German submarine U-201

Summary

German submarine U-201 was a Type VIIC U-boat of the Kriegsmarine in World War II.

U-123 and U-201 departing Lorient on 8 June 1941
History
Nazi Germany
NameU-201
Ordered23 September 1939
BuilderGermaniawerft, Kiel
Yard number630
Laid down20 January 1940
Launched7 December 1940
Commissioned25 January 1941
FateSunk, 17 February 1943 by HMS Viscount
General characteristics
Class and typeType VIIC submarine
Displacement
Length
Beam
  • 6.20 m (20 ft 4 in) o/a
  • 4.70 m (15 ft 5 in) pressure hull
Height9.60 m (31 ft 6 in)
Draught4.74 m (15 ft 7 in)
Installed power
  • 2,800–3,200 PS (2,100–2,400 kW; 2,800–3,200 bhp) (diesels)
  • 750 PS (550 kW; 740 shp) (electric)
Propulsion
Speed
  • 17.7 knots (32.8 km/h; 20.4 mph) surfaced
  • 7.6 knots (14.1 km/h; 8.7 mph) submerged
Range
  • 8,500 nmi (15,700 km; 9,800 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) surfaced
  • 80 nmi (150 km; 92 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph) submerged
Test depth
  • 230 m (750 ft)
  • Crush depth: 250–295 m (820–968 ft)
Complement4 officers, 40–56 enlisted
Armament
Service record[1][2]
Part of:
Identification codes: M 33 584
Commanders:
Operations:
  • 9 patrols:
  • 1st patrol:
  • 22 April – 18 May 1941
  • 2nd patrol:
  • 8 June – 19 July 1941
  • 3rd patrol:
  • 14 – 25 August 1941
  • 4th patrol:
  • 14 – 30 September 1941
  • 5th patrol:
  • 29 October – 9 December 1941
  • 6th patrol:
  • 24 March – 21 May 1942
  • 7th patrol:
  • 27 June – 8 August 1942
  • 8th patrol:
  • a. 6 September – 26 October 1942
  • b. 27 – 29 December 1942
  • 9th patrol:
  • 3 January – 17 February 1943
Victories:
  • 22 merchant ships sunk
    (102,697 GRT)
  • 2 auxiliary warships sunk
    (5,700 GRT)
  • 2 merchant ships damaged
    (13,386 GRT)

The submarine was laid down on 20 January 1940 by Friedrich Krupp Germaniawerft yard at Kiel as yard number 630, launched on 7 December 1940, and commissioned on 25 January 1941 under the command of Kapitänleutnant Adalbert Schnee. Attached to the 1st U-boat Flotilla, she made nine successful patrols in the North Atlantic, the last two under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Günther Rosenberg. She was a member of eight wolfpacks.

She was sunk on 17 February 1943 in the North Atlantic, by depth charges from a British warship. All 49 hands were lost.[1]

Design edit

German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-201 had a displacement of 769 tonnes (757 long tons) when at the surface and 871 tonnes (857 long tons) while submerged.[3] She had a total length of 67.10 m (220 ft 2 in), a pressure hull length of 50.50 m (165 ft 8 in), a beam of 6.20 m (20 ft 4 in), a height of 9.60 m (31 ft 6 in), and a draught of 4.74 m (15 ft 7 in). The submarine was powered by two Germaniawerft F46 four-stroke, six-cylinder supercharged diesel engines producing a total of 2,800 to 3,200 metric horsepower (2,060 to 2,350 kW; 2,760 to 3,160 shp) for use while surfaced, two AEG GU 460/8–27 double-acting electric motors producing a total of 750 metric horsepower (550 kW; 740 shp) for use while submerged. She had two shafts and two 1.23 m (4 ft) propellers. The boat was capable of operating at depths of up to 230 metres (750 ft).[3]

The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 17.7 knots (32.8 km/h; 20.4 mph) and a maximum submerged speed of 7.6 knots (14.1 km/h; 8.7 mph).[3] When submerged, the boat could operate for 80 nautical miles (150 km; 92 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph); when surfaced, she could travel 8,500 nautical miles (15,700 km; 9,800 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph). U-201 was fitted with five 53.3 cm (21 in) torpedo tubes (four fitted at the bow and one at the stern), fourteen torpedoes, one 8.8 cm (3.46 in) SK C/35 naval gun, 220 rounds, and a 2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 anti-aircraft gun. The boat had a complement of between forty-four and sixty.[3]

Service history edit

First patrol edit

U-201 departed Kiel for her first patrol on 22 April 1941. Her route took her across the North Sea, through the gap separating Iceland and the Faroe Islands and into the Atlantic Ocean. Her first 'kill' was Capulet which she sank on 2 May south of Iceland. The ship had already been torpedoed by U-552; her back was broken, she had caught fire and been abandoned.

Moving east of Greenland, she sank Greglia on 9 May and damaged Empire Cloud on the same day.

She was attacked over five hours by three escorts from Convoy OB-318. A total of 99 depth charges were dropped, severely damaging the boat, but she escaped. She docked at Lorient in occupied France on 18 May.

Second patrol edit

The submarine's second foray passed without major incident: starting on 8 June 1941, finishing on 19 July but in Brest. (For the rest of her career she would be based in this French Atlantic port).

Third patrol edit

U-201's third sortie began from Brest on 14 August 1941. On the 19th in mid-Atlantic she took part in a wolfpack attack on Convoy OG 71. Firing one spread of four torpedoes she hit the cargo ship Ciscar and passenger liner Aguila, which was carrying the Convoy Commodore and 86 other Royal Navy personnel. Both ships sank, and Aguila's sinking killed 152 of the 168 people aboard, including all but one of the naval staff.

U-201 continued with the concerted attack on OG 71, sinking the Irish Clonlara on 22 August and British merchants Aldergrove and Stork northwest of Lisbon on the 23rd, before returning to Brest on the 25th.

Fourth patrol edit

Success continued to accompany U-201. Having departed Brest on 14 September 1941 she sank Runa, Lissa and Rhineland, all on 21 September.

She then sank Cervantes on 27 September. This ship had four survivors from Ciscar on board. She also accounted for HMS Springbank, a Fighter catapult ship about 430 nmi (800 km; 490 mi) west southwest of Cape Clear, southern Ireland on the same date. One torpedo was seen to pass between Springbank and Leadgate, but two others sealed the British vessel's fate.

The submarine's final victim on this patrol was Margareta, which went down southwest of Cape Clear.

U-201 returned to Brest on 30 September.

Fifth patrol edit

On U-201's fifth sortie; she failed to find any targets.

Sixth patrol edit

U-201 commenced her sixth and longest patrol on 24 March 1942. Having departed Brest and crossed the Atlantic, she damaged the Argentinian and neutral Victoria about 300 nmi (560 km; 350 mi) east of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina on 18 April. The crew, realizing that the ship, despite the torpedo strike, was not settling, decided to stay on board. The U-boat men saw the neutrality markings only after a second torpedo was fired and the submarine had surfaced. Victoria's complement then abandoned its vessel; U-201 reported its mistake to the BdU (U-boat headquarters) which ordered it to clear the area, which it did.

USS Owl, an American minesweeper towing the barge YOG-38, picked up Victoria's distress signals and sent a boarding party across to the tanker to effect repairs. The ship reached New York on 21 April and after much legal wrangling, was repaired and requisitioned by the US government and returned to service in July. She survived the war.

Three more ships went to the bottom on this patrol - Bris on 21 April, SS San Jacinto (1903) and Derryheen, both on 22 April.

The boat returned to Brest on 21 May.

Seventh patrol edit

Patrol number seven was in tonnage terms, the boat's most successful. Departing Brest on 27 June 1942, she operated in the eastern north Atlantic, sinking the Blue Star Liner Avila Star 90 nmi (170 km; 100 mi) east of São Miguel in the Azores on 6 July. Casualties were increased when a torpedo exploded under a lifeboat that had just been lowered from the ship and the remaining lifeboats became separated, one spending 20 days at sea before being rescued and another being lost without trace.[4]

Another victim, Cortuna, was sunk about 383 nmi (709 km; 441 mi) west of Madeira on 12 July after U-116 had already hit her. The Siris went down on the same day after a torpedo and 100 rounds from the deck gun.

Three more ships were sunk before the submarine returned to Brest on 8 August.

Eighth patrol edit

So it went on; this time in the waters off South America. Another three ships met their end. One, the Liberty ship SS John Carter Rose, was sunk about 620 nmi (1,150 km; 710 mi) east of Trinidad, only after a chase lasting 32 hours, 290 nmi (540 km; 330 mi) and seven torpedoes on 8 October 1942. Also involved was U-202.

Another, Flensburg, went down the following day about 500 nmi (930 km; 580 mi) from Suriname. The 48 survivors were spotted by a Yugoslavian merchant ship, but when they learned of the prospect of an unescorted Atlantic crossing to Durban, opted to remain in their lifeboats until they reached the mouth of the River Marowijine.

Ninth patrol and loss edit

The boat left Brest for the last time on 3 January 1943 and headed for the eastern coast of Canada. She was sunk in position 50°50′N 40°50′W / 50.833°N 40.833°W / 50.833; -40.833 by depth charges from the British destroyer HMS Viscount east of Newfoundland.

49 men died; there were no survivors.

Previously recorded fate edit

U-201 was sunk by depth charges from the British destroyer HMS Fame east of Newfoundland on 17 February 1943. This attack sank U-69.

Wolfpacks edit

U-201 took part in eight wolfpacks, namely:

  • West (8 – 13 May 1941)
  • Kurfürst (16 – 20 June 1941)
  • Störtebecker (5 – 19 November 1941)
  • Gödecke (19 – 25 November 1941)
  • Letzte Ritter (25 November - 4 December 1941)
  • Hai (3 – 20 July 1942)
  • Falke (8 – 19 January 1943)
  • Haudegen (19 January - 15 February 1943)

Summary of raiding history edit

Date Ship Name Nationality Tonnage
(GRT)
Fate[5] Position Convoy Deaths
2 May 1941 Capulet   United Kingdom 8,190 Sunk 60°00′N 16°00′W / 60.000°N 16.000°W / 60.000; -16.000 HX-121 9
9 May 1941 Empire Cloud*   United Kingdom 5,969 Damaged 61°00′N 32°30′W / 61.000°N 32.500°W / 61.000; -32.500 OB-318 0
9 May 1941 Gregalia   United Kingdom 5,802 Sunk 60°24′N 32°37′W / 60.400°N 32.617°W / 60.400; -32.617 OB-318 0
19 August 1941 Aguila   United Kingdom 3,255 Sunk 49°23′N 17°56′W / 49.383°N 17.933°W / 49.383; -17.933 OG-71 152
19 August 1941 Ciscar   United Kingdom 1,809 Sunk 49°10′N 17°40′W / 49.167°N 17.667°W / 49.167; -17.667 OG-71 13
23 August 1941 Aldergrove   United Kingdom 1,974 Sunk 40°43′N 11°39′W / 40.717°N 11.650°W / 40.717; -11.650 OG-71 1
23 August 1941 Stork   United Kingdom 787 Sunk 40°43′N 11°39′W / 40.717°N 11.650°W / 40.717; -11.650 OG-71 19
21 September 1941 Lissa   United Kingdom 1,511 Sunk 47°00′N 22°00′W / 47.000°N 22.000°W / 47.000; -22.000 OG-74 26
21 September 1941 Rhineland   United Kingdom 1,381 Sunk 47°00′N 22°00′W / 47.000°N 22.000°W / 47.000; -22.000 OG-74 26
21 September 1941 Runa   United Kingdom 1,575 Sunk 46°20′N 22°23′W / 46.333°N 22.383°W / 46.333; -22.383 OG-74 14
27 September 1941 Cervantes   United Kingdom 1,810 Sunk 48°37′N 20°01′W / 48.617°N 20.017°W / 48.617; -20.017 HG-73 8
27 September 1941 HMS Springbank   Royal Navy 5,155 Sunk 49°09′N 20°10′W / 49.150°N 20.167°W / 49.150; -20.167 HG-73 32
27 September 1941 Margareta   United Kingdom 3,103 Sunk 50°15′N 17°27′W / 50.250°N 17.450°W / 50.250; -17.450 HG-73 0
18 April 1942 Victoria   Argentina 7,417 Damaged 36°41′N 68°48′W / 36.683°N 68.800°W / 36.683; -68.800 0
21 April 1942 Bris   Norway 2,027 Sunk 33°35′N 69°38′W / 33.583°N 69.633°W / 33.583; -69.633 5
22 April 1942 Derryheen   United Kingdom 7,217 Sunk 31°20′N 70°35′W / 31.333°N 70.583°W / 31.333; -70.583 0
22 April 1942 San Jacinto   United States 6,069 Sunk 31°10′N 70°45′W / 31.167°N 70.750°W / 31.167; -70.750 14
6 July 1942 Avila Star   United Kingdom 14,443 Sunk 38°04′N 22°48′W / 38.067°N 22.800°W / 38.067; -22.800 84
12 July 1942 Cortona   United Kingdom 7,093 Sunk 32°45′N 24°45′W / 32.750°N 24.750°W / 32.750; -24.750 OS-33 31
12 July 1942 Siris   United Kingdom 5,242 Sunk 31°20′N 24°48′W / 31.333°N 24.800°W / 31.333; -24.800 OS-33 3
13 July 1942 Sithonia   United Kingdom 6,723 Sunk 29°00′N 25°00′W / 29.000°N 25.000°W / 29.000; -25.000 OS-33 7
15 July 1942 British Yeoman   United Kingdom 6,990 Sunk 26°42′N 24°20′W / 26.700°N 24.333°W / 26.700; -24.333 43
25 July 1942 HMS Laertes   Royal Navy 545 Sunk 06°00′N 14°17′W / 6.000°N 14.283°W / 6.000; -14.283 19
2 October 1942 Alcoa Transport   United States 2,084 Sunk 09°03′N 60°10′W / 9.050°N 60.167°W / 9.050; -60.167 6
8 October 1942 John Carter Rose   United States 7,191 Sunk 10°27′N 45°37′W / 10.450°N 45.617°W / 10.450; -45.617 TRIN-15 8
9 October 1942 Flensburg   Netherlands 6,421 Sunk 10°45′N 46°48′W / 10.750°N 46.800°W / 10.750; -46.800 0

*Later sunk by U-564.

References edit

Notes edit

Citations edit

  1. ^ a b Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-201". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 19 February 2010.
  2. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "War Patrols by German U-boat U-201". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 19 February 2010.
  3. ^ a b c d Gröner 1991, pp. 43–46.
  4. ^ "Blue Star's S.S. "Avila Star" 1". One of The Luxury Five. Blue Star on the Web. 26 November 2011. Archived from the original on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 12 August 2014.
  5. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U-201". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net.

Bibliography edit

  • Busch, Rainer; Röll, Hans-Joachim (1999). German U-boat commanders of World War II : a biographical dictionary. Translated by Brooks, Geoffrey. London, Annapolis, Md: Greenhill Books, Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-55750-186-6.
  • Busch, Rainer; Röll, Hans-Joachim (1999). Deutsche U-Boot-Verluste von September 1939 bis Mai 1945 [German U-boat losses from September 1939 to May 1945]. Der U-Boot-Krieg (in German). Vol. IV. Hamburg, Berlin, Bonn: Mittler. ISBN 3-8132-0514-2.
  • Edwards, Bernard (1996). Dönitz and the Wolfpacks - The U-boats at War. Cassell. p. 152. ISBN 0-304-35203-9.
  • Gröner, Erich; Jung, Dieter; Maass, Martin (1991). U-boats and Mine Warfare Vessels. German Warships 1815–1945. Vol. 2. Translated by Thomas, Keith; Magowan, Rachel. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-593-4.

External links edit

  • Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-201". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 9 December 2014.
  • Hofmann, Markus. "U 201". Deutsche U-Boote 1935-1945 - u-boot-archiv.de (in German). Retrieved 9 December 2014.