German submarine U-363

German submarine U-363 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. The submarine was laid down on 23 December 1941 at the Flensburger Schiffbau-Gesellschaft yard at Flensburg as yard number 482, launched on 17 December 1942 and commissioned on 18 March 1943 under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Wolf-Werner Wilzer.

During her career, the U-boat sailed on seven combat patrols, but sank no ships before she surrendered at Narvik on 9 May 1945. She was sunk on 31 December 1945 as part of Operation Deadlight.

She was a member of eight wolfpacks.

Design
German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-363 had a displacement of 769 t when at the surface and 871 t while submerged. She had a total length of 67.10 m, a pressure hull length of 50.50 m, a beam of 6.20 m, a height of 9.60 m, and a draught of 4.74 m. The submarine was powered by two Germaniawerft F46 four-stroke, six-cylinder supercharged diesel engines producing a total of 2800 to 3200 PS for use while surfaced, two AEG GU 460/8–27 double-acting electric motors producing a total of 750 PS for use while submerged. She had two shafts and two 1.23 m propellers. The boat was capable of operating at depths of up to 230 m.

The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 17.7 kn and a maximum submerged speed of 7.6 kn. When submerged, the boat could operate for 80 nmi at 4 kn; when surfaced, she could travel 8500 nmi at 10 kn. U-363 was fitted with five 53.3 cm torpedo tubes (four fitted at the bow and one at the stern), fourteen torpedoes, one 8.8 cm SK C/35 naval gun, 220 rounds, and two twin 2 cm C/30 anti-aircraft guns. The boat had a complement of between forty-four and sixty.

Service history
The boat's service life began with training with the 8th U-boat Flotilla on 18 March 1943. She was transferred to the 11th flotilla for operations on 1 June 1944. She was then reassigned to the 13th flotilla on 15 September.

She made a pair of short voyages from Kiel in Germany to Marvika and Bergen in Norway in May 1944.

First, second and third patrols
The submarine's first patrol began with her departure from Bergen on 29 May 1944. She arrived at Bogenbucht (west of Narvik) on 29 June but departed again on 4 August. She finished her second patrol back at Narvik on 2 September 1944.

U-363 spent her third sortie in the Norwegian Sea.

Fourth, fifth and sixth patrols
Her fourth foray took her past the North Cape and into the Barents Sea.

For her fifth patrol, she sailed as far as the Kola Inlet, (the entrance to Murmansk).

Patrol number six was preceded by trips between Narvik, Trondheim and Kilbotn, (northwest of Narvik).

Seventh patrol and fate
U-363's last patrol in April and May 1945 was followed by moves to Skjomenfjord and following the German capitulation, Lerwick and Loch Eriboll in Scotland in preparation for Operation Deadlight. She was sunk on 31 December 1945 by the guns of HMS Onslaught (G04) and ORP Blyskawica.