German U-402

U-402 sunk - photo courtesy: www.navsource.org

On October 13, 1943, the U.S. S. Card, an escort carrier, spotted the U-402. LCDR H. M. Avery was the one who saw the sub. The U-402 gunners trained themselves on Avery as he flew over. Meanwhile, Ensign B.C. Sheelah dropped a 500 lb. bomb which missed the mark. However, Kptlt. Siegfried Freiherr von Forstner decided to dive. This was a fatal error on his part. As he dove, LCDR H. M. Avery dropped his bomb. A few seconds later an explosion occurred followed by oil and wreckage. All crewmen were lost. Please note most report 50 crewmen were lost. However, according to the list below, there were 52.

THE SHIP'S SPECIFICS:

OPERATIONS:

October 26, 1941 - December 9, 1941
First Sailing - active patrol
U-402 left Kiel under the command of Baron Siegfried von Forstner on 26th Oct 1941 and arrived at St. Nazaire on 9th Dec 1941 after over six weeks.

January 11, 1942 -February 11, 1942
Second Sailing - active patrol
On the 11th of Jan 1942, U-402 left St. Nazaire under the command of Baron Siegfried von Forstner and returned to St. Nazaire on 11th Feb 1942 after four and a half weeks on patrol.
Baron Siegfried von Forstner hit one ship on this patrol.

• On 16th Jan 1942 he damaged the British 12,053-ton Llangibby Castle.

March 23, 1942 - April 20, 1942
Third Sailing - active patrol
U-402 departed under Baron Siegfried von Forstner from St. Nazaire on 26th Mar 1942 and arrived back at St. Nazaire on 20th May 1942 after nearly eight weeks on patrol.
Baron Siegfried von Forstner hit three ships on this patrol, one was from convoy ON-80.

• On 13th Apr 1942, he sank the British 5,249 ton Empire Progress, sailing with convoy ON-80.
• On 30th Apr 1942 he sank the Soviet 5,284 ton Ashkhabad.
• On 2nd May 1942, he sank the American 602 ton USS Cythera.

June 16, 1942 -August 8, 1942
Fourth Sailing - active patrol
U-402 left St. Nazaire under the command of Baron Siegfried von Forstner on 16th Jun 1942 and after just over seven weeks arrived at La Pallice on 5th Aug 1942.

October 4, 1942 - November 20, 1942
Fifth Sailing - active patrol
On the 4th of Oct 1942, U-402 left La Pallice under the command of Baron Siegfried von Forstner and arrived back at La Pallice more than six weeks later on 20th Nov 1942.
Baron Siegfried von Forstner hit five ships on this patrol and all of them were in convoy, all of them from convoy SC-107.

• On 2nd Nov 1942, he sank the British 4,558-ton Dalcroy, a member of convoy SC-107.
• On 2nd Nov 1942, he sank the Greek 4,649 ton Rinos, part of convoy SC-107.
• On 2nd Nov 1942, he sank the British 4,945 ton Empire Antelope, from convoy SC-107.
• On 2nd Nov 1942, he sank the British 5,676 ton Empire Leopard, sailing with convoy SC-107.
• On 2nd Nov 1942, he damaged the British 7,459 ton Empire Sunrise, a member of convoy SC-107.

January 14, 1943 - 23.02.1943
Sixth Sailing - active patrol
U-402 departed under Baron Siegfried von Forstner from La Pallice on 14th Jan 1943 and returned to La Pallice on 23rd Feb 1943 after more than five weeks on patrol.
Baron Siegfried von Forstner hit seven ships on this patrol and all of them were in convoy, all of them from convoy SC-118.

• On 7th Feb 1943, he sank the British 1,571 ton Toward, part of convoy SC-118.
• On 7th Feb 1943, he sank the Greek 4,965 ton Kalliopi, from convoy SC-118.
• On 7th Feb 1943, he sank the American 6,063 ton Henry R Mallory, sailing with convoy SC-118.
• On 7th Feb 1943, he sank the American 6,625 ton Robert E Hopkins, a member of convoy SC-118.
• On 7th Feb 1943, he sank the British 8,597 ton Afrika, part of convoy SC-118.
• On 7th Feb 1943, he damaged the Norwegian 9,272-ton Daghild, from convoy SC-118.
• On 8th Feb 1943, he sank the British 4,625 ton Newton Ash, sailing with convoy SC-11