German submarine U-443

German submarine U-443 was a Type VIIC U-boat built for the Nazi German Kriegsmarine for service during World War II.

She was laid down at F Schichau Danzig in the Polish city on 10 February 1941, launched on 14 January 1942 and commissioned on 18 April with Oberleutnant Konstantin von Puttkamer in command. She served with the 8th U-boat Flotilla for training, then with the 9th flotilla from 1 October 1942 to 31 December 1942, and the 29th flotilla from 1 January 1943 to 23 February for operations.

U-443 completed three patrols, sinking three merchant ships totalling and one warship of 1,087 GRT. She served in two wolfpacks.

1st patrol
U-443 began her operational service when she departed Kiel on 1 October 1942 and sailed out into the Atlantic, clearing the northern coast of Scotland. On 9 October in rough weather, a lookout broke his arm. The U-boat sank two ships from Convoy ON 139 in mid-Atlantic on 22 October, but was then forced to submerge where she was held by the escort ships until the convoy had escaped. She subsequently steamed into Brest in occupied France, arriving on 4 November.

2nd patrol
Her second sortie saw her leave Brest on 29 November 1942, penetrate the heavily defended Strait of Gibraltar, sink two more ships in the western Mediterranean and arrive at the Italian port of La Spezia on 22 December.

3rd patrol and loss
The U-boat left La Spezia on 16 February 1943 and headed southwest. She was sunk with all hands on 23 February northwest of Algiers by depth charges from the escort destroyers HMS Bicester, Lamerton and Wheatland.