U 47 (Navy)

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
U 47 (Kriegsmarine)
( previous / next - all submarines )
U-47.jpg
Model of U 47 in side view
Type : VII B
Field Post Number : M-18 837
Shipyard: F. Krupp Germania shipyard , Kiel
Construction contract: November 21, 1936
Build number: 583
Keel laying: February 27, 1937
Launch: October 29, 1938
Commissioning: December 17, 1938
Commanders:

December 17, 1938 - March 7, 1941
Oberleutnant zur See / Kapitänleutnant Günther Prien

Calls: 10 patrols
Sinkings:

30 ships 164,952 GRT
1 battleship 29,150 t

Whereabouts: missing in the North Atlantic since March 7, 1941
Model of U47 in plan view

U 47 was a German submarine of type VII B , which in the Second World War by the Navy was used.

U 47 became famous for the sinking of the British battleship Royal Oak in the British naval base Scapa Flow . U 47 sank on March 7, 1941 south of Iceland for a previously unknown cause.

history

Tower maling from U 47

The construction contract for U 47 was awarded to the F. Krupp Germania shipyard in Kiel on November 21, 1936 . The keel was laid on February 27, 1937 and the launch on October 29, 1938 . On December 17, 1938, it was put into service under Oberleutnant zur See Günther Prien . He remained the sole commanding officer of this boat.

Until December 31, 1939, U 47 was part of the U-Flotilla Wegener in Kiel as an operational or front boat . After the reorganization of the U-Flotilla, it belonged to the 7th U-Flotilla in Kiel from January 1, 1940 until its probable demise on March 7, 1941. As a so-called “ maling ”, it bore the drawing of a snorting bull on the tower from October 14, 1939. The template was developed by First Watch Officer Engelbert Endrass at the suggestion of Second Watch Officer, Amelung von Varendorff, based on a caricature during the return trip from the mission in Scapa Flow. After the sinking of U 47 , this drawing became the coat of arms of the entire 7th flotilla on the instructions of the then flotilla chief Herbert Sohler .

U 47 undertook ten enemy voyages on which it sank 30 ships with a total tonnage of 162,768 GRT . Eight other ships with 62,751 GRT were damaged.

Use statistics

First venture

Günther Prien , commander of U 47 , 1940, Nazi propaganda photo by Annelise Schulze (Mauritius)

The boat left Kiel on August 19, 1939 at 00:00 and returned there on September 15, 1939 at 12:14. On this 27-day operation in the North Atlantic , southwest of Ireland , three ships with a total of 8,270 GRT were sunk.

  • September 5, 1939: sinking of the British steamer Bosnia. (2,407 GRT) by artillery and a torpedo . He had loaded 3,200 tons of sulfur and was on the way from Licata to Manchester . There was one dead. ( Location )
  • September 6, 1939: sinking of the British steamer Rio Claro. (4,086 GRT) by a torpedo. He was carrying coal and was on his way from Sunderland to Montevideo . There were no dead, 41 survivors. ( Location )
  • September 7, 1939: sinking of the British steamer Gartavon. (1,777 GRT) by artillery. He had loaded 1,000 t of iron ore and 500 t of asphalt and was on the way from Sète via La Goulette to the Clyde . There were no dead. ( Location )

Second venture

Away from U 47 in Scapa Flow

The boat left Kiel on October 8, 1939 and returned to Wilhelmshaven on October 17, 1939.

On the night of October 13-14, 1939, the boat was able to penetrate the British naval port of Scapa Flow despite many obstacles and difficult fairway conditions . During the First World War, two German submarines were lost in this attempt. No targets could be seen at the main anchorage. Eventually Prien spotted two large warships in the far northeast of the bay. After a failed first attack, in which two out of three torpedoes failed, the battleship Royal Oak was sunk by three torpedoes in a second attempt ( Lage ). There were 834 dead; 400 men of the crew were able to save themselves. Subsequently, U 47 managed to leave Scapa Flow unharmed. It first entered Wilhelmshaven on October 17, 1939 . Six days later it was relocated to its home base in Kiel. The commander and the commander in chief were honored for this success .

Third company

The boat left Kiel on November 16, 1939 and returned there on December 18, 1939. On this 32-day trip in the North Atlantic, near the Orkneys and west of the English Channel , three ships with a total of 23,168 GRT were sunk.

  • 5th December 1939: sinking of the British steamer Navasota. (8,795 GRT) by a torpedo. He was in ballast and was on his way from Liverpool to Buenos Aires . The ship belonged to convoy OB-46 with seven ships. There were 37 dead and 37 survivors. ( Location )
  • December 6, 1939: The Norwegian tanker Britta (6,214 GRT) is sunk by a torpedo. He drove in ballast and was on the way from Antwerp to Curaçao . There were six dead. ( Location )
  • December 7, 1939: sinking of the Dutch motor ship Tajandoen. (8,159 GRT) by a torpedo. It had 14 passengers, cement , iron and glassware on board and was en route from Amsterdam to Batavia . There were six dead. ( Location )

Fourth venture

From February 29, 1940 to March 5, 1940 exercises were carried out off Heligoland .

The boat left Wilhelmshaven on March 11, 1940 and returned there on March 29, 1940. On this 18-day expedition in the Shetland Islands and the Orkneys , a ship with 1,146 GRT was sunk.

  • March 25, 1940: sinking of the Danish steamer Britta. (1,146 GRT) by a torpedo. He drove in ballast and was on his way from Denmark to Liverpool. There were 13 dead and five survivors. ( Location )

Fifth venture

The boat left Wilhelmshaven on April 3, 1940 for use as part of the Weser Exercise Company and entered Kiel on April 26, 1940. No ships were sunk on this 24-day venture east of the Shetland Islands.

Sixth venture

The boat left Kiel on June 3, 1940 and returned there on July 6, 1940. During this 34-day and approx. 5,150 nm above and 184 nm underwater undertaking in the North Atlantic, in the Biscay and west of the English Channel, eight ships with a total of 51,483 GRT were sunk and one ship with 3,999 GRT was damaged.

  • June 14, 1940: sinking of the British steamer Balmoralwood. (5,834 GRT) by a torpedo. He had 8,730 tons of wheat and four aircraft on board and was on the way from Sorel-Tracy in Canada via Halifax to Falmouth . The ship was a straggler from convoy HX-48 with 40 ships. There were no deaths, 42 survivors. ( Location )
  • June 21, 1940: sinking of the British tanker San Fernando. (13,056 GRT) by a torpedo. He had loaded 13,500 tons of crude oil and 4,200 tons of diesel and was on his way from Curacao to Liverpool. The ship belonged to convoy HX-49 with 50 ships. There were no dead, 49 survivors. ( Location )
  • June 21, 1940: Damage to the Norwegian motor ship Randsfjord. (3,999 GRT) by a torpedo. The ship had 6,746 t of general cargo on board and was on its way to Liverpool. It belonged to convoy HX-49 and was sunk by U 30 on June 22, 1940 .
  • June 24, 1940: The Panamanian steamer Cathrine (1,885 GRT) is sunk by artillery. He had loaded wheat and general cargo and was on his way from Jacksonville to London . There were no deaths, 19 survivors. ( Location )
  • June 27, 1940: sinking of the Norwegian motor ship Lenda. (4,005 GRT) by artillery. It had 1,921 logs loaded and was en route from Digby via Halifax to the Downs . There was one dead and 25 survivors. ( Location )
  • June 27, 1940: sinking of the Dutch tanker Leticia. (2,580 GRT) by artillery. He had loaded 2,589 tons of heating oil and was on his way from Curaçao to Falmouth . There were two dead and 28 survivors. ( Location )
  • June 29, 1940: sinking of the British steamer Empire Toucan. (4,421 GRT) by a torpedo. He was in ballast and was en route from Liverpool to Port Sulfur (Louisiana). There were three dead and 31 survivors. ( Location )
  • June 30, 1940: sinking of the Greek steamer Georgios Kyriakides. (4,201 GRT) by a torpedo. He had loaded 7,243 tons of sugar and was on the way from Macorís (Dominican Republic) to Liverpool. There were no deaths, 30 survivors. ( Location )
The Arandora Star
before leaving for Canada
  • July 2, 1940: The British steamer Arandora Star (15,501 GRT) is sunk by a torpedo. He had 254 British soldiers, 479 German and 734 Italian internees, 86 German prisoners of war and 200 military police on board. The ship was en route from Liverpool to Saint John . 56 crew members, 91 military police and 713 internees and prisoners of war were killed. 118 crew members, 109 military police and 586 internees and prisoners of war were rescued. ( Location )

Seventh venture

The boat left Kiel on August 27, 1940 and entered Lorient on September 25, 1940 . On this 30-day and 5,103 nm above and 213 nm underwater operation in the North Atlantic, west of the Hebrides , six ships with 35,006 GRT were sunk and one ship with 5,156 GRT was damaged.

  • September 2, 1940: sinking of the Belgian steamer Ville de Mons. (7,463 GRT) by a G7e and a G7a torpedo. He had loaded 4,378 tons of cargo, 1,280 boxes of pears , 648 tons of corn and 536 tons of wheat and was on the way from New York via Liverpool to Glasgow . There were no dead, 54 survivors. ( Location )
  • September 4th 1940: sinking of the British steamer Titan. (9,034 GRT) by a torpedo. He drove in ballast and was en route from London to Sydney (Australia). The ship belonged to convoy OA-207 with 15 ships. There were six dead and 90 survivors. ( Location )
  • September 7, 1940: sinking of the British steamer Neptunian. (5,155 GRT) by a torpedo. He had loaded 8,500 tons of sugar and was on the way from Santiago de Cuba to Liverpool. The ship belonged to convoy SC-2 with 53 ships. It was a total loss with 36 dead. ( Location )
  • September 7, 1940: sinking of the British steamer Jose de Larrinaga. (5,303 GRT) by a torpedo. He had loaded 7,300 tons of scrap and was on the way from New York via Sydney (Nova Scotia) to Newport . The ship belonged to convoy SC-2. It was a total loss with 40 dead. ( Location )
  • September 7, 1940: sinking of the Norwegian steamer Gro. (4,111 GRT) by a torpedo. He had loaded 6,321 tons of wheat and was en route from Montreal to Manchester. The ship belonged to convoy SC-2. There were 11 dead and 21 survivors. ( Location )
  • September 9, 1940: sinking of the Greek steamer Possidon. (3,840 GRT) by a torpedo. He had loaded 5,410 tons of sulfur and was en route from New Orleans to Glasgow. The ship belonged to convoy SC-2. There were 17 dead. ( Location )
  • September 21, 1940: Damage to the British steamer Elmbank. (5,156 GRT) by artillery. The ship belonged to convoy HX-72 and was sunk by U 99 on the same day . ( Location )

Eighth venture

The boat left Lorient on October 14, 1940 and returned there on October 23, 1940. During this ten-day, 2,113 nm above and 34 nm underwater expedition in the North Canal and at the Rockall Bank, four ships with 22,014 GRT were sunk and two ships with 15,018 GRT were damaged.

  • October 19, 1940: sinking of the Dutch steamer Bilderdijk. (6,856 GRT) by a torpedo. He had loaded 8,640 tons of grain and general cargo and was on the way from Baltimore to Liverpool. The ship belonged to convoy HX 79 with 49 ships. There were no deaths, 39 survivors.
  • October 19, 1940: Damage to the British tanker Shirak. (6,023 GRT) by a torpedo. The ship belonged to convoy HX 79 and was sunk by U 48 on October 20, 1940 . ( Location )
  • October 19, 1940: sinking of the British steamer Wandby. (4,947 GRT) by a torpedo. He had loaded 1,700 tons of lead and tin and 7,000 tons of lumber and was on the way from Victoria (British Columbia) via Panama and Halifax (Nova Scotia) to Middlesbrough . The ship belonged to convoy HX 79. There were no dead, 34 survivors. ( Location )
  • October 20, 1940: sinking of the British steamer La Estancia. (5,185 GRT) by a torpedo. He had loaded 8,333 tons of sugar and was on the way from Mackay (Queensland) via Panama and Halifax (Nova Scotia) to Methil and Middlesbrough . The ship belonged to convoy HX 79. There was one dead and 33 survivors. ( Location )
  • October 20, 1940: sinking of the British steamer Whitford Point. (5,026 GRT) by a torpedo. He had loaded 7,840 tons of steel and was on the way from Baltimore via Halifax (Nova Scotia) to London. The ship belonged to convoy HX 79. There were 36 dead and three survivors. ( Location )
  • October 20, 1940: Damage to the British tanker Athelmonarch. (8,995 GRT) by a torpedo. ( Location )

Ninth venture

The boat left Lorient on November 3, 1940 and returned there on December 6, 1940. During this 34-day and 5,267 nm above and 132 nm underwater undertaking in the North Atlantic and west of the North Canal, a ship with 7,555 GRT was sunk and two ships with 12,238 GRT were damaged.

  • December 2, 1940: sinking of the Belgian steamer Ville d'Arlon (7,555 GRT) by a torpedo. It had an unknown cargo and was on its way from New York via Halifax (Nova Scotia) to Liverpool. It was a total loss. The ship was a straggler of Convoy HX-90 . ( Location )
  • December 2, 1940: Damage to the British tanker Conch. (8,376 GRT) by a torpedo. The ship belonged to convoy HX-90 and was sunk by U 99 the next day . ( Location )
  • 2nd December 1940: Damage to the British steamer Dunsley. (3,862 GRT) from five 8.8 cm artillery hits. The ship was a straggler of Convoy HX-90. ( Location )

Tenth venture

The boat left Lorient on February 20, 1941 and has been lost in the North Atlantic since March 7, 1941. On this 15-day long operation in the North Atlantic four ships with 16,310 GRT were sunk and two ships with 28,744 GRT were damaged.

  • February 26, 1941: sinking of the Belgian steamer Kasongo. (5,254 GRT). He had loaded general cargo and ammunition and was on the way from Liverpool via Freetown ( Sierra Leone ) to Matadi ( Belgian Congo ). The ship belonged to convoy OB-290. There were six dead. ( Location )
  • February 26, 1941: Damage to the British tanker Diala. (8,106 GRT). The ship belonged to convoy OB-290. ( Location )
  • February 26, 1941: sinking of the Swedish motor ship Rydboholm. (3,197 GRT) by a torpedo (according to other information it was sunk by German aircraft on February 26, 1941). It was ballasted and on its way from Liverpool to Freetown (Sierra Leone). The ship belonged to convoy OB-290. ( Location )
  • February 26, 1941: sinking of the Norwegian motor ship Borgland. (3,636 GRT). The ship drove in ballast, but also had six aircraft loaded; it was on the way from Liverpool to Takoradi . The ship belonged to convoy OB-290. There were no deaths, 32 survivors. ( Location )
  • February 28, 1941: sinking of the British steamer Holmelea. (4,223 GRT) by a torpedo and artillery. He had loaded 7,000 tons of grain, lentils and corn and was on the way from Rosario via Halifax (Nova Scotia) to Hull. The ship belonged to convoy HX-109 with 36 ships. There were 28 dead and 11 survivors. ( Location )
  • March 7, 1941: Damage to the British whaling mother ship Terje Viken (20,638 GRT) by two torpedoes. The ship belonged to convoy OB-293. It was sunk by U 99 on the same day . ( Location )

Whereabouts

U 47 was probably lost in the attack on convoy OB-293. Nothing has been heard from him since March 7, 1941. For a long time it was said that U 47 had been sunk by the British destroyer Wolverine , but it then turned out that the Wolverine had attacked the UA submarine , which was badly damaged and escaped. The assumptions about the actual circumstances range from a diving mishap to contact with a floating mine to destruction by a torpedo shot by U 47 itself, which became a circulator due to a defective control system . The latter version is believed to be the most likely.

It was not until May 23, 1941 that the Wehrmacht report reported that the submarine led by Corvette Captain Prien (he was promoted posthumously in March 1941 ) had not returned from its last voyage.

literature

  • Alexandre Korganoff: Prien versus Scapa Flow. Facts, secrets, legends. 3. Edition. Motorbuch-Verlag, Stuttgart 1989, ISBN 3-87943-497-2 .
  • Georg Högel: Emblems, coats of arms, Maling's German submarines 1939–1945. 4th edition. Koehlers Verlagsgesellschaft mbH, Hamburg 2001, ISBN 3-7822-0826-9 .

Motion picture

The story of the boat and its commander was the model for the German movie U 47 - Kapitänleutnant Prien, shot in 1958 .

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Rainer Busch, Hans-Joachim Röll: The U-Boat War 1939-1945. Volume 2: U-boat construction in German shipyards. ES Mittler and Son, Hamburg a. a. 1997, ISBN 3-8132-0512-6 , p. 338.
  2. ^ Georg Högel: Emblems, coats of arms, Malings German submarines 1939-1945. 4th edition. 2001, p. 55.
  3. ↑ Schulze also otherwise worked for Nazi propaganda
  4. ↑ a b c d e f g h i j Rainer Busch, Hans-Joachim Röll: The U-Boat War 1939-1945. Volume 2: U-boat construction in German shipyards. ES Mittler and Son, Hamburg a. a. 1997, ISBN 3-8132-0512-6 , pp. 435-436.
  5. ↑ a b c d e f g h Rainer Busch, Hans-Joachim Röll: The U-Boat War 1939-1945. Volume 3: German submarine successes from September 1939 to May 1945. ES Mittler and Son, Hamburg a. a. 2001, ISBN 3-8132-0513-4 , pp. 46-47.
  6. ↑ Jürgen Rohwer , Gerhard Hümmelchen : Chronicle of the Sea War 1939–1945, October 1939 , accessed on April 24, 2014
  7. ↑ Two and a half years later, on June 15, 1943, the ship was sunk by U 97 .
  8. ↑ It was sunk by U 553 on January 15, 1942 .

Web links