Career

Patrol 3 3 March 1945. Left for British coastal waters, the boat was ordered into the area off Anglesey. From late March U 1024 was operating in the Irish Sea. On 5 April 1945 she reported a corvette sunk but there is no confirmation of this. U 1024 attacked the huge convoy HX 346 on the 7th north west of Holyhead, damaging the SS James W Nesmith (Am. 7176t), and on the 12th, in the same area, the boat torpedoed and damaged the SS Will Rogers (Am. 7200t). She also reported two ships sunk in the same attack but there is no confirmation of this. In the late evening of the 12th U 1024 was located by the frigate HMS Loch Glendhu of the 8th Escort Group. The boat was forced to the surface by a Squid attack. Ships of the Group opened fire and HMS Loch Achray fired depth-charges. U 1024’s crew was seen to be abandoning ship and the firing ceased. It is believed that U 1024’s commander, KL Gutteck, was wounded during the firing and that he then shot himself. The boat was boarded by a party from HMS Loch More and valuable documents were found. U 1024 was taken in tow by Loch More but she foundered (in position 53°39’N, 05°03’west ) in the morning of the 13th after the towline parted in thick fog. Nine men, including the commander, were lost and another 37 men were picked up.