German submarine U-363

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

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

She was a member of eight wolfpacks.

Service history
The boat's service life began with training with the 8th U-boat Flotilla in 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 Marviken and Bergen in Norway in May 1944.

1st, 2nd and 3rd 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 the 2 September.

U-313 spent her third sortie in the Norwegian Sea.

4th, 5th and 6th 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).

7th 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 and ORP Blyskawica.