Shipwreck U-173

The IXc-type U-173, built by Weser AG in Bremen, was commissioned on 15 November 1941 with the 4th Ausbildungsflottille under the command of Heinz-Ehler Beucke. From 1 July 1942, the boat was first under Beucke and, from October 1942, under Commander Hans-Adolf Schweichel from Lorient (France), part of the 2nd Unterseebootsflottille "Saltzwedel.

During the Allied landings in North Africa (Operation Torch), U-173 was responsible for sinking the USS Joseph Hewes, damaging the USS Winooski, the USS Hambleton and finally, on 15 November 1942, the USS Elektra.

On 16 November 1942, U-173 was detected by sonar and sunk by depth charges from three American destroyers, the USS Woolsey, the USS Swanson and the USS Quick. The entire crew of 57 men lost their lives.

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Source

• Text: TracesOfWar
• Photos: Wikimapia
• - https://uboat.net/boats/u173.htm
• - https://www.ssarkansan.com/home/u-126