German submarine U-119 was a Type XB minelaying U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. She was laid down at the Germaniawerft in Kiel on 15 May 1940 as yard number 624. She was launched on 6 January 1942 and commissioned under Kapitänleutnant Alois Zech on 2 April 1942, he was replaced by Kptlt. Horst-Tessen von Kameke on 15 April 1943, who remained in command until her loss.
History | |
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Nazi Germany | |
Name | U-119 |
Ordered | 7 August 1939 |
Builder | Germaniawerft, Kiel |
Yard number | 624 |
Laid down | 15 May 1940 |
Launched | 6 January 1942[1] |
Commissioned | 2 April 1942[1] |
Fate | Sunk on 24 June 1943[1] by a British warship |
General characteristics [2] | |
Class and type | Type X submarine minelayer |
Displacement | |
Length |
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Beam |
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Height | 10.20 m (33 ft 6 in) |
Draught | 4.71 m (15 ft 5 in) |
Propulsion |
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Speed |
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Range |
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Test depth | Calculated crush depth: 220 m (720 ft) |
Complement | 5 officers, 47 enlisted |
Armament |
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Service record[3][4] | |
Part of: |
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Identification codes: | M 43 666 |
Commanders: |
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Operations: |
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Victories: |
U-119's service career began with the 4th U-boat Flotilla on 2 April 1942 where she underwent training. She was declared operational on 1 February 1943 when she moved over to the 12th flotilla.
The boat made a short run from Kiel to Frederikshaven in Denmark and back from 4 to 10 August 1942.
Her first patrol commenced with her departure from Kiel on 6 February 1943. She crossed the North Sea and skirted the northern coast of Iceland, arriving at Bordeaux in occupied France on 1 April.
U-119 was unsuccessfully attacked on 29 April 1943 by a Short Sunderland flying boat of 461 Squadron RAAF (Royal Australian Air Force). The boat sustained no damage but one man was killed.
She sank Halma on 3 June east of Halifax, Nova Scotia and damaged John A. Poor on 27 July. Both ships were attacked with mines laid by U-119 on 1 June.
U-119 was sunk by a combination of depth charges, gunfire and ramming from HMS Starling on 24 June 1943.[1]
Date | Name | Nationality | Tonnage (GRT) |
Fate[5] |
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3 June 1943 | Halma | Panama | 2,937 | Sunk (Mine) |
28 July 1943 | John A. Poor | United States | 7,176 | Damaged (Mine) |
44°59′N 12°24′W / 44.983°N 12.400°W