U 126 (Navy)

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U 126 (Kriegsmarine)
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Type : IX C
Field Post Number : M-40 082
Shipyard: AG Weser , Bremen
Construction contract: August 7, 1939
Build number: 989
Keel laying: June 1, 1940
Launch: December 31, 1940
Commissioning: March 22, 1941
Commanders:
Calls: 6 activities
Sinkings:

26 ships (125,642 GRT, 220 dead)

Whereabouts: sunk in the North Atlantic on July 3, 1943 (55 dead, no survivors)

U 126 was a German submarine from the Type IX C , which in World War II by the German navy was used. In its six patrols it sank 26 ships with 125,642 GRT, where 220 people died. When it was sunk on July 3, 1943 in the North Atlantic by a British aircraft, all of its 55 crew members died.

history

The order for the boat was awarded to AG Weser in Bremen on August 7, 1939 . The keel was laid on June 1, 1940, the launch on December 31, 1940, and commissioning under Lieutenant Ernst Bauer on March 22, 1941.

The boat was assigned to the 2nd U-Flotilla in Wilhelmshaven as a training boat. It undertook training trips until July 1941, before operating in the 2nd U-Flotilla from Lorient from September 1941 until it was sunk on July 3, 1943 .

U 126 ran out to six companies, on which 26 ships with a total tonnage of 125,642  GRT were sunk and four ships with 30,506 GRT were damaged.

Use statistics

First venture

The boat was on July 5, 1941 at 5:00 from Kiel, and ran on July 6, 1941 at 6:25 in Kristiansand one. It left there again on July 7, 1941 at 6:27 a.m. and entered Lorient on August 24, 1941. On this trip, which lasted 29 days and was about 9,200 nm above and 250 nm under water, in the North Atlantic and between Gibraltar and the Azorean Islands , four ships with 5,400 GRT were sunk and one ship with 8,293 GRT was damaged.

  • July 27, 1941: sinking of the British steamer Erato ( Lage ) with 1,335 GRT. The steamer was sunk by a torpedo . He had loaded 1,200 tons of military equipment and 732 tons of general cargo and was on the way from Liverpool to Porto and Gibraltar . The ship belonged to convoy OG-69 with 27 ships. There were nine dead and 27 survivors.
  • July 27, 1941: sinking of the Norwegian steamer Inga I ( Lage ) with 1,304 GRT. The steamer was sunk by a torpedo. He had loaded 1,670 tons of coke and coal and was on the way from the Tyne to Gibraltar . The ship belonged to convoy OG-69 with 27 ships. There were three dead and 16 survivors.
  • 4th August 1941: Sinking of the British fish liner Robert Max ( Lage ) with 172 GRT. The steamer was sunk by artillery. He had loaded 200 tons of stockfish and was on his way to Lisbon . There were no casualties, seven survivors.
  • August 14, 1941: sinking of the Yugoslav steamer Sud ( Lage ) with 2,589 GRT. The steamer was sunk by a torpedo and artillery. He was ballasted and on his way from Gibraltar to Halifax . There were no casualties, 33 survivors. Convoy HG 70.

Second venture

The boat left Lorient on September 24, 1941 at 7.37 p.m. and returned there on December 13, 1941 at 12.27 p.m. On this 78-day and 12,450 nm over and 363.5 nm underwater expedition in the mid-Atlantic , the Guinea coast , north of the island of Ascension , and the south Atlantic , three ships with 16,870 GRT and one ship with 6,696 GRT were sunk so badly damaged that it was considered a total loss. U 126 was supplied by Atlantis on November 22, 1941 . Shortly afterwards, the Atlantis was attacked and self-sunk by its crew . U 126 took 107 men on board and towed six lifeboats with 210 men. They were delivered to the supply ship Python on November 24, 1941 , while the submarine was also supplied with fuel.

  • October 10, 1941: sinking of the British steamer Nailsea Manor ( Lage ) with 4,926 GRT. The steamer was sunk by a torpedo. He had loaded 6,000 tons of military equipment including 1,000 tons of ammunition as well as the armored landing craft (Landing Craft Tank) HMS LCT-102 as deck cargo and was on the way from Newport and Belfast via Freetown to Suez . The ship was a straggler in convoy OS-7 with 41 ships. There were no deaths, 42 survivors.
  • October 19, 1941: Sinking of the US steamer Lehigh ( Lage ) with 4,983 GRT. The steamer was sunk by a torpedo. He drove in ballast and was on the way from Bilbao to Takoradi . There were no deaths, 44 survivors.
  • 20 October 1941: Damage to the British tanker British Mariner with 6,996 GRT. The tanker was damaged by a torpedo. He drove in ballast and was on the way from Freetown (Sierra Leone) to Curaçao . There were three dead and 48 survivors. The tanker was towed to Freetown on October 22, 1941, where it was used as a Hulk (counted as a total loss).
  • November 13, 1941: sinking of the British motor ship Peru ( Lage ) with 6,961 GRT. The ship was sunk by two torpedoes. It had loaded 3,001 t of pig iron , 4,184 t of peanuts and 2,082 t of general cargo and was on its way from Calcutta via Cape Town and Freetown (Sierra Leone) to Great Britain. There were no dead, 50 survivors.

Third company

The boat left Lorient on February 2, 1942 at 7 p.m., and returned there on March 29, 1942 at 10.16 a.m. During this 45-day and approximately 8,300 nm above and 340 nm underwater expedition in the North Atlantic, west of Cuba , the Caribbean , the Bahamas , as well as off Florida and the western Atlantic, seven ships with 32,955 GRT and two ships with 16,016 were sunk BRT damaged.

  • March 2, 1942: sinking of the Norwegian steamer Gunny ( Lage ) with 2,362 GRT. The steamer was sunk by a torpedo. He had loaded 3,100 t of manganese ore and 3,674 t of mahogany wood and was on the way from Takoradi (Ghana) via Trinidad to New York. There were 24 dead and twelve survivors.
  • March 5, 1942: sinking of the US steamer Mariana ( Lage ) with 3,110 GRT. The steamer was sunk by a torpedo. He had sugar loaded and was on his way from Guanica to Boston . It was a total loss with 36 dead. The steamer was armed with 1 × 4 inch cannon (10.2 cm), 1 × 3 inch cannon (7.62 cm) and 8 × MK 20 mm.
  • March 7, 1942: sinking of the American steamer Barbara ( Lage ) with 4,637 GRT. The steamer was sunk by a torpedo. He had 4,015 tons of general cargo and 27 passengers on board and was on the way from Baltimore to San Juan . 18 crew members and eight passengers were killed, 40 crew members and 19 passengers were rescued.
  • March 7, 1942: Sinking of the US steamer Cardonia ( Lage ) with 5,104 GRT. The steamer was sunk by a torpedo and artillery. He had loaded 81 tons of general cargo and was on the way from Ponce to Guayabal ( Cuba ). There was one dead and 37 survivors.
  • March 8, 1942: Damage to the Panamanian tanker Esso Bolivar with 10,389 GRT. The tanker was damaged by a torpedo and artillery. He was in ballast and was on his way from New York to Aruba. There were eight dead and 42 survivors. The tanker entered Guantanamo Bay and was repaired.
  • March 9, 1942: sinking of the Panamanian tanker Hanseat with 8,241 GRT. The tanker was sunk by two torpedoes and artillery. He was in ballast and was on his way from New York to Caripito . There were no casualties, 39 survivors.
  • March 12, 1942: sinking of the US steamer Texan ( Lage ) with 7,005 GRT. The steamer was sunk by a torpedo. He had loaded 10,915 t of general cargo and was on the way from New York via Port of Spain and Trinidad to Rio de Janeiro . There were nine dead and 38 survivors.
  • March 12, 1942: sinking of the US steamer Olga ( Lage ) with 2,496 GRT. The steamer was sunk by a torpedo. He was ballasted and on his way from Port Everglades to Baracoa . There was one dead and 32 survivors.
  • March 13, 1942: Damage to the US steamer Colabee with 5,518 GRT. The steamer was damaged by a torpedo. He had loaded 38,600 sacks of sugar and was on the way from Port Tarafa (Cuba) to Baltimore (USA). There were 33 dead and four survivors. The steamer was brought in and repaired.

Fourth venture

The boat left Lorient on April 25, 1942 at 8.45 p.m., and returned there on July 25, 1942 at 7.40 a.m. On this 91-day and 13,763 nm above and 683 nm underwater undertaking in the North Atlantic, the northern Brazilian coast , the Caribbean and the western Atlantic, seven ships with 41,803 GRT were sunk and one ship with 7,104 GRT was damaged. U 126 was supplied with 42 m³ of fuel by U 460 on July 12, 1942 .

  • June 4, 1942: sinking of the Norwegian tanker Høegh Giant ( Lage ) with 10,990 GRT. The tanker was sunk by three torpedoes. He drove in ballast and was on the way from Freetown (Sierra Leone) to Trinidad. There were no casualties, 39 survivors.
  • June 15, 1942: sinking of the British sailing ship Dutch Princess ( Lage ) with 125 GRT. The sailor was sunk by artillery. He was loaded with salt and was on his way from Anguilla to Barbados . There were no casualties, nine survivors.
  • June 16, 1942: sinking of the US steamer Arkansan ( Lage ) with 6,997 GRT. The steamer was sunk by a torpedo. He had loaded 9,000 tons of general cargo and coffee and was on the way from Port of Spain (Trinidad) to New Orleans (USA). There were four dead and 36 survivors.
  • June 16, 1942: sinking of the US steamer Kahuku ( Lage ) with 6,062 GRT. The steamer was sunk by three torpedoes and artillery. He had loaded 7,000 tons of tractors and spare parts and was on his way from New York to Trinidad. There were 17 dead and 92 survivors.
  • June 27, 1942: sinking of the Norwegian tanker Leiv Eiriksson ( Lage ) with 9,952 GRT. The tanker was sunk by two torpedoes. He had 14,336 t of fuel and was on the way from Trinidad to Gibraltar. There were four dead and 40 survivors.
  • June 29, 1942: sinking of the Canadian sailing ship Mona Marie ( Lage ) with 126 GRT. The sailor was sunk by artillery and demolition. He had empty Petroleum - barrels loaded and was on his way from Bridgetown to Trinidad. There were no casualties, eight survivors.
  • July 1, 1942: sinking of the US steamer Warrior ( Lage ) with 7,551 GRT. The steamer was sunk by a torpedo. He had loaded 10,080 tons of war cargo and was on the way from New York to Bandar ( Iran ). There were seven dead and 49 survivors. The steamer was armed with 1 x 4 inch cannon (10.2 cm), 1 x 3 inch cannon (7.62 cm), 4 x MG cal. 50 (12.7 mm) and 2 x MG cal .30 (7.62mm).
  • July 3, 1942: Damage to the US tanker Gulfbelle with 7,104 GRT. The tanker was damaged by a torpedo. He drove in ballast and was on his way from Belém to Aruba . There were ten dead and 39 survivors. The tanker was repaired in Mobile until July 1943.

Fifth venture

The boat left Lorient on September 19, 1942 at 6.15 p.m. and returned there on January 7, 1943 at 11.00 a.m. On this 99 day long and 16,993 nm above and 576 nm underwater undertaking in the Central Atlantic, the Congo estuary , the Gulf of Guinea and the Cape Verde Islands, three ships with 14,536 GRT were sunk. U 126 was supplied with 90 m² of fuel by U 461 on December 9, 1942 .

  • November 1, 1942: sinking of the American steamer George Thacher ( Lage ) with 7,176 GRT. The steamer was sunk by two torpedoes. He had loaded 4,005 t of war material including cars , gasoline, construction machinery and was on the way from Charleston via Freetown (Sierra Leone) and Takoradi (Ghana) to Point Norre (Africa). There were 18 dead and 48 survivors. The steamer was armed with 1 x 4 inch cannon (10.2 cm), 1 x 3 inch cannon (7.62 cm) and 4 x MK 20 mm.
  • November 4, 1942: sinking of the British steamer Oued Grou ( Lage ) with 792 GRT. The steamer was sunk by a torpedo. He drove in ballast and was on the way from Takoradi (Ghana) and Lagos to Port Harcourt . There were five dead and 34 survivors.
  • November 5, 1942: sinking of the British steamer New Toronto ( Lage ) with 6,568 GRT. The steamer was sunk by three torpedoes. He had 8,000 tons of general cargo including 23 tons of tungsten , 12 tons of tin , 45 tons of kapok , 240 tons of cotton , 140 tons of palm oil , mail, grass seeds , three boxes of gold and 29 cattle breeders on board and was on the way from Forcados and Lagos (Nigeria) to Liverpool. The ship belonged to convoy TS-23 with seven ships. Three crew members and one rancher were killed, 57 crew members and 28 rancher were rescued.

Sixth venture

The boat left Lorient on March 20, 1943, and was sunk on July 3, 1943. On this 75-day undertaking in the mid-Atlantic and off Freetown (Sierra Leone), a ship with 7,177 GRT was sunk and a ship with 6,197 GRT was damaged. U 126 was supplied with 70 m³ of fuel by U 460 on May 17, 1943 .

  • May 30, 1943: Damage to the US steamer Flora MacDonald with 7,177 GRT by a torpedo. The steamer transported 3,750 tons of cocoa , 2,000 tons of mahogany wood, 500 tons of rubber and 20 tons of piassava fibers and was on the way from Marshall ( Liberia ) to Freetown (Sierra Leone). There were seven dead and 63 survivors. The ship was towed to Freetown, burning, and stranded. It burned there for 16 days and was declared a total loss. The steamer was armed with 1 × 5 inch cannon (12.7 cm) and 9 × MK 20 mm.
  • June 2, 1943: Damage to the British tanker Standella with 6,197 GRT. The tanker was damaged by a torpedo. He drove in ballast and was on the way from Marshall (Liberia) to Freetown (Sierra Leone). There were no casualties, 72 survivors. Convoy TS-42.

Whereabouts

U 154 , also a type IX C submarine, has been patrollingoff the east coast of South Americaunder Oberleutnant zur See Oskar Kusch since April 1943. The inexperienced commander attacked a convoy at the end of May 1943, damaging some US ships. He then reported to the submarine command that his Metox device was malfunctioning and was instructed to return home. Since U 126 had been badly damagedoff Freetown in mid-June 1943, the submarine command decided that both boats should return to France together in order to be able to protect each other. U 126 and U 154 met for this at the end of June 1943 near the Azores. On July 3, 1943, U 126 was located in the North Atlantic 200 nm (370 km) northwest of Cape Ortegal by the Wellington R of British Squadron 172 with radar . The pilot, Alex Coumbis from Rhodesien , detected the submarine with Leigh light -Suchscheinwerfer and put it with eight depth charges on the position of 46 ° 2 '  N , 11 ° 23'  W all 55 members of the crew arrived at the Marine-grid square BF 4744. about life. Lieutenant Kusch had observed the attack up close, but misinterpreted what had happened. Assuming that Lieutenant Kietz hadfled into the depths in good timewith U 126 and had survived the attack, Kusch reported to the submarine command that the attack had been unsuccessful. U 154 reached Lorient three days later without further incidents.

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).

See also

Web links