U 20 (Navy)
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U 20 (Kriegsmarine) ( previous / next - all submarines ) |
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| Type : | II B |
| Field Post Number : | M 29 241 |
| Shipyard: | Germania shipyard , Kiel |
| Construction contract: | February 2, 1935 |
| Build number: | 550 |
| Keel laying: | August 1, 1935 |
| Launch: | January 14, 1936 |
| Commissioning: | February 1, 1936 |
| Commanders: |
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| Calls: | 16 patrols |
| Sinkings: |
15 ships (39,637 GRT ) + 1 ship damaged (844 GRT) |
| Whereabouts: | self-sunk on September 10, 1944 |
U 20 was a German submarine of type II B , which in the Second World War by the Navy was used.
history
The building contract for the boat was awarded to the Germania shipyard in Kiel on February 2, 1935 . The keel was laid on August 1, 1935, the launch on January 14, 1936 and commissioning under Lieutenant Hans Eckermann on February 1, 1936.
The boat belonged to the U-Flotilla “Weddigen” or the U-Flotilla “Lohs” in Kiel until December 31, 1939 . After the reorganization of the U-Flotilla U 20 came back to the 1st U-Flotilla "Weddingen" in Kiel. After being taken out of service as a front boat, the boat served from May 1, 1940 to June 30, 1940 as a training boat in the 1st U-Flotilla and from July 1, 1940 to September 30, 1942 in the 21st U-Flotilla in Pillau .
In October 1942, the boat was taken out of service at Deutsche Werken and then transported to the Black Sea via inland waterways and land routes . There it was upgraded by Galați on the Romanian Danube shipyard and put into service again on May 27, 1943. After that it belonged to the boats of the 30th U-Flotilla stationed in Constanța until it was scuttled on September 10, 1944 .
U 20 undertook a total of 16 patrols , on which 15 ships with a total tonnage of 39,637 GRT were sunk.
Use statistics
First patrol
The boat left Kiel on August 25, 1939 at 4:15 a.m. and returned there on September 20, 1939 at 9:39 a.m. No ships were sunk or damaged on this 27-day expedition in the North Sea .
Second patrol
The boat left Kiel on September 29, 1939 at 2:00 a.m. and returned there on October 17, 1939 at 9:02 a.m. No ships were sunk or damaged on this 19-day expedition in the North Sea.
Third patrol
The boat left Wilhelmshaven on November 18, 1939 at 12:40 p.m. and returned there on November 23, 1939 at 12:00 p.m. In the six-day minelaying company in Newwarp- lightship nine were mines laid, ran on the two ships and sank.
- November 29, 1939: sinking of the British steamer Ionian (3,114 GRT) ( location ) by a mine hit. His cargo included 200 tons of currants and 50 tons of wool . He was en route from Heraklion via London to Kingston upon Hull and was part of the coastal convoy FN-43 with 23 ships. There were no deaths, 37 survivors.
- December 10, 1939: The British steamer Willowpool (4,815 GRT) is sunk by a mine hit. He had loaded 7,850 tons of iron ore and was on the way from Bône ( Algeria ) to Middlesbrough . He belonged to the disbanded convoy HG-9 with 53 ships. There were no deaths, 36 survivors.
Fourth patrol
The boat left Kiel on December 7, 1939 at 2:00 a.m. and returned there on December 13, 1939 at 7:10 a.m. On this seven-day and approximately 1,100 nm long undertaking off the British east coast, two ships with a total of 2,914 GRT were sunk.
- December 9, 1939: Sinking of the Danish steamer Magnus (1,339 GRT) ( location ) by a G7e torpedo . He drove in ballast and was en route from Denmark to Methil on the Firth of Forth in Scotland . There was one dead.
- December 10, 1939: The Norwegian steamer Føina (1,674 GRT) is sunk by a G7e torpedo. He had loaded coal and was on his way from Sarpsborg to Gothenburg . It was a total loss with 18 dead.
Fifth patrol
The boat left Kiel on January 6, 1940 at 5:15 a.m. and entered Wilhelmshaven on January 16, 1940. A ship with 1,524 GRT was sunk on this ten-day and 1,502-nm-long expedition on the Scottish east coast.
- January 13, 1940: sinking of the Swedish steamer Sylvia (1,524 GRT) ( location ) by a G7a torpedo. He had loaded coal and was on his way from Kingston upon Hull to Gothenburg. It was a total loss with 20 dead.
Sixth patrol
The boat left Wilhelmshaven on January 21, 1940 at 5:15 a.m. and returned there on February 4, 1940. Four ships with a total of 6,848 GRT were sunk on this 15-day and 1,166 nm above and 127 nm underwater expedition in the North Sea.
- January 27, 1940: Damage to the Norwegian steamer Faro (844 GRT). The steamer was so badly damaged by a G7e torpedo that it was stranded and abandoned as a total loss. He drove in ballast and was on the way from Sarpsborg (Norway) to Methil. There were seven dead and eight survivors.
- January 27, 1940: Sinking of the Norwegian steamer Hosanger (1,591 GRT) ( location ) by a G7e torpedo. He was in ballast and was on his way to Scotland. There were 17 dead and one survivor.
- January 27, 1940: sinking of the Danish steamer Fredensborg (2,094 GRT) ( location ) by a G7a torpedo. He was ballasted and on his way from Copenhagen to Great Britain.
- January 27, 1940: The Danish steamer England (2,319 GRT) is sunk by a G7e torpedo. He had an unknown cargo and was on his way from Copenhagen to Blyth . There were 20 dead and one survivor.
Seventh patrol
The boat left Wilhelmshaven on February 27, 1940 and returned there on March 4, 1940 at 4:30 p.m. On this eight-day and approximately 770 nm above and 78 nm underwater expedition in the North Sea, two ships with a total of 9,551 GRT were sunk.
- February 29, 1940: sinking of the Italian steamer Maria Rosa (4,211 GRT) ( location ) by a G7e torpedo. He drove in ballast and was on his way from Marseille to Hartlepool . There were 17 dead and twelve survivors.
- March 1, 1940: Sinking of the Italian steamer Mirella (5,340 GRT) ( location ) by a G7e torpedo. It had 6,900 tons of coal loaded and was on the way from the Tyne to Livorno . There were 29 dead and one survivor.
Eighth patrol
The boat left Wilhelmshaven on March 14, 1940 at 2:17 p.m. and returned there on March 22, 1940 at 1:46 p.m. No ships were sunk or damaged during this nine-day and approx. 700 nm above and 47 nm underwater undertaking to hunt submarines.
Ninth patrol
The boat left Constanța on June 22, 1943 at 1:30 p.m. and returned there on June 29, 1943 at 11:00 a.m. No ships were sunk or damaged during this eight-day, 1,149 nm above and 63 nm underwater expedition in the Black Sea . On June 26, 1943, U-20 attempted to torpedo a Soviet submarine fighter in the Black Sea off Tuapse , but the target went on the offensive and dropped eight depth charges. The boat was then held under water by airplanes with depth charges for four hours. It was then forced to return to base due to mechanical disturbances.
Tenth patrol
The boat left Constanța on July 11, 1943 at 10.15 a.m. and returned there on August 7, 1943 at 1.30 p.m. No ships were sunk or damaged during this 28-day, 3,039 nm above and 370 nm underwater expedition in the Black Sea.
Eleventh patrol
The boat left Constanța on September 16, 1943 at 2:00 p.m. and returned there on October 12, 1943 at 4:10 p.m. No ships were sunk or damaged during this 31-day, 2,876 nm above and 460 nm underwater operation in the Black Sea, during which nine mines were laid off Poti .
Twelfth patrol
The boat left Constanța on November 8, 1943 and returned there on December 9, 1943 at 10:00. No ships were sunk or damaged during this 25-day expedition in the Black Sea off the Caucasus coast.
Thirteenth patrol
The boat left Constanța on January 1, 1944 at 11:00 a.m. and returned there on January 26, 1944 at 11:20 a.m. A ship with 7,602 GRT was sunk on this 25 day long and 2,292 nm above and 438 nm underwater expedition in the Black Sea.
- January 16, 1944: sinking of the Soviet steamer Wajan Kuturje (7,602 GRT) ( location ) by a torpedo.
Fourteenth patrol
The boat left Constanța on February 22, 1944 at 9:30 p.m. and returned there on March 27, 1944 at 9:45 a.m. No ships were sunk or damaged on this 33-day and 3,244.5 nm above and 415 nm underwater project in the Black Sea, in which nine mines were laid off Poti .
Fifteenth patrol
The boat left Constanța on June 11, 1944 at 1:30 p.m. and returned there on July 11, 1944 at 3:30 p.m. On this 30 day long and 2,176 nm over and 572 nm underwater undertaking, a ship with 1,850 GRT and a landing craft of 9 t were sunk.
- June 19, 1944: sinking of the Soviet steamer Pestel (1,850 GRT) ( location ) by two torpedoes. He had unknown cargo on board and was on the way from Trabzon to Batumi .
- June 24, 1944: Sinking of the Soviet landing craft DB-26 (9 t) ( location ) with the on- board cannon, machine gun fire and hand grenades .
Sixteenth patrol and whereabouts
The boat ran from Constanța into the Black Sea on August 19, 1944. On September 10, 1944 at 21:30 it was at the Turkish north Black Sea coast of Karasu by its crew in position 41 ° 10 ' N , 30 ° 47' O in naval grid square CL 4679 scuttled . The entire crew was arrested shortly after landing and interned in Turkey until the end of World War II.
The current position is different with wreck 1991 41 ° 6 ' N , 30 ° 45' O or 41 ° 10 ' N , 30 ° 44' O indicated.
During dives to the wreck of U 20 , the first underwater photos were taken in 2008. It is doubtful whether the project to recover U 20 can be realized.
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ Gerd Enders: German U-Boats to the Black Sea. 1942-1944. A journey of no return. Mittler, Hamburg et al. 1997, ISBN 3-8132-0520-7 .
- ↑ [1]
- ↑ Ender's information from: Vepoorten records and correspondence with Karscakar / Kolay.
Map with all coordinates: