German submarine U-443

History
Nazi Germany
NameU-443
Ordered13 April 1940
BuilderSchichau-Werke, Danzig
Yard number1498
Laid down10 February 1941
Launched31 January 1942
Commissioned18 April 1942
FateSunk on 23 February 1943 in the Mediterranean near Algiers by three escort destroyers
General characteristics
Class & typeType VIIC submarine
Displacement
Length
Beam
  • 6.20 m (20 ft 4 in) o/a
  • 4.70 m (15 ft 5 in) pressure hull
Height9.60 m (31 ft 6 in)
Draught4.74 m (15 ft 7 in)
Installed power
  • 2,800–3,200 PS (2,100–2,400 kW; 2,800–3,200 bhp) (diesels)
  • 750 PS (550 kW; 740 shp) (electric)
Propulsion
Speed
  • 17.7 knots (32.8 km/h; 20.4 mph) surfaced
  • 7.6 knots (14.1 km/h; 8.7 mph) submerged
Range
  • 8,500 nmi (15,700 km; 9,800 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) surfaced
  • 80 nmi (150 km; 92 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph) submerged
Test depth
  • 230 m (750 ft)
  • Crush depth: 250–295 m (820–968 ft)
Complement4 officers, 40–56 enlisted
Armament
Service record
Part of:
Identification codes: M 44 676
Commanders:
  • Kptlt. Konstantin von Puttkamer
  • 18 April 1942 – 23 February 1943
Operations:
  • 3 patrols:
  • 1st patrol:
  • 1 October – 4 November 1942
  • 2nd patrol:
  • 29 November – 22 December 1942
  • 3rd patrol:
  • 16 – 23 February 1943
Victories:
  • 3 merchant ships sunk
    (19,435 GRT)
  • 1 warship sunk
    (1,087 tons)

German submarine U-443 was a Type VIIC U-boat built for Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine for service during World War II.

She was laid down at Schichau-Werke, Danzig, on 10 February 1941, launched on 31 January 1942 and commissioned on 18 April with Oberleutnant zur See Konstantin von Puttkamer in command. She served with the 8th U-boat Flotilla for training, then with the 9th flotilla from 1 October 1942 until 31 December 1942, and the 29th flotilla from 1 January 1943 until 23 February for operations.

U-443 completed three patrols, sinking three merchant ships totalling 19,435 gross register tons (GRT) and one warship of 1,087 GRT.