Type: IX-C40
Built by: AG Weser (Bremen)
Launched: 9 January 1942
Commissioned: 1 April 1942
Feldpost Nr.: M44100
Sunk: 23 April 1945
Sunk by: USS BESUGO
Location sunk: Java Sea
Position sunk: 04º 57’S x 112º 52’E (only 1 survivor)

The first Skipper of U-183 was Fregattenkapitän Heinrich Schäfer from 1 April 1942 until he returned from patrol in October/November 1943. He also commanded UIT-23, the former Italian submarine REGINALDO GIULIANI. The next and last Skipper of U-183 was Kapitänleutnant Fritz Schneewind who was lost with the boat. Schneewind also commanded U-511 previously.

U-183 was assigned to the 4th U-Bootflottille at Stettin from April 1942 through September 1942; then to the famed 2nd U-bootflottille based at Lorient from October 1942 through September 1944 and finally to the 33rd U-bootflottille from October 1944 until her loss.

After her working up trials in the Baltic while based at Stetin, U-183 was transferred to her frontbase (combat base), the 2nd U-bootflottille at Lorient. She undertook a patrol off Newfoundland and in the Gulf of St. Lawrence over October and November of 1942. Her second war patrol took her into the Caribbean and the Gulf of Mexico over February and March of 1943. Then she was transferred to the Far East.

U-183 was flying a Japanese flag as a recognition signal when she was spotted by USS BESUGO under command of Commander Herman Miller. To be certain of a success, Miller fired a spread of six torpedoes and at least one hit. One or more of the others passed over the spot where U-183 once had been, as the first hit sank her in just one second. Only one survivor, Karl Wisniewski, was found in the water. He began his ‘Eternal Patrol’ in 1990 in Cuxhaven.

SHIPS SUNK BY U-183 UNDER SCHÄFER
06.11.42	unknown	??? stmr	unknown
(Schäfer fired two torpedoes at a tanker and a destroyer. After nearly three minutes, two detonations were heard. There was no confirmation.)
5.6.44	EMPIRE DABCHINK	Brit stmr	6,089 GRT
11.03.43	OLANCHO	Hond stmr	2,493 GRT
On 19 August 1943, U-183 fired at an independently running ship and heard two hits without detonations. No damage.
SHIPS SUNK BY U-183 UNDER SCHNEEWIND
29.02.44	PALMA	Brit stmr	5,419 GRT
09.03.44	BRITISH LOYALTY	Brit stmr	6,993 GRT
BRITISH LOYALTY was at anchor at the SW entrance of the harbor at Addu Atoll and sank, fully engulfed in flames. She was later refloated, but was ultimately scrapped.
5.6.44	HELLEN MOLLER	Brit stmr	5,259 GRT