U 69 (Navy)
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U 69 (Kriegsmarine) ( previous / next - all submarines ) |
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| Type : | VII C |
| Field Post Number : | M 25 172 |
| Shipyard: | Germania shipyard , Kiel |
| Construction contract: | May 30, 1938 |
| Build number: | 604 |
| Keel laying: | November 11, 1939 |
| Launch: | September 19, 1940 |
| Commissioning: | November 2, 1940 |
| Commanders: |
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| Calls: | 10 activities |
| Sinkings: |
16 ships (72,945 GRT ) |
| Whereabouts: | Sunk in the western North Atlantic on February 17, 1943 |
U 69 was a German submarine of type VIIC that in World War II by the German Navy in the North was used and West Atlantic, and off the Spanish and the African coast.
history
The order for the boat was awarded to the Germania shipyard in Kiel on May 30, 1938 . The keel was laid on November 11, 1939 and the launch on September 19, 1940. The commissioning under Lieutenant Jost Metzler finally took place on November 2, 1940.
After its commissioning on November 2, 1940, until its sinking on February 17, 1943, the boat belonged to the 7th U-Flotilla as a training or front boat and was stationed in Kiel and St. Nazaire . The boat was the first of the Type VII C that was used by the Navy. In contrast to older types of boats, it was able to stay at sea longer and thus achieved a greater radius of action. The new type had 14 torpedoes on board, a 8.8 cm deck cannon against smaller targets and an anti-aircraft gun against aircraft. Like most German submarines of its time, U 69 also had boat-specific signs and paintings. At first the tower of the boat was decorated with a few flags, which framed the expression "Horridoh" , in the summer of 1941 another symbol was added: the head of a laughing cow, underneath the words " La vache qui rit " (French "the laughing cow") "). When the death of Günther Prien became known, it was ordered that his boat painting, the so-called "bull of Scapa Flow", be made the flotilla symbol of the 7th U-Flotilla. Since this motif was not known to any of the crew members present on U 69 at the time , the 1st officer on watch, Lieutenant zS Auffermann, took the trademark of a French cheese dairy as a template for the new tower emblem.
Use statistics
The commanders of U 69 , Metzler, Zahn and Gräf, sank 16 ships with a total of 72,945 GRT on ten ventures . The boat was used for a period of two years. This made it one of the longest-lived, continuously operating German submarines of World War II.
First venture
The boat left Kiel on February 10, 1941 at 8:00 a.m. and entered Lorient on March 1, 1941 . On this 19-day trip, the boat covered around 3,600 nm above and 124 nm under water. On this venture in the North Atlantic and west of Ireland, commander Jost Metzler sank three ships with a total of 17,956 GRT.
- February 17, 1941: Sinking of the British motor ship Siamese Prince ( Lage ) with 8,456 GRT. The ship was sunk by three torpedoes . It had general cargo and eight passengers on board and was on its way from New York to Liverpool . One passenger was killed and 48 people survived.
- February 19, 1941: sinking of the British steamer Empire Blanda with 5,693 GRT. The steamer was sunk by a G7e torpedo . He had loaded steel , scrap and explosives and was on his way from Baltimore to Grangemouth via Halifax . The ship belonged to convoy HX-107 with 26 ships. It was a total loss with 40 dead.
- February 23, 1941: sinking of the Norwegian steamer Svein Jarl ( Lage ) with 1,908 GRT. The steamer was sunk by a G7e torpedo. He had an unknown cargo and was on his way from Methil via Oban to Halifax (Nova Scotia). The ship belonged to convoy OB-288.
Second venture
The boat left Lorient on March 18, 1941 at 7:30 p.m. and returned there on April 11, 1941 at 4:30 p.m. On this 24-day venture, the boat covered 4,327 nm above and 182 nm under water. The company took the boat to the North Atlantic, west of Ireland and south of Iceland . Commander Metzler sank a ship with 3,759 GRT and damaged a ship with 4,887 GRT.
- March 30, 1941: sinking of the British steamer Coultarn ( Lage ) with 3,759 GRT. The steamer was sunk by two torpedoes. He was in ballast and was on his way from Hull to Mobile . The ship belonged to convoy OB-302 with 32 ships. There were three dead and 39 survivors.
- April 3, 1941: Damage to the British steamer Thirlby with 4,887 GRT. The steamer was damaged by a torpedo. He had loaded wheat and was on his way from Saint John to Hull . The ship was a straggler of convoy SC-26.
Third company
The boat left Lorient on May 5, 1941 at 9:00 p.m. and entered St. Nazaire on July 8, 1941 at 3:00 p.m. U 69 added fuel and provisions from the steamer Egerland on May 19, 1941 . On June 18, 1941, 700 liters of lubricating oil were delivered to U 103 and provisions were taken over by U 107 . Of UA received U 69 key documents. On June 30, 1941, fuel and provisions were replenished in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria . On this 64-day trip, the boat covered 11,749 nm above and 118 nm under water. In the course of the venture - during which four TMC mines were laid in the port of Takoradi and eight TMC mines in the port of Lagos - the boat patrolled the mid-Atlantic around the Canary Islands , off Freetown , Cape Verde and Las Palmas. Commander Metzler sank seven ships with a total of 33,868 GRT.
- May 21, 1941: sinking of the US steamer Robin Moor ( Lage ) with 4,999 GRT. The steamer was sunk by a torpedo and artillery according to the prize order. He had loaded general cargo and planes and was on his way from New York to Cape Town . There were no casualties and 34 survivors.
- May 21, 1941: sinking of the British steamer Tewkesbury ( Lage ) with 4,601 GRT. The steamer was sunk by artillery and a torpedo. He had loaded 1,928 t of canned meat, 2,000 t of wheat and 3,548 t of general cargo and was on the way from Rosario and Montevideo via St. Vincent to Oban . There were no casualties and 42 survivors.
- May 31, 1941: sinking of the British steamer Sangara ( Lage ) with 5,445 GRT. The steamer was sunk by a torpedo. He had loaded general cargo and was on his way to Lagos . The ship was anchored in the roadstead off Accra . It sank to ten meters, was lifted and repaired. It was put back into service in 1947.
- 4th June 1941: sinking of the British excavator Robert Hughes with 2,879 GRT. The excavator was sunk by a mine hit in the port entrance of Lagos.
- June 27, 1941: sinking of the British steamer River Luga ( Lage ) with 5,423 GRT. The steamer was sunk by a G7a torpedo. He had loaded 9,259 t of iron ore and was on the way from Pepel ( Sierra Leone ) via Freetown (Sierra Leone) to Barry Roads. The ship belonged to convoy SL-76 with 60 ships. There were 39 dead and six survivors.
- June 27, 1941: sinking of the British steamer Empire Ability ( Lage ) with 7,603 GRT. The steamer was sunk by a G7e torpedo. He had 7,725 t of sugar , 400 t of grain , 238 t of rum , 35 t of fiber, 17 military personnel and 27 passengers on board and was on the way from Port Louis via Freetown (Sierra Leone) to Liverpool. The ship belonged to convoy SL-76. There were two dead; 63 crew members, 17 military personnel and 27 passengers were rescued.
- 4th July 1941: sinking of the British steamer Robert L. Holt ( Lage ) with 2,918 GRT. The steamer was sunk by artillery. He was ballasted and on his way from Liverpool to Warri . The ship belonged to the disbanded convoy OB-337 with 44 ships. It was a total loss with 49 dead.
Fourth venture
The boat left St Nazaire on August 21, 1941 at 5:00 p.m. and returned there on August 27, 1941 at 9:00 p.m. The enterprise had to be canceled because of the illness of the commander Jost Metzler. In his place, the 1st officer on watch , Hans-Jürgen Auffermann, took command and brought U 69 back to St. Nazaire. On this seven-day expedition, the boat covered around 1,350 nm above and 30 nm under water. It did not leave the Bay of Biscay , and no ships were sunk or damaged.
Fifth venture
Under the command of the new commander Wilhelm Zahn, the boat left St.Nazaire on September 1, 1941 at 2:30 p.m. and returned there on October 1, 1941 at 4:30 p.m. On this 31-day trip the boat covered around 5,300 nm above and 177 nm under water. The company led the boat in the North Atlantic northwest of the Hebrides and southeast of Cape Farewell . Commander Zahn did not sink or damage any ships on this voyage.
Sixth venture
The boat left St Nazaire on October 30, 1941 at 2:00 p.m. and returned there on December 8, 1941 at 12:00 p.m. The boat belonged to the “Störtebecker” group. No ships were sunk or damaged during this 39-day and approximately 5,500 nm above and 137 nm underwater venture into the North Atlantic west of Spain and off Gibraltar .
Seventh venture
The boat left St. Nazaire on January 18, 1942 at 5:00 p.m. and returned there on March 17, 1942 at 10:00 a.m. U 69 had to return to St. Nazaire on January 26, 1942 because of a heavy oil spill; it left again on January 31, 1942 at 5:30 p.m. No ships were sunk or damaged on this 54-day and approximately 8,470 nm above and 339 nm underwater expedition in the western Atlantic around Newfoundland .
Eighth venture
The boat left St Nazaire on April 12, 1942 at 3:30 p.m. and returned there on June 25, 1942. On April 29, 1942, U 69 took over 32 m³ of fuel and provisions from U 459 . Four ships with a total of 11,976 GRT were sunk on this 74-day and 10,696 nm above and 404 nm underwater undertaking in the western Atlantic and the Caribbean .
- May 1, 1942: sinking of the British sailing ship James E. Newsom ( Lage ) with 671 GRT. The sailor was sunk by artillery. He had loaded syrup and was on his way from Barbados to St. John's . There were no casualties and nine survivors.
- May 12, 1942: sinking of the Norwegian tanker Lise ( Lage ) with 6,826 GRT. The tanker was sunk by artillery and two torpedoes. He was in ballast and was on his way from Southampton to Curacao . There were twelve dead and 21 survivors.
- May 13, 1942: sinking of the US steamer Norlantic ( Lage ) with 2,606 GRT. The steamer was sunk by artillery and a torpedo. He had loaded 3,800 tons of general cargo, iron pipes and cement and was on the way from Pensacola to Puerto La Cruz . There were eleven dead and 19 survivors.
- May 21, 1942: sinking of the Canadian steamer Torondoc ( Lage ) with 1,927 GRT. The steamer was sunk by a torpedo. He had bauxite loaded and was on his way from St. Thomas to Trinidad . It was a total loss with 21 dead.
Ninth venture
The boat left St. Nazaire on August 15, 1942 at 11:00 a.m. and entered Lorient on November 5, 1942 at 10:15 a.m. U 69 took over 12 m³ of fuel and provisions from U 463 on October 25, 1942 . On this 83 day long and approximately 9,837 nm above and 1,036 nm underwater undertaking, during which twelve TMB mines were laid east of Virginia Beach , in the western Atlantic, Chesapeake Bay and Nova Scotia , two ships with a total of 4,597 GRT were sunk.
- October 9, 1942: sinking of the Canadian steamer Carolus ( Lage ) with 2,375 GRT. The steamer was sunk by a torpedo. He had an unknown cargo and was on his way to Montreal . The ship belonged to convoy NL-9 with four ships. There were eleven dead and 19 survivors.
- October 14, 1942: sinking of the Canadian steam ferry Caribou ( Lage ) with 2,222 GRT. The ferry was sunk by a torpedo. She had 46 crew members, 118 military personnel and 73 passengers on board and was on the way from Sydney ( Cape Breton Island ) to Port aux Basques ( Newfoundland ). The ferry belonged to convoy NL-9. 31 crew members, 57 military personnel and 48 passengers were killed. 15 crew members, 61 military personnel and 25 passengers were rescued.
Sinking the Caribou
On October 14, 1942 at 3:30 a.m., U 69 sank the Caribou in Cabotstrasse . 136 people were killed when this unarmed passenger ferry went down. The Caribou was a regular ferry on the Newfoundland coast. U 69 had already been in the area around the mouth of the St. Lawrence River for a few days . The day before, Commander Gräf had sunk the Canadian Carolus , which was traveling upstream, protected by anti-submarine warfare ships (ASW) . Early on the morning of October 14th, the boat's tower guard spotted the SS Caribou mainly through its enormous smoke output. In addition to the civilian passengers, the Caribou also had 118 military personnel on board and was protected by the Grandmére mine sweeper . A few hours earlier, she had left Sydney, Canada, for Port-aux-Basques. In addition to being protected by the Grandmére, the ship had received instructions from the Royal Canadian Navy to travel without lights in order not to attract attention. The HMCS Grandmére, for its part, was an armed minesweeper of the Bangor class who started a ramming blow when the crew discovered U 69 after the ferry was torpedoed, and then attacked with 18 depth charges. In the morning, more ASW ships reached the sea area and supported the Grandmére in the hunt for the German submarine, which was able to evade the pursuers by diving and crawling for several hours. The relief from this reinforcement made it possible for the Grandmére to take care of the rescue of the shipwrecked Caribou . The mine sweeper subsequently took in 103 people. 136 people, including many women and children, died when the ferry was sunk. Ulrich Gräf was the German submarine commander who had traveled the farthest up the St. Lawrence River and killed most of the civilians. The commandant of the Grandmère , Lt. James Cuthbert was later criticized for having taken care of the rescue of the castaways instead of the German submarine . He was criticized for this in particular because his own ship could have been sunk. Cuthbert declined to apologize for his behavior, as he saved numerous lives.
Tenth venture
The boat left Lorient on January 2, 1943 and was sunk in the North Atlantic on February 17, 1943. No ships were sunk or damaged on this 46-day venture into the North Atlantic southeast of Greenland and northeast of Newfoundland .
Whereabouts
U 69 was targeted by Huff-Duff on February 17, 1943 near convoy ONS-165 in the western North Atlantic . Depth charges forced it to surface, whereupon the British destroyer HMS Fame rammed it and sank it at position 50 ° 36 ′ N , 41 ° 7 ′ W in naval grid square BC 3243. All 46 crew members were killed. Until then, none of its crew members had died while the boat was in service.
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 .
- 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 .
- Jost Metzler: U 69, the laughing cow. Factual report on the adventurous long-distance journeys of one of the most successful submarines, told by the commander himself (= Heyne-Bücher. 9, ZDB -ID 258145-0 ). Heyne, Munich 1958.
Notes and individual references
- ↑ 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 , page 34
- ^ Georg Högel: Emblems, coats of arms, Malings German submarines 1939-1945. 5th edition. Koehlers Verlagsgesellschaft mbH, Hamburg 2009, ISBN 978-3-7822-1002-7 , page 49
- ↑ a b 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, p. 440
- ↑ Clay Blair : The Submarine War. Volume One: The Hunters. 1939-1942. Heyne Verlag, Munich 1998, page 796 and page 797
See also
Web links
- u-bootarchiv.de , a detailed site about German submarines (German)
Map with all coordinates: