U 108 (Navy)

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U 108 (Kriegsmarine)
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Type : IX B
Field Post Number : M 27 968
Shipyard: AG Weser , Bremen
Construction contract: May 24, 1938
Build number: 971
Keel laying: December 27, 1939
Launch: July 15, 1940
Commissioning: October 22, 1940
Commanders:
Calls: 11 activities
Sinkings:

26 ships (135,167 GRT)

Whereabouts: Sunk in a bomb attack in Stettin on April 11, 1944, lifted and decommissioned there on July 17, 1944

U 108 was a German submarine from the Type IX B , which in World War II by the German navy was used.

history

The order for the boat was awarded to AG Weser in Bremen on May 24, 1938 . The keel was laid on December 27, 1939, the launch on June 15, 1940, the commissioning under Lieutenant Klaus Scholtz finally took place on October 22, 1940. Like many German submarines of its time,  108 also bore a boat symbol selected by the crew: a white polar bear on an ice floe. The boat also bore the coat of arms of its godfather city, Danzig .

After its commissioning on October 22, 1940 to January 31, 1941, the boat belonged to the 2nd U-Flotilla as a training boat and undertook training trips from Wilhelmshaven to train the crew and to retract the boat. After the training period, U 108 belonged from February 1, 1941 to August 31, 1943 as a front boat to the 2nd U-Flotilla in Wilhelmshaven or Lorient . Then the boat came from September 1, 1943 to April 11, 1944 as a training boat for the 8th U-Flotilla in Gdansk .

Use statistics

During its service, U 108 completed eleven operations on which 26 ships with a total tonnage of 135,167 GRT were sunk.

First venture

The boat left Wilhelmshaven on February 15, 1941 at 10:00 a.m. and entered Lorient on March 12, 1941 at 9:30 a.m. On this 26-day, 4,093 nm above and 292 nm underwater undertaking in the North Atlantic , southwest of Iceland , two ships with 8,078 GRT were sunk.

  • February 22, 1941: sinking of the Dutch steamer Texelstroom ( Lage ) with 1,617 GRT. The steamer was sunk by two torpedoes . He had an unknown cargo on board and was en route from Reykjavík to Grimsby . It was a total loss with 27 dead.
  • March 1, 1941: sinking of the British steamer Effna ( Lage ) with 6,461 GRT. The steamer was sunk by two torpedoes. He had loaded 7,516 tons of steel and trucks and was on his way from Baltimore via Halifax to Newport . It was a total loss with 33 dead.

Second venture

The boat left Lorient on April 3, 1941 at 7:40 p.m. and returned there on May 2, 1941 at 8:10 p.m. A ship with 16,444 GRT was sunk on this 29 day long and 5,196 nm above and 308 nm underwater expedition in the North Atlantic, the Denmark Strait between Iceland and Greenland .

  • April 13, 1941: Sinking of the British auxiliary cruiser Rajputana ( Lage ) with 16,444 GRT. The auxiliary cruiser was sunk by eight torpedoes, six of which went wrong or failed. The ship was part of the escort of the HX-117 convoy with 43 ships. There were 40 dead and 283 survivors.

Third company

The boat left Lorient on May 25, 1941 at 6:30 p.m., and returned there on July 7, 1941 at 4:15 p.m. On this 39 day long and 7,064 nm above and 255 nm underwater expedition in the North Atlantic, southwest of Ireland and east of Newfoundland, seven ships with 26,931 GRT were sunk. On this venture, U 108 took part in the search for survivors of the German battleship Bismarck , but only found dead.

  • June 2, 1941: sinking of the British motor ship Michael E. ( Lage ) with 7,628 GRT. The ship was sunk by a torpedo. It was ballasted and on its way from Belfast to Halifax (Nova Scotia). The ship belonged to the disbanded convoy OB-327 with 41 ships. There were three dead and 59 survivors. The Michael E. was the first CAM ship (Catapult Armed Merchant) and was equipped with a catapult and a Hawker Hurricane .
  • June 8, 1941: sinking of the British steamer Baron Nairn ( Lage ) with 3,164 GRT. The steamer was sunk by two torpedoes. He drove in ballast and was on the way from Barrow to Nuevitas ( Cuba ). The ship belonged to the disbanded convoy OB-328 with 26 ships. There was one dead and 39 survivors.
  • June 8, 1941: sinking of the Greek steamer Dirphys ( Lage ) with 4,240 GRT. The steamer was sunk by a torpedo. He had loaded 6,152 tons of anthracite and was on the way from Swansea to Montreal . The ship belonged to the disbanded convoy OB-328 with 26 ships. There were six dead and 19 survivors.
  • June 10, 1941: sinking of the Norwegian steamer Christian Krohg ( Lage ) with 1,992 GRT. The steamer was sunk by a torpedo. He was in ballast and was on his way from London to Father Point ( Newfoundland ). The ship belonged to the disbanded convoy OB-328 with 26 ships. There were 23 dead and six survivors.
  • June 25, 1941: sinking of the Greek steamer Ellinico ( Lage ) with 3,059 GRT. The steamer was sunk by a torpedo. He had an unknown cargo and was en route from Liverpool to Wabana (Conception Bay). It was a total loss.
  • June 25, 1941: sinking of the Greek steamer Nicolas Pateras ( Lage ) with 4,362 GRT. The steamer was sunk by a torpedo and artillery . He drove in ballast and was on his way from Liverpool to Fathers Point (Newfoundland). It was a total loss.
  • July 1, 1941: sinking of the British steamer Toronto City ( Lage ) with 2,486 GRT. The steamer was sunk by a torpedo. He was in ballast and was on his way from St. John's to Fathers Point (Newfoundland). It was a total loss with 35 dead.

Fourth venture

The boat left Lorient on August 19, 1941 at 1:35 p.m., and returned there on October 21, 1941 at 6:00 p.m. No ships were sunk on this 63-day, 9,306-nm-long and 166.7-nm long expedition in the mid-Atlantic west of the Azorean Islands , St. Peter and Paul Islands and off Freetown .

Fifth venture

The boat left Lorient on December 9, 1941 at 9.40 a.m., and returned there on December 25, 1941 at 11.00 a.m. On this 16-day, 3,523 nm above and 156 nm underwater expedition in the Atlantic, west of Gibraltar , two ships with 7,620 GRT were sunk. U 108 belonged to the group with the code name "Seeräuber".

  • December 14, 1941: sinking of the Portuguese steamer Cassequel ( Lage ) with 4,751 GRT. The steamer was sunk by two torpedoes. He had general cargo and nine passengers on board and was on the way from Lisbon (Portugal) to Angola . There were no casualties, 44 survivors.
  • December 19, 1941: sinking of the British steamer Ruckinge ( Lage ) with 2,869 GRT. The steamer was sunk by a torpedo. He had loaded 51 t of base metals, 638 t of fabrics , 820 t of chemicals and 620 t of wood and was on the way from Lisbon to Oban . The ship belonged to convoy HG-76 with 32 ships. There were three dead and 39 survivors.

Sixth venture

The boat left Lorient on January 8, 1942 at 6.45 p.m., and returned there on January 11, 1941 at 12 p.m. to repair the throttle valve. It left Lorient on January 12, 1942 at 1.30 p.m. and returned there on March 4, 1942 at 11 a.m. On this 54 day long and 7,491 nm above and 426 nm underwater expedition in the west Atlantic and off the east coast of the USA, five ships with 20,082 GRT were sunk.

  • February 8, 1942: sinking of the British steamer Ocean Venture ( location ) with 7,174 GRT. The steamer was sunk by three torpedoes. He had loaded 9,115 tons of food and four aircraft and was on his way from Vancouver and Cristóbal to Hampton Roads . 31 dead and 14 survivors.
  • February 9, 1942: sinking of the Norwegian steamer Tolosa ( Lage ) with 1,974 GRT. The steamer was sunk by a torpedo. He had an unknown cargo on board and was en route from Kingston to Chester (Panama). It was a total loss with 22 dead.
  • February 12, 1942: sinking of the Norwegian steamer Blink ( Lage ) with 2,701 GRT. The steamer was sunk by a torpedo. He had loaded 3,600 tons of phosphate and was on the way from Tampa via Halifax (Nova Scotia) to Ipswich . There were 24 dead and twelve survivors.
  • February 16, 1942: sinking of the Panamanian steamer Ramapo with 2,968 GRT. The steamer was sunk by a torpedo. He had an unknown cargo on board and was en route from London via Bermuda to New York . It was a total loss with 31 dead.
  • February 18, 1942: sinking of the British steamer Somme ( Lage ) with 5,265 GRT. The steamer was sunk by two torpedoes. He had loaded general cargo and was on his way from London to Bermuda and Curacao . The ship belonged to the disbanded convoy ONS-62 with 34 ships. It was a total loss with 48 dead.

Seventh venture

The boat left Lorient on March 30, 1942 at 7.15 p.m., and returned there on June 1, 1942 at 9.00 a.m. On this 63 day long and 9,298 nm above and 314 nm underwater expedition in the West Atlantic, the Caribbean , the Bahamas and the Greater Antilles , five ships with 31,340 GRT were sunk. U 108 was supplied with 40 m³ of fuel by U 459 on April 19, 1942 .

  • April 25, 1942: sinking of the British steamer Modesta ( Lage ) with 3,849 GRT. The steamer was sunk by a torpedo. He had loaded 5,800 tons of bauxite and was on his way from Trinidad and St. Thomas to New York. There were 18 dead and 23 survivors.
  • April 29, 1942: Sinking of the US tanker Mobiloil ( Lage ) with 9,925 GRT. The tanker was sunk by three torpedoes and artillery. He drove in ballast and was on the way from New York via Norfolk to Caripito ( Venezuela ). There were no casualties, 52 survivors. The tanker was armed with: 1 × 4 inch , 2 × caliber 50 and 2 × caliber 30.
  • May 5, 1942: sinking of the American steamer Afoundria ( Lage ) with 5,010 GRT. The steamer was sunk by a torpedo. He had 7,500 tons of general cargo and eight passengers on board and was on the way from New Orleans to San Juan (Puerto Rico). There were no casualties, 46 survivors.
  • May 6, 1942: sinking of the Latvian steamer Abgara ( Lage ) with 4,422 GRT. The steamer was sunk by two torpedoes. He was carrying sugar and was on his way from Kingston, Jamaica to Montreal. There were no casualties, 34 survivors.
  • May 20, 1942: sinking of the Norwegian tanker Norland ( Lage ) with 8,134 GRT. The tanker was sunk by a torpedo and artillery. He drove in ballast and was on the way to Corpus Christi . The ship belonged to convoy ON-93. There were no casualties, 48 ​​survivors.

Eighth venture

The boat left Lorient on July 13, 1942 at 2.15 p.m. and returned there on September 10, 1942 at 7 p.m. On this 65-day, 9,744 nm above and 287 nm underwater expedition in the Central Atlantic, West Atlantic and southeast of Trinidad , three ships with 17,495 GRT were sunk. U 108 was supplied with 22.7 m³ of fuel by U 510 on September 2, 1942 .

  • August 3, 1942: Sinking of the British tanker Tricula ( Lage ) with 6,221 GRT. The tanker was sunk by three torpedoes. He had 8,000 tons of heating oil and two passengers on board and was on the way from Curacao and Trinidad to Cape Town . There were 49 dead (1 passenger) and ten survivors.
  • August 7, 1942: sinking of the Norwegian motor ship Brenas ( Lage ) with 2,687 GRT. The ship was sunk by two torpedoes. He had loaded 3,044 t of general cargo including cocoa beans, castor seeds, linen , beryl ore, nuts , 131 barrels of vegetable oil and mail and was on the way from Ascension to New York. There was one dead and 33 survivors.
  • August 18, 1942: sinking of the US tanker Louisiana with 8,587 GRT. The tanker was sunk by two torpedoes. He had loaded 92,514 barrels of gasoline and heavy oil and was on the way from Areno ( Aruba ) to Rio de Janeiro . It was a total loss with 49 dead.

Ninth venture

The boat left Lorient on October 25, 1942 at 10 a.m. and returned there on November 26, 1942 at 10:10 a.m. No ships were sunk or damaged on this 32-day, 4,406 nm above and 677 nm underwater expedition in the mid-Atlantic, west of Morocco . U 108 belonged to the group with the code name "Schlagetot".

Tenth venture

The boat left Lorient on January 20, 1943 at 4:30 p.m. and returned there on February 24, 1943 at 9:00 a.m. No ships were sunk or damaged on this 35-day and 4,525 nm above and 524 nm underwater venture in the Central Atlantic and the Canary Islands . U 108 was supplied with 55 m³ of fuel by U 511 on February 16, 1943 . It belonged to the group with the code name "Rochen".

Eleventh venture

The boat ran on April 1, 1943 at 18:30 from Lorient, and ran on May 11, 1943 at 10:00 am at mountains one. A ship with 7,176 GRT was sunk on this 46-day and approx. 8,900 nm over and 502 nm underwater expedition in the North Atlantic and the central North Atlantic. U 108 was supplied with 70 m³ of fuel and provisions by U 461 on May 2, 1943 . It belonged to the groups with the code names "Adler", "Meise" and "Specht". The boat left Bergen on May 11, 1943 at 10:00 p.m. for transfer to Germany, and entered Kristiansand on May 12, 1943, and left again on the same day. It entered Stettin on May 16, 1943 .

  • April 19, 1943: Sinking of the American steamer Robert Gray ( Lage ) with 7,176 GRT. The steamer was sunk by three torpedoes. He had 8,600 tons of war material loaded and was on the way from New York to Loch Ewe (Great Britain). The ship belonged to the disbanded convoy HX-234. There were no casualties, 58 survivors.

Whereabouts

The boat was sunk on April 11, 1944 in Stettin , during a shipyard stay, in an air raid by the 8th Air Force of the United States Army Air Forces by a bomb. The boat was lifted and taken out of service on July 17, 1944. There were no losses.

literature

  • Clay Blair : The Submarine War. Volume 1: The Hunters. 1939-1942. Heyne, Munich 1998, ISBN 3-453-12345-X .
  • Clay Blair: The Submarine War. Volume 2: The Hunted, 1942–1945. Heyne, Munich 1998, ISBN 3-453-16059-2 .
  • Rainer Busch, Hans-Joachim Röll: The submarine war 1939-1945. Volume 1: The German submarine commanders. ES Mittler und Sohn, Hamburg et al. 1996, ISBN 3-8132-0490-1 .
  • Rainer Busch, Hans-Joachim Röll: The submarine war 1939-1945. Volume 2: U-boat construction in German shipyards. ES Mittler und Sohn, Hamburg et al. 1997, ISBN 3-8132-0512-6 .
  • Rainer Busch, Hans-Joachim Röll: The submarine war 1939-1945. Volume 3: German submarine successes from September 1939 to May 1945. ES Mittler und Sohn, Hamburg et al. 2001, ISBN 3-8132-0513-4 .
  • Rainer Busch, Hans-Joachim Röll: The submarine war 1939-1945. Volume 4: German submarine losses from September 1939 to May 1945. ES Mittler und Sohn, Hamburg et al. 1999, ISBN 3-8132-0514-2 .
  • Rainer Busch, Hans-Joachim Röll: The submarine war 1939-1945. Volume 5: The knight's cross bearers of the submarine weapon from September 1939 to May 1945. ES Mittler and Son, Hamburg et al. 2003, ISBN 3-8132-0515-0 .
  • Erich Gröner : Die Handelsflotten der Welt 1942 and supplement 1944. JF Lehmanns Verlag, Munich 1976, ISBN 3-469-00552-4 (reprint of the 1942–1943 edition).
  • Erich Gröner: Search list for ship names (= The merchant fleets of the world. Supplementary volume). JF Lehmanns Verlag Munich 1976, ISBN 3-469-00553-2 (reprint of the 1943 edition).
  • Paul Kemp: The German and Austrian submarine losses in both world wars. Urbes Verlag, Graefelfing before Munich 1998, ISBN 3-924896-43-7 .

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Georg Högel: Emblems, coats of arms, Malings German submarines 1939-1945. 5th edition. Koehlers Verlagsgesellschaft mbH, Hamburg 2009, page 57

See also

Web links