her custom about 0500, 19 May 1944.  Sometime after noon sounds of approaching ships were picked up on the hydrophones at a distance of about fifteen miles.  When the periscope was raised it was found that U-453 was in the middle of a convoy.  Torpedoes from tubes #1, #1 and #4 were fired and two explosions were heard.  A ship estimated at about 16,000 tons was believed sunk by a torpedo which had been fired at a range of about 400 meters (1320 feet).  The second explosion was thought to have damaged another ship.  (O.N.I. Note:  SS FORT MISSANABIE, 7,197 tons, was sunk at 1745, 19 May 1944 in position 38.20 N. - 16.38 E., while in Convoy HA-43.)  U-453 dived deep to await counter-attack.
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	S E C R E T
	CHAPTER IX.  SINKING OF U-453
	FIRST DEPTH-CHARGE ATTACKS
	About one to two hours after the torpedoing, U-453 heard the explosion of some depth-charges which, though fairly close, caused no damage.
	BOTTOMING
	About 2400, 19 May, U-453 succeeded in finding a suitable place to bottom at a depth of about 180 meters.  All lights except those used for operational purposes were doused, crew members were ordered to lie down and oxygen was released throughout the boat for the first time.  At about 0500, 20 May U-453's commander believed that the U-boat would have a chance to sneak away.  It took a little time to get off the bottom.
	DAMAGING DEPTH-CHARGE ATTACKS
	Desultory attacks were made on U-453 after she left her refuge and damaging depth-charge attacks did not begin until watches were changed at 1200, 20 May 1944.  About twenty-five depth-charges exploded close by; search gear could be heard and the entire ship's complement began to feel quite uneasy.  All afternoon depth-charges continued to fall and U-453's captain used all the evasive tactics at his command to escape damage.  Twice the S.B.T. was used.  Toward evening it was hoped that the U-boat could surface and in preparation therefore another S.B.T. was ejected at about 1900.  A destroyer was heard approaching and a series of depth-charges exploded astern.  Most of the crew grinned with
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	delight at the success of the ruse.  A minute later one depth-charge, or a series which exploded almost simultaneously, fell very close and considerable damage ensued.  The fore and aft hydroplanes, the main rudder, the compass and high pressure air bottle group #6 were put out of commission, at least temporarily.  U-453 became heavy by the bow; both the main and the auxiliary ballast pumps were damaged.  The boat reached a depth of about 220 meters before she regained a level trim and went to a somewhat lesser depth by using both electric motors at 70 r.p.m.
	Soon thereafter additional depth-charges exploded near the U-boat and about 2200, 20 May, another series did extensive damage.  It is believed that at this time the hydrophones went dead, the lighting failed and there was some indication that a ballast tank was ruptured.  Depth-charging continued and at about 2400 the emergency lighting failed temporarily.
	Due to the damage cause as well as the evident exhaustion of batteries and the rapidly depleting air supply, preparations for surfacing and abandoning ship were begun.  The order to blow was given, but only fifty kilograms were reported available.  U-453 was sinking deeper and while temporarily out of control reached a depth of about 260 meters.  Water and oil flooded the control room to a depth of ten inches.  Finally it was discovered that bottle #6 group still contained 180 kilograms and with this the tanks were blown and U-453, listing to port, came to the surface at 0024, 21 May 1944.  It was stated that all torpedo tubes were manned, but that U-453's commander refrained from
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	firing at the destroyers surrounding the U-boat, fearing retaliatory action.
	RESCUE
	All crew members abandoned ship, but one was killed in the water by the gun fire of the destroyers.  The U-boat was sunk by several direct hits at about 0040.  The vents had been opened by the engineer officer.  Fifteen prisoners were taken aboard H.M. Ships TERMAGENT and TENACIOUS and brought to Taranto.  The balance of thirty four was picked up by H.M.S. LIDDESDALE and landed at Palermo.
	EMERGENCY SIGNAL
	U-453 picked up a message prior to submerging early 19 May which instructed them to report to Control.  The order would have been obeyed during the night hours of that day, but at that time the final action had begun.  When the U-boat surfaced 21 May, an emergency signal was sent, but since both aerials were down, there is doubt that the message was transmitted.
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	S E C R E T
	CHAPTER X.  OTHER U-BOATS
	U-20         U-20 was transferred to the Black Sea in the fall of 1942.  The engines, motors, etc. were sent by freight, the pressure hull was transported by truck to Ingolstadt/Donau.  From there the parts were sent by lighter to Galati where the U-boat was reassembled.  U-20 then proceeded under her own power to Constants where she joined several other 250-ton U-boats, including U-9 and U-18.  The flotilla commander at Constanta was Kapitänleutnant Helmut Rosenbaum.               None of the German U-boats were successful in their operations in the Black Sea.  It was stated that this was due partly to the age and inefficiency of the 250-ton U-boats and partly to the extensive Russian mine fields.               Kapitänleutnant Clemens Schöler (1936 Term as listed in G.N.L. 1940) was commander of U-20, which was still operative in the Black Sea in the spring of 1943.     U-407         Commanded by Oberleutnant Korndörfer.  At Pola December 1943 and early January 1944.     U-565         Seen at Salamis, early february 1944.  She was the only other U-boat at this base when U-453 was there.  U-565 left on patrol about 1 March 1944.     U-590         The executive officer at the commissioning was Leutnant Eberhard Huttemann (October 1937 Term).  U-590 sailed on her
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	first patrol in April 1942.  Her first five patrols were unsuccessful, but she claimed one or two sinkings on her sixth patrol.  The U-boat was attached to the 6th Flotilla based on St. Nazaire.  After completion of the fifth patrol Oberleutnant (Ing.) Beth was replaced as engineer officer by Leutnant (Ing.) August Mühlhausen (December 1939 Term).     U-592         U-592 was commissioned mid-October 1941 and her first patrol started in February 1942.  Based at Bergen, she made six patrols in the Arctic Ocean.  Her seventh patrol was in the North Atlantic and she returned to St. Nazaire in April 1943.     U-596         U-596 returned to Pola shortly before U-453 sailed on her last patrol 30 April 1944.  The commander of U-596 was still Oberleutnant Nenn.     U-977         U-977 is a 500-ton U-built at Blohm & Voss, Hamburg.  During her working up exercises in the Baltic she rammed or was rammed three times; the last time the pressure hull was dented and she was relegated to service as a school boat.  Her commander was oberleutnant Hans Leilich, said to be a Nazi of the worst type.
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	ANNEX.  CREW LIST OF U-453 AND U.S. EQUIVALENTS
	OF GERMAN NAVAL RANKS.
	Name Rank or Rating U.S. Equivalent Age         Kapitan z. S. Captain   Fregattenkapitän Commander   Korvettenkapitän Lieut. Commander   Kapitänleutnant Lieutenant LÜHRS, Dierk Oberleutnant z. S. Lieutenant (j.g.) 24 GREB, Heins Jürgen Leutnant d. R. Ensign 21 THOMSEN, Friedrich Leutnant z. S. Ensign WIESE, Ulrich Leutnant (Ing.) Ensign 21 BURCEHARDT, Hans Heinrich Oberfähnrich (Ing.) Midshipman 22 HUCH, Rudolf Obermaschinist Machinist 27 ROTHER, Hans Obermaschinist Machinist 26 SARNOWSKI, Alfons Obermaschinist Machinist's Mate 2cl. 23 BÄTHIS, Paul Maschinenmaat Fireman 1cl. 24 PAJONK, Artur Maschinenmaat Fireman 1cl. 23 ROGGE, Alfred Maschinenmaat Fireman 1cl. 24 VOGELGESANO, Helmut Maschinenmaat Fireman 1cl. 23 WELLER, Fritz Maschinenmaat Fireman 1cl. 22 BUSCHE, Bernhardt Maschinenobergefreiter Fireman 2cl. 20 DYROFF, Heinz Maschinenobergefreiter Fireman 2cl. 23 KNEIPP, Alfred Maschinenobergefreiter Fireman 2cl. 20 KÖLLING, Walter Maschinenobergefreiter Fireman 2cl. 20 SCHNEIDER, Karl Maschinenobergefreiter Fireman 2cl. 20 BERCHTOLD, Andreas Maschinengefreiter Fireman 3cl. 21 FRIES, Walter Maschinengefreiter Fireman 3cl. 22 KAUFMANN, Adam Maschinengefreiter Fireman 3cl. 20 SCMIDT, Otto Maschinengefreiter Fireman 3cl. 20 SCHÖPPNER, Hans Maschinengefreiter Fireman 3cl. 22 TANGE, Hans Maschinengefreiter Fireman 3cl. 20 WEIDNER, Erwin Maschinengefreiter Fireman 3cl. 20 WIESER, Walter Maschinengefreiter Fireman 3cl. 20 DUDEK, Julius Obersteuermann Quartermaster 26 BEER, Wolfgang Bootsmaat Coxswain 24 BERGS, Hermann Bootsmaat Coxswain 22 HANENSTEIN, Georg Bootsmaat Coxswain 25 LEHMANN, Heinz Matrosenobergefreiter Seaman 1cl. 21 TARUTTIS, Horst Matrosenobergefreiter Seaman 1cl. 19 VOGEL, Alfred Matrosenobergefreiter Seaman 1cl. 22 WILMS, Helmut Matrosenobergefreiter Seaman 1cl. 21 GADKE, Edgar Matrosengefreiter Seaman 2cl. 19 KERKERING, Hugo Matrosengefreiter Seaman 2cl. 23 LUCKS, Werner Matrosengefreiter Seaman 2cl. 19 MIELKE, Heinz Matrosengefreiter Seaman 2cl. 21 REINISCH, Erwin Matrosengefreiter Seaman 2cl. 19 STEFAN, Willi Matrosengefreiter Seaman 2cl. 19 THOMAE, Herbert Matrosengefreiter Seaman 2cl. 19 WANGE* Matrosengefreiter Seaman 2cl. SATZGER, Dyonis Mechanikermaat Torpedoman's Mate 3cl. 22
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	Name Rank or Rating U.S. Equivalent Age         BEHNISCH, Helmuth Mechainkerobergefreiter Seaman 1cl. 21 STOCK, Heinz Mechainkerobergefreiter Seaman 1cl. 22 STRICKLING, Heinz Mechainkerobergefreiter Seaman 1cl. 22 GALLENMÜLLER, Friedrich Funkmaat Radioman 3cl. 21 SCHUMANN, Rudolf Funkmaat Radioman 3cl. 24 FREUDENBERG, Bodo Funkobergefreiter Seaman 1cl. 20 MACKENTHUN, Gard Funkobergefreiter Seaman 1cl. 21 PAGEL, Werner Sanitätsmaat Pharmacist's Mate 3cl. 24
	d. R. denotes reserve officer.
	(Ing.) denotes engineering duties only.
	*  denotes casualty.
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