German submarine U-533

Unterseeboot 533 or U-533 was a Nazi German U-Boat (Type IXC/40) that operated during World War II between April 15th, 1943, and October 16th, 1943. It was first launched on September 11th, 1942, with a crew of 53, under the command of Helmut Hennig. [1]

Combat actions

On its first active patrol, U-533 was picked up by the allied forces just out of Lorient, and came under repeated attacks from allied aircraft, giving it very little opportunity to cause any damage to allied shipping.

On April 24th, 1943, U-533 came under attack from an aircraft of RAF 269 Squadron. U-533 was moderately damaged by the attack, defending itself with its deck guns. On April 25th, 1943, U-533 came under attack from an aircraft from the United States Navy VP-84 Squadron. U-533 was not severely damaged by the attack. The boat defended itself with flak without destroying the aircraft. On May 20th, 1943, U-533 came under attack from an aircraft of RAF 502 Squadron, without suffering any serious damage.

It set out on two later active patrols, with no result, being sank on its third active patrol by allied forces in the Gulf of Oman. Of the crew of 53, 1 survived. That survivor, Mechanic Gunther Schmidt, swam and stayed afloat for 28 hours until he reached the coast, where he was captured and spent the remainder of the war as a POW.