German submarine U-231

German submarine U-231 was a Type VIIC U-boat of the Nazi German Kriegsmarine during World War II.

The submarine was laid down on 30 January 1942 at the Friedrich Krupp Germaniawerft yard at Kiel as 'werk' 661, launched on 1 October, and commissioned on 14 November under the command of Kapitänleutnant Wolfgang Wenzel.

After training with the 5th U-boat Flotilla at Kiel, U-231 was transferred to the 3rd U-boat Flotilla on 1 May 1943 which was based at La Pallice in France, for front-line service. In three war patrols, the U-boat sank or damaged no merchant ships. She was a member of 11 wolf packs.

U-231 was sunk on 13 January 1944 in the North Atlantic northeast of the Azores by a British aircraft.

1st patrol
U-231 departed Kiel on 13 April 1943. On the 22nd, she was attacked on two occasions by Catalina aircraft of No. 190 Squadron RAF. Both attacks caused no damage, although a man was lost overboard during the first. She was then attacked on the 23rd (twice), the first of which resulted in a flooded conning tower. She was also attacked on 21 May by American Avenger aircraft from the carrier USS Bogue. The result was a chlorine gas leak and both radio transmitters being knocked out.

The boat reached La Pallice in occupied France on 31 May.

2nd patrol
This foray commenced from Bordeaux, took her to the middle of the Atlantic Ocean and terminated in La Pallice.

3rd patrol and loss
U-231 was sunk northeast of the Azores by depth charges from a Vickers Wellington of 172 Squadron on 13 January 1944. Seven men died, there were 47 survivors.