German submarine U-301

German submarine U-301 was a Type VIIC U-boat of the Nazi German Kriegsmarine during World War II. The submarine was laid down on 12 February 1941 at the Flender Werke yard at Lübeck, launched on 25 March 1942, and commissioned on 9 May 1942 under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Willy-Roderich Körner. During her short career the U-boat sailed on three combat patrols, without sinking or damaging any ships, before she was sunk on 21 January 1943.

1st patrol
After training with the 5th U-boat Flotilla at Kiel, U-301 was transferred to the 1st U-boat Flotilla based at Brest in France, for front-line service on 1 October 1942. On that day U-301 departed Kiel and sailed out into the middle of the Atlantic, operating as part of wolfpacks 'Panther', 'Puma' and 'Südwärts', before arriving at Brest on 7 November.

2nd patrol
U-301 sailed from Brest on 3 December 1942 through the Strait of Gibraltar into the Mediterranean Sea and on to the U-boat base at La Spezia in northern Italy, arriving on 14 December.

3rd patrol
Transferred to the 29th U-boat Flotilla on 1 January 1943, U-301 sailed on her third and final patrol on 20 January. The next day, U-301 was sunk west of Bonifacio, Corsica, in position 41.45°N, 7.06667°W by torpedoes from the British submarine HMS Sahib (P212). According to Sahib's log the U-boat was first spotted proceeding on the surface early that morning at a distance of 4.5 mi. The Sahib closed to 2.6 mi and into a more favourable position before firing a full salvo of six torpedoes at five second intervals. Three minutes later three explosions were heard, a large cloud of smoke was seen and it was noted that radio transmissions stopped. Sahib closed and recovered the only survivor from the 46 crew, 19-year old Fähnrich zur See Wilhelm Rahn.