German submarine U-385

German submarine U-385 was a Type VIIC U-boat of the Nazi German Kriegsmarine during World War II.

She carried out two patrols. She did not sink or damage any ships.

She was sunk by a British warship and an Australian aircraft in the Bay of Biscay in August 1944.

Service history
The submarine was laid down on 16 May 1941 at the Howaldtswerke yard at Kiel as 'werk' 16, launched on 8 July 1942 and commissioned on 29 August under the command of Kapitänleutnant Hans-Guido Valenter.

She served with the 5th U-boat Flotilla from 29 August 1942 and the 6th flotilla from 1 March 1944.

The boat was moved from Kiel to Marviken in March 1944.

1st patrol
U-385's first patrol took her from Marviken to St. Nazaire, in occupied France via the 'gap' between Iceland and the Faroe Islands.

2nd patrol and loss
The boat left St. Nazaire on 9 August 1944. On the 11th, whilst still in the Bay of Biscay, she was sunk by depth charges dropped by an Australian Sunderland flying boat of No. 461 Squadron RAAF and the British sloop HMS Starling.

One man died in the U-boat; there were 42 survivors.