U-731

Type

VIIC

Ordered

21 Nov, 1940

Laid down

1 Oct, 1941

F. Schichau, Danzig (werk 1522)

Launched

25 Jul, 1942

Commissioned

3 Oct, 1942

Oblt. Werner Techand

Commanders

3 Oct, 1942 - 30 Nov, 1943	Werner Teschand
1 Dec, 1943 - 15 May, 1944	Oblt. Graf Alexander von Keller

Career

4 patrols

3 Oct, 1942 - 30 Apr, 1943 8. Flottille (training)
1 May, 1943 - 15 May, 1944 1. Flottille (front boat)

Successes

No ships sunk or damaged

Fate

Sunk 15 May, 1944 in the mid-Atlantic near Tangier, in position 35.54N, 05.45W, by depth charges from the British patrol vessel HMS Kilmarnock and the British anti-submarine trawler HMS Blackfly and 2 US Catalina aircraft (VP-63/P-12/P-1). 54 dead (all hands lost).

View the 4 war patrols

Wolfpack operations

U-731 operated with the following Wolfpacks during its career:
Leuthen (29 Aug, 1943 - 24 Sep, 1943)

Attacks on this boat

19 May, 1943
The depth chage attack on 19 May, 1943 southeast of Cape Farewell, Greenland, in position 55.09N, 35.18W from a British B-24 Liberator aircraft (Sqdn. 120/T) formerly credited with sinking U-954 was in fact against U-731 inflicting no damages. (Sources: 1991-10-01, FDS/NHB)

4 Oct, 1943
A Hudson aircraft (Sqdn 269/S) attacked U-731 on 4 Oct. The commander and 5 more men were wounded and the boat was damaged. The boat did not have to abort its patrol.

12 Oct, 1943
The boat was attacked by three Avenger aircraft from the US carrier USS Card. U-731 had undergone an attack by aircraft one week previously in which six men, including the commander, were wounded and the boat was damaged.

3 recorded attacks on this boat.

Men lost from the boat

4 Oct, 1943
A Hudson aircraft (Sqdn 269/S) attacked U-731 on 4 Oct. The commander and 5 more men were wounded and the boat was damaged. The boat did not have to abort its patrol.

Related: For more info on such losses see - Men lost from U-boats -