U-398

Type

VIIC

Ordered

20 Jan 1941

Laid down

26 Aug 1942

Howaldtswerke AG, Kiel (werk 30)

Launched

6 Nov 1943

Commissioned

18 Dec 1943

Korvkpt. Johann Reckhoff

Commanders

18 Dec 1943 - 8 Nov 1944	KrvKpt. Johann Reckhoff
9 Nov 1944 - 17 Apr 1945	Oblt. Wilhelm Cranz

Career

2 patrols

18 Dec 1943 - 31 Jul 1944  5. Flottille (training)
1 Aug 1944 - 31 Oct 1944  3. Flottille (front boat)
1 Nov 1944 - 17 Apr 1945  33. Flottille (front boat)

Successes

No ships sunk or damaged

Fate

Went missing after 17 April, 1945 on the North Sea or in the Arctic, position and cause unknown. 43 dead (all hands lost).

View the 2 war patrols

There is a chance that U-398 was sunk instead of U-1017 by a Liberator of RAF Sqdn. 120 on 29 April, 1945. Both boats disappeared without a trace in the same waters.

Schnorchel-fitted U-boat
This boat was fitted with a Schnorchel underwater-breathing apparatus in June 1944. Read more about the Schnorchel and see list of fitted boats.

Men lost from U-boats

Unlike many other U-boats, which during their service lost men due to accidents and various other causes, U-398 did not suffer any casualties (we know of) until the time of her loss.

U-Boat Operations of the Second World War - Vol 2
Wynn, Kenneth