German submarine U-302

German submarine U-302 was a Type VIIC U-boat of the Nazi German Kriegsmarine during World War II. The submarine was laid down on 2 April 1941 at the Flender Werke yard at Lübeck as 'werk' 302, launched on 25 April 1942 and commissioned on 16 June under the command of Kapitänleutnant Herbert Sackel.

During her career, the U-boat sailed on eight combat patrols, sinking three ships, before she was sunk in April 1944 in mid-Atlantic by a British frigate.

She was a member of 10 wolfpacks.

Service history
The boat's service life began with training with the 8th U-boat Flotilla in May 1942. She was then transferred to the 11th flotilla for operations on 1 December. She was reassigned to the 13th flotilla on 1 June 1943 and moved again to the 9th flotilla on 1 November.

The boat made the short journey from Kiel in Germany to Bergen in Norway, arriving on 1 December 1942.

1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th patrols
The submarine's first patrol began with her departure from Bergen on 2 January 1943.

Her fourth sortie finished in Narvik on 15 March 1943.

None of them was eventful.

The U-boat then made short voyages from Narvik to Trondheim to Hammerfest, (the latter lying in the far north of Norway).

5th and 6th patrols
Her fifth patrol took her around Bear Island, west of Svalbard, then around Bear Island again.

Her sixth effort was successful in that she sank the Soviet Dikson near Mona Island on 22 August 1943.

7th patrol
Leaving Trondheim on 6 December 1943, she passed through the 'gap' between Iceland and the Faroe Islands. She arrived at La Pallice in occupied France, on 30 January 1944.

8th patrol and loss
Her last patrol was her most successful, sinking the Ruth I and the South America on 6 April 1944.

She was also sunk on the 6th by depth charges from the British frigate HMS Swale northwest of the Azores.

Fifty-one men died; there were no survivors.