German submarine U-461

Unterseeboot 461 (U-461) was a Type XIV U-boat ("Milchkuh") of the Kriegsmarine.

Her keel was laid down December 9, 1940, by Deutsche Werke of Kiel. She was commissioned January 30, 1942 with Oberleutnant zur See Hinrich-Oscar Bernbeck in command. Bernbeck was promoted to Kapitänleutnant by April 21, 1942, when he was relieved by Korvettenkapitän Wolf-Harro Stiebler.

U-461 conducted six patrols. As a supply boat, she avoided combat.

On July 30, 1943, in the Bay of Biscay northwest of Cape Ortegal, Spain, U-461 was sunk by Australian Sunderland aircraft from No. 461 Squadron RAAF piloted by Flight-Lieutenant Dudley Marrows. Coincidentally this aircraft had the registration "U", also making it known as U-461. As a result of the pilot dropping an inflatable dinghy after the attack, fifteen of her crew survived; 53 were killed.

See Also: List of U-boats