German submarine U-319

German submarine U-319 was a Type VIIC/41 U-boat of the Nazi German Kriegsmarine during World War II.

She carried out just one patrol, but did not sink any ships.

The boat was sunk in July 1944 by a British aircraft in the North Sea.

Service history
The submarine was laid down on 18 November 1942 by the Flender Werke yard at Lübeck as 'werk' 319, launched on 16 October 1943, and commissioned on 4 December under the command of Oberleutnant Johannes Clemens.

She served with the 4th U-boat Flotilla for training, from 4 December 1943 to 1 June 1944 and the same organization for operations until her sinking on 15 July 1944.

Having made the short journey from Kiel in Germany to Stavanger in Norway in June 1944, she commenced her first and only patrol on 5 July.

Fate
U-319 was sunk by a British B-24 Liberator of 206 Squadron RAF in the North Sea, southwest of Lindesnes, on 15 July 1944. Fifty-one men from the U-boat died. There were no survivors. The aircraft failed to return; it was presumably shot down by the U-boat's anti-aircraft defences. A crewman's body was picked up the next day. Clemens' remains were recovered and interred at the military cemetery in Stavanger.