Action of 23 April 1945

Action of 23 April 1945
Part of World War II, Pacific War
The wreck of U-138.
Date 23 April 1945 Location off Borneo, Java Sea, Southeast Asia 04.50S, 112.52E Result United States victory
Belligerents
United States	Nazi Germany
Commanders and leaders
Herman Edward Miller	Fritz Schneewind
Strength
1 submarine	1 submarine
Casualties and losses
none	54 killed, 1 wounded prisoner, 1 submarine sunk

The Action of 23 April 1945 was a submarine engagement of World War II that occurred in the Java Sea between Nazi Germany and the United States. It resulted in the last sinking of a German U-boat in Asian waters during the Pacific War and was one of only a few actions of the theater involving German forces.

Action

United States Navy personnel on USS Besugo, under the command of Lieutenant Commander Herman Edward Miller, made radar contact with U-183 at about 01:00 off the southern coast of Borneo while patrolling the area. Underwater, the Americans fired a spread of torpedoes and one struck the U-boat which had a Japanese flag painted on the side, it sank quickly at position 04° 50′S, 112° 52′E with 54 men still aboard, including Kapitänleutnant (Lieutenant Commander) Fritz Schneewind. Afterward, the Americans surfaced and rescued one wounded German warrant officer and took him prisoner.

See also

• Action of 14 February 1944
• Action of 6 October 1944