Type: JX-C40
Built by: Seebeckwerft (Bremerhaven)
Launched: 5 March 1942
Commissioned: 10 September 1942
Feldpost Nr.: M49033
Sunk: 5 October 1944
Sunk by: RN submarine ZWAARDVISCH
Location sunk: off Java
Position sunk: 06.20S x 111.28E (23 men lost)

The only Skipper of U-168 was Kapitanleutnant Helmuth Pich from commissioning to the end of the boat. U-168 was attached to the famed 2nd U-Bootflotille at Lorient. After one patrol in the North Atlantic, she departed Lorient 3 July 1943 and was then attached to the 33rd U-Bootflotille. When sunk by the Royal Norwegian submarine ZWAARDVISCH, twenty-two survivors were rescued.

SHIPS SUNK BY U-168 UNDER PICH
12.04.43	unknown	unknown	unknown
(U-168 fired all six torpedoes and heard detonations. Another boat, U-563, reported three ships sunk and one damaged. U-168 saw a tanker on fire. Another boat, U-706, reported the sinking of a burning vessel by its own escort.)
15.2.44	see below
15.2.45	see below	(U-168 reported sinking three sailing freighters by gunfire on 1 October and another three sailing freight vessels on 2 October, also by gunfire.)
14.02.44	SALVIKING	Brit repair	1,440 GRT
15.2.44	EPAMINONDAS C EMBIRICOS	Grk stmr	4,385 GRT
SHIPS DAMAGED BY U-168 UNDER PICH
21.02.44	FENRIS	Norw Tnkr	9,804 GRT

The 'Other' Mission of U-168

The Japanese were getting quite close to their first atomic explosion and Drs. Odan, Asahina and Yukawa needed certain raw materials from their ally Germany. U-168 was en route from Europe to Japan with war material on board. Surabaya in Java was still held by the Japanese and was a port of call for these far-traveling U- boats. Due to the work of the American codebreakers, the American forces in Fremantle, Australia alerted the Royal Norwegian submarine ZWAARDVISCH (it means SWORDFISH) which was holding station nearby. CDR H. A. W. Goossens took this British- built boat, manned by a Dutch crew, off Surabaya and laid 'in wait. He later reported that U-168 was five minutes late but he fired four torpedoes and hit U-168 which immediately blew up and sank in 120 feet of water. It was later learned that U-168 carried radar in her cargo for Japan but what else was on board? Did U-168 carry uranium for the Japanese atomic bomb effort as do many other boats?

Maybe HEINZ HEUCKEROTH (4190-1995) could tell us. Here is what he wrote to us so far:

"In case you do not know the facts and biggest adventure of U-168 (my boat) I will be glad to share it with you and our readers of SHARK-HUNTERS KTB Magazine.

Picking up the complete crew of our supply ship BRAKE. All 144 crew into our small sub U-168. After 14 horrid days we arrived at the port or Batavia (now named Jakarta). BRAKE also supplied U-168 on its first trip to the Far East around October 1943. Again on the homeward voyage, January - February 1944 U-168 met the BRAKE near Madagascar for refueling and supplies. The BRAKE had to be scuttled because of a superior fleet of British and Australian warships."

HEINZ - Vielen Dank for this great information...now, what about the wartime cargo? In addition to the radar we know was aboard, what else was carried on your boat? Thanks in advance.