Undersea Boot U-385

 

Type

VIIC

  
Ordered 15 Aug, 1940
Laid down 16 May, 1941 Howaldtswerke AG, Kiel (werk 16)
Launched 8 Jul, 1942
Commissioned 29 Aug, 1942 Oblt. Hans-Guido Valentiner
Commanders
29 Aug, 1942 - 11 Aug, 1944   Kptlt. Hans-Guido Valentiner
Career 3 patrols 29 Aug, 1942 - 29 Feb, 1944  5. Flottille (training)
1 Mar, 1944 - 11 Aug, 1944  6. Flottille (front boat)
Successes No ships sunk or damaged
Fate

Sunk 11 Aug, 1944 in the Bay of Biscay west of La Rochelle, in position 46.16N, 02.45W, by depth charges from the British sloop HMS Starling and depth charges from an Australian Sunderland aircraft (RAAF Sqdn. 461/P). 1 dead and 42 survivors.

Patrols by U-385

See the profile page for U-385

  Commander Departure Arrival Days  
1 Hans-Guido Valentiner 21 Mar, 1944   Kiel 23 Mar, 1944   Marviken 3 days  P  View
2 Hans-Guido Valentiner 4 Apr, 1944   Marviken 4 Jun, 1944   St. Nazaire 62 days  P  View
3 Kptlt. Hans-Guido Valentiner 9 Aug, 1944   St. Nazaire 11 Aug, 1944   Sunk 3 days  P  View

Emblem entry for U-385
Emblem Description

The Snail

No description for this emblem

Keywords: snail, white
Schnorchel-fitted U-boat
This boat was fitted with a Schnorchel underwater-breathing apparatus and sailed equipped with it in August 1944 but it was of course installed prior to that date.

Men lost from U-boats

Unlike many other U-boats, which during their service lost men due to accidents and various other causes, U-385 did not suffer any casualties (we know of) until the time of her loss.
Prisoners held at Camp Atterbury

14 1 U Flottilla
Hartmann, Martin
 A 837326 1/11/1925 Ogefr 6 U Flot U 385 8/6/1944 German 609
http://www.uboat.net/boats/u385.htm
IMOPage last revised 09/01/20222
 James D. West
 www.IndianaMilitary.org
 Host106th@106thInfDivAssn.org