German submarine U-48 (1939)

Summary

German submarine U-48 was a Type VIIB U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II, and the most successful that was commissioned. During her two years of active service, U-48 sank 51 ships for a total of 299,477 GRT and 1,060 tons; she also damaged four more for a total of 27,877 GRT over twelve war patrols conducted during the opening stages of the Battle of the Atlantic.

U-52, a typical Type VIIB boat
History
Nazi Germany
NameU-48
Ordered21 November 1936[1]
BuilderGermaniawerft, Kiel
Cost4,439,000 Reichsmark
Yard number583[1]
Laid down10 March 1937[1]
Launched8 March 1939[1]
Commissioned22 April 1939[1]
DecommissionedOctober 1943
FateScuttled, 3 May 1945 off Neustadt[1]
General characteristics
Class and typeType VIIB U-boat
Displacement
  • 753 t (741 long tons) surfaced
  • 857 t (843 long tons) submerged
Length
Beam
  • 6.20 m (20 ft 4 in) o/a
  • 4.70 m (15 ft 5 in) pressure hull
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
  • 17.9 knots (33.2 km/h; 20.6 mph) surfaced
  • 8 knots (15 km/h; 9.2 mph) submerged
Range
  • 8,700 nmi (16,112 km; 10,012 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) surfaced
  • 90 nmi (170 km; 100 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph) submerged
Test depth230 m (750 ft). Calculated crush depth: 250–295 m (820–968 ft)
Complement4 officers, 40–56 enlisted
Sensors and
processing systems
Gruppenhorchgerät
Armament
Service record
Part of:
Identification codes: M 27 354
Commanders:
  • Kptlt. Herbert Schultze
  • 22 April 1939 – 20 May 1940
  • K.Kapt. Hans-Rudolf Rösing
  • 21 May – 3 September 1940
  • Kptlt. Heinrich Bleichrodt
  • 4 September – 16 December 1940
  • Kptlt. Herbert Schultze
  • 17 December – 27 July 1941
  • Oblt.z.S. Siegfried Atzinger
  • August 1941 – September 1942
  • Oblt.z.S. Diether Todenhagen
  • 26 September – October 1943
Operations:
  • 12 patrols:
  • 1st patrol:
  • 19 August – 17 September 1939
  • 2nd patrol:
  • 4 – 25 October 1939
  • 3rd patrol:
  • 20 November – 20 December 1939
  • 4th patrol:
  • 24 January – 26 February 1940
  • 5th patrol:
  • 3 – 20 April 1940
  • 6th patrol:
  • 26 May – 29 June 1940
  • 7th patrol:
  • 7 – 28 August 1940
  • 8th patrol:
  • 8 – 25 September 1940
  • 9th patrol:
  • 5 – 27 October 1940
  • 10th patrol:
  • 20 January – 27 February 1941
  • 11th patrol:
  • 17 March – 8 April 1941
  • 12th patrol:
  • a. 22 May – 17 June 1941
  • b. 19 – 21 June 1941
Victories:
  • 50 merchant ships sunk
    (299,477 GRT)
  • 1 warship sunk
    (1,060 tons)
  • 4 merchant ships damaged
    (27,877 GRT)

U-48 was built at the Germaniawerft in Kiel as yard number 583 during 1938 and 1939, being completed a few months before the outbreak of war in September 1939 and given to Kapitänleutnant (Kptlt.) Herbert Schultze. When war was declared, she was already in position in the North Atlantic, and received the news via radio, allowing her to operate immediately against Allied shipping.

Design edit

German Type VIIB submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIA submarines. U-48 had a displacement of 753 tonnes (741 long tons) when at the surface and 857 tonnes (843 long tons) while submerged.[2] She had a total length of 66.50 m (218 ft 2 in), a pressure hull length of 48.80 m (160 ft 1 in), a beam of 6.20 m (20 ft 4 in), a height of 9.50 m (31 ft 2 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 460/8-276 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).[2]

The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 17.9 knots (33.2 km/h; 20.6 mph) and a maximum submerged speed of 8 knots (15 km/h; 9.2 mph).[2] When submerged, the boat could operate for 90 nautical miles (170 km; 100 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph); when surfaced, she could travel 8,700 nautical miles (16,100 km; 10,000 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph). U-48 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 one 2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 anti-aircraft gun. The boat had a complement of between forty-four and sixty.[2]

Service history edit

U-48 was a member of two wolfpacks. Seven former members of the boat's crew earned the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross during their military career: these were the commanders Herbert Schultze, Hans-Rudolf Rösing and Heinrich Bleichrodt, the first watch officer Reinhard Suhren, the second watch Otto Ites, the chief engineer Erich Zürn and the coxswain Horst Hofmann.

U-48 survived most of the war and was scuttled by her own crew on 3 May 1945 off Neustadt in order to keep the submarine out of the hands of the advancing allies.

First patrol (19 August – 17 September 1939) edit

U-48 left her home port of Kiel on 19 August 1939, before World War II began,[3] for a period of 30 days. The submarine travelled north of the British Isles, into the North Atlantic and eventually into the Bay of Biscay. She then proceeded to cruise to the west of the Western Approaches, two days after Britain and France declared war on Germany. It was here that she spotted her first target, the 4,853 GRT SS Royal Sceptre. U-48 attacked the merchant ship with her deck gun on 5 September 1939.[4] All of the crew took to the lifeboats except the Radio Officer who remained transmitting "SOS". He was taken prisoner by U-48, but then released to the lifeboats as Schultze praised his courage. He verified that the lifeboats were provisioned with food and water. U-48 then stopped the SS Browning. The crew abandoned their vessel, but Schultze told them to return to their ship and pick up the crew of Royal Sceptre. However Browning was en route to Brazil, so it was not immediately realised that they had survived. Winston Churchill, then First Lord of The Admiralty, assumed the worst, that the crew and sixty passengers were lost.[5] He declared the sinking to be

an odious act of bestial piracy on the high seas[6]

U-48 stopped, searched and released several neutral ships before encountering and sinking Winkleigh on 8 September 1939 after her crew had taken to the lifeboats.[7] On 11 September U-48 sank Firby. Some of the crew required medical attention following the sinking. U-48 provisioned the lifeboats, gave medical assistance and radioed:

Transmit to Mr Churchill. I have sunk the British steamer Firby. Posit 59°40'N 13°50'W. Save the crew if you please. German submarine[8]

Churchill, wrongly, told the House of Commons that the U-boat captain who had sent the message had been captured.[5] After 30 days at sea, U-48 returned to Kiel on 17 September 1939. During her first war patrol, she sank three ships for a total of 14,777 GRT.[3]

Second patrol (4–25 October 1939) edit

U-48's second patrol was even more successful. Having left Kiel on 4 October, she proceeded to follow the same course as her previous voyage. During her second patrol, U-48 sank a total of five enemy ships, including the large French tanker SS Emile Miguet on 12 October, Heronspool and Louisiane on 13 October, Sneaton on 14 October and Clan Chisholm on 17 October. Following the sinking of Clan Chisholm, U-48 attacked the British steamer Rockpool with fire from her deck gun on 19 October at 1:32 pm. However, the steamer returned fire. In order to avoid being hit, U-48 crash-dived. She subsequently re-surfaced and attempted to sink the steamer again when an Allied destroyer came upon the engagement. U-48 then broke off the fight with Rockpool and submerged once more to leave the area. Following the sinking of five enemy merchant ships for a total of 37,153 GRT as well as the engagement with Rockpool, U-48 returned to the safety of Kiel on 25 October 1939 after spending 22 days at sea.[9]

Third patrol (20 November – 20 December 1939) edit

U-48 left Kiel for her third patrol on 20 November 1939. During this voyage, she sank a total of four vessels including two merchant ships from neutral nations. The first ship to fall victim to the U-boat was the 6,336 GRT neutral Swedish motor tanker MT Gustaf E. Reuter. She was attacked by U-48 on 27 November 14 nmi (26 km; 16 mi) west-northwest of Fair Isle. The wreck was later sunk by an escort vessel. One person died, 33 of her crew survived. The tug HMS St. Mellons attempted to salvage her, however Gustaf E. Reuter eventually had to be sent to the bottom by HMS Kingston Beryl on 28 November. Following the sinking of Gustaf E. Reuter, U-48 sank the British freighter Brandon on 8 December off the southern coast of Ireland. The next day, she attacked the British tanker San Alberto. The ship was so badly damaged that she had to be sunk by HMS Mackay.[10] Finally on 15 December 1939 U-48 stopped the neutral Greek freighter Germaine which had been chartered by Ireland and was also neutral, to carry maize to Cork. Schultze maintained that she was going to England, so he sank her. U-48 returned to Kiel on 20 December 1939 after sinking a total of 25,618 GRT and spent a total of 31 days at sea.

Fourth patrol (24 January – 26 February 1940) edit

After a break over the Christmas period, the boat put to sea again, sinking the British Blue Star Line liner SS Sultan Star in the Western Approaches. The vessel was only carrying freight.[11] She laid a string of mines off St Abb's Head which failed to have any effect, but two neutral Dutch ships were added to her tally shortly afterwards, as well as a Finnish ship, all of them operating in the North Atlantic in cooperation with the Allied convoy system.

Fifth and sixth patrols (April 1940 and June 1940) edit

Her fifth patrol, in June 1940 was one of her most successful, making full use of the situation in Europe following the Fall of France. U-48 was commanded by Hans Rudolf Rösing, as Herbert Schultze was hospitalised with a kidney and stomach complaint.[12] She attacked three ships off the County Donegal coast; Stancor carrying fish from Iceland, Eros carrying 200 tons of small arms from America and Frances Massey with iron ore. 34 sailors lost their lives on Frances Massey. The cargo on Eros was particularly important following the losses at Dunkirk. The badly damaged Eros was taken in tow by HMS Berkeley, assisted by HMS Bandit and Volunteer and headed to the Irish coast, where Muirchú and Fort Rannoch were waiting for them. Eros was beached on Errarooey strand. While she was being repaired, Irish troops guarded the site.[13]

Germany learned that a troop convoy, including RMS Queen Mary and Mauretania were bringing 25,000 Australian soldiers to Britain. U-48 was ordered to Cape Finisterre where a U-boat 'wolfpack' was being assembled to intercept the convoy. However, the U-boats attacked other ships in the vicinity, alerting the convoy to their presence, so they altered direction, avoiding the 'wolfpack'.[14] On 19 June 1940, Convoy HG-34 was attacked. U-48 sank SS Baron Loudoun (three died), SS British Monarch (all 40 on board died) and MV Tudor (one death). Convoy HX 49 dispersed; U-48 sank Moordrecht, which had been in that convoy; 25 died. Ireland had chartered neutral Greek ships; U-48 sank Violando N. Goulandris (six died) while U-28 sank Adamandios Georgandis (one death). Ireland sought an explanation from Germany "... steamships, the entire cargoes of which comprised grain for exclusive consumption in Éire were sunk by unidentified submarines ..."[15]

U-48 was enjoying an extended patrol, thanks to the newly established refuelling facilities available at Trondheim in Norway. In all, she claimed eight ships from the convoys in the Eastern Atlantic on this cruise and bagged five more on her sixth patrol in August, which finished with her stationed at Lorient on the French Atlantic coast, greatly extending her raiding abilities.

Seventh and eighth patrols (August 1940 and September 1940) edit

The U-boat's seventh patrol was also successful, sinking five ships, including two from Convoy HX 65, and damaging a fifth (also from HX 65) which had to be scuttled. The operating zone for both this patrol and the next was far to the north of her previous areas, being south of Greenland.

In September, on her eighth patrol she shocked the world by sinking SS City of Benares, one of eight ships in six days from Convoys SC 3 and OB 213. On board the liner were 119 children, 90 of whom were being evacuated to Canada under the Children's Overseas Reception Board initiative.[16]

The sinking ship took on an immediate list, thus causing problems launching all but two of the lifeboats. As hundreds of survivors struggled in the water, the U-boat's powerful searchlight swept once over the chaotic scene before she left the area. The survivors in the boats were not rescued for nearly 24 hours. In that time dozens of children and adults died from exposure or drowned, leaving only 148 survivors (19 children, 21 women, and 108 men) out of 408 on board (119 children, 56 women, and 233 men). One boat was not recovered for a further eight days. In total, 260 people,[16] including 100 children, 35 women, and 125 men, died in the disaster, which effectively ended the overseas evacuation programme.[16]

The controversy of City of Benares disaster has been debated ever since. It has been suggested that had the British openly declared that the ship was carrying evacuees, then the Germans would have taken pains not to sink it, recognising the potential for a propaganda crisis, which indeed occurred. However, the ship was not only travelling unlit at night in an Allied convoy, but it was also the flagship of Rear-Admiral Edmund Mackinnon, the convoy commander.[17] Other historians have argued that the Germans would have attacked any large liners at the time, no matter what cargo was being carried or who was on the passenger list. However, the Benares was painted like a troop ship, and the U-boat, believing that it was only carrying soldiers and crew, sank the ship.[16] Among the other sinkings was the British frigate HMS Dundee.

Ninth to twelfth patrols (October 1940, February 1941, March 1941 and June 1941) edit

On her ninth and tenth patrols, U-48 claimed two and five victims respectively, but she was clearly becoming obsolete in the face of improving technology on both sides, despite a winter refit. Her range and torpedo capacity were too small for the widening nature of the sea war, and she would be a risk to her crew and other U-boats if she continued much longer in the main battlefield of the North Atlantic. On her final patrol she sank five more ships; the boat was boosted by the award of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross to Erich Zürn, the boat's executive officer, for his success and judgement during the ship's career.

Retirement and fate edit

U-48 returned to Kiel on 22 June 1941, where her crew disembarked and she was transferred to a training flotilla operating exclusively in the Baltic Sea. Unlike many of her contemporaries, U-48 never sailed on patrols against Soviet targets following Operation Barbarossa the following month. In 1943 she was deemed unfit even for this reduced service, being laid up at Neustadt in Holstein with only a skeleton crew performing minor maintenance. It was there that she remained for the next two years, until the maintenance crew, realising that the war was ending and the boat would be captured, scuttled her in the Bay of Lübeck on 3 May 1945, where she remains.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
class=notpageimage|
Locations of the 55 ships sunk and damaged by U-48 during her career

Wolfpacks edit

U-48 took part in two wolfpacks, namely:

Summary of raiding history edit

Date Ship Nationality Tonnage[Note 1] Fate[18] Location
5 September 1939 Royal Sceptre   United Kingdom 4,853 Sunk 46°23′N 14°59′W / 46.383°N 14.983°W / 46.383; -14.983
8 September 1939 Winkleigh   United Kingdom 5,055 Sunk 48°06′N 18°12′W / 48.100°N 18.200°W / 48.100; -18.200
11 September 1939 Firby   Canada 4,869 Sunk 59°40′N 13°50′W / 59.667°N 13.833°W / 59.667; -13.833
12 October 1939 Emile Miguet   France 14,115 Sunk 50°15′N 14°50′W / 50.250°N 14.833°W / 50.250; -14.833
12 October 1939 Heronspool   United Kingdom 5,202 Sunk 50°13′N 14°48′W / 50.217°N 14.800°W / 50.217; -14.800
13 October 1939 Louisiane   France 6,903 Sunk 50°14′N 15°20′W / 50.233°N 15.333°W / 50.233; -15.333
14 October 1939 Sneaton   United Kingdom 3,677 Sunk 49°05′N 13°05′W / 49.083°N 13.083°W / 49.083; -13.083
17 October 1939 Clan Chisholm   United Kingdom 7,256 Sunk 44°57′N 13°40′W / 44.950°N 13.667°W / 44.950; -13.667
26 November 1939 Gustaf E. Reuter   Sweden 6,336 Sunk 59°38′N 02°03′W / 59.633°N 2.050°W / 59.633; -2.050
8 December 1939 Brandon   United Kingdom 6,668 Sunk 50°28′N 08°28′W / 50.467°N 8.467°W / 50.467; -8.467
9 December 1939 San Alberto   United Kingdom 7,397 Damaged 49°20′N 09°45′W / 49.333°N 9.750°W / 49.333; -9.750
15 December 1939 Germaine   Greece 5,217 Sunk 51°00′N 12°18′W / 51.000°N 12.300°W / 51.000; -12.300
10 February 1940 Burgerdijk   Netherlands 6,853 Sunk 49°45′N 06°30′W / 49.750°N 6.500°W / 49.750; -6.500
14 February 1940 Sultan Star   United Kingdom 12,306 Sunk 48°54′N 10°03′W / 48.900°N 10.050°W / 48.900; -10.050
15 February 1940 Den Haag   Netherlands 8,971 Sunk 48°02′N 08°26′W / 48.033°N 8.433°W / 48.033; -8.433
17 February 1940 Wilja   Finland 3,396 Sunk 49°00′N 06°33′W / 49.000°N 6.550°W / 49.000; -6.550
6 June 1940 Stancor   United Kingdom 798 Sunk 58°48′N 08°45′W / 58.800°N 8.750°W / 58.800; -8.750
6 June 1940 Frances Massey   United Kingdom 4,212 Sunk 55°33′N 08°26′W / 55.550°N 8.433°W / 55.550; -8.433
7 June 1940 Eros   United Kingdom 5,888 Damaged 55°33′N 08°26′W / 55.550°N 8.433°W / 55.550; -8.433
11 June 1940 Violando N Goulandris   Greece 3,598 Sunk 44°04′N 12°30′W / 44.067°N 12.500°W / 44.067; -12.500
19 June 1940 Tudor   Norway 6,607 Sunk 45°10′N 11°50′W / 45.167°N 11.833°W / 45.167; -11.833
19 June 1940 Baron Loudoun   United Kingdom 3,164 Sunk 45°00′N 11°21′W / 45.000°N 11.350°W / 45.000; -11.350
19 June 1940 British Monarch   United Kingdom 5,661 Sunk 45°00′N 11°21′W / 45.000°N 11.350°W / 45.000; -11.350
20 June 1940 Moerdrecht   Netherlands 7,493 Sunk 43°34′N 14°20′W / 43.567°N 14.333°W / 43.567; -14.333
16 August 1940 Hedrun   Sweden 2,325 Sunk 57°10′N 16°37′W / 57.167°N 16.617°W / 57.167; -16.617
19 August 1940 Ville de Gand   Belgium 7,590 Sunk 55°28′N 15°10′W / 55.467°N 15.167°W / 55.467; -15.167
24 August 1940 La Brea   United Kingdom 6,665 Sunk 57°24′N 11°21′W / 57.400°N 11.350°W / 57.400; -11.350
25 August 1940 Empire Merlin   United Kingdom 5,763 Sunk 58°30′N 10°15′W / 58.500°N 10.250°W / 58.500; -10.250
25 August 1940 Athelcrest   United Kingdom 6,825 Sunk 58°24′N 11°25′W / 58.400°N 11.417°W / 58.400; -11.417
15 September 1940 Alexandros   Greece 4,343 Sunk 56°30′N 16°30′W / 56.500°N 16.500°W / 56.500; -16.500
15 September 1940 HMS Dundee   Royal Navy 1,060 Sunk 56°45′N 14°14′W / 56.750°N 14.233°W / 56.750; -14.233
15 September 1940 Empire Volunteer   United Kingdom 5,319 Sunk 56°43′N 15°17′W / 56.717°N 15.283°W / 56.717; -15.283
17 / 18 September 1940[16][19] City of Benares   United Kingdom 11,081 Sunk 56°43′N 21°15′W / 56.717°N 21.250°W / 56.717; -21.250
17 / 18 September 1940[16][20] Marina   United Kingdom 5,088 Sunk 56°46′N 21°15′W / 56.767°N 21.250°W / 56.767; -21.250
18 September 1940 Magdalena   United Kingdom 3,118 Sunk 57°20′N 20°16′W / 57.333°N 20.267°W / 57.333; -20.267
21 September 1940 Blairangus   United Kingdom 4,409 Sunk 55°18′N 22°21′W / 55.300°N 22.350°W / 55.300; -22.350
21 September 1940 Broompark   United Kingdom 5,136 Damaged 49°02′N 40°26′W / 49.033°N 40.433°W / 49.033; -40.433
11 October 1940 Brandanger   Norway 4,624 Sunk 57°10′N 17°42′W / 57.167°N 17.700°W / 57.167; -17.700
11 October 1940 Port Gisborne   United Kingdom 8,390 Sunk 56°38′N 16°40′W / 56.633°N 16.667°W / 56.633; -16.667
12 October 1940 Davanger   Norway 7,102 Sunk 57°00′N 19°10′W / 57.000°N 19.167°W / 57.000; -19.167
17 October 1940 Languedoc   United Kingdom 9,512 Sunk 59°14′N 17°51′W / 59.233°N 17.850°W / 59.233; -17.850
17 October 1940 Scoresby   United Kingdom 3,843 Sunk 59°14′N 17°51′W / 59.233°N 17.850°W / 59.233; -17.850
18 October 1940 Sandend   United Kingdom 3,612 Sunk 58°12′N 21°29′W / 58.200°N 21.483°W / 58.200; -21.483
20 October 1940 Shirak   United Kingdom 6,023 Sunk 57°00′N 16°53′W / 57.000°N 16.883°W / 57.000; -16.883
1 February 1941 Nicolaos Angelos   Greece 4,351 Sunk 59°00′N 17°00′W / 59.000°N 17.000°W / 59.000; -17.000
24 February 1941 Nailsea Lass   United Kingdom 4,289 Sunk 50°06′N 10°23′W / 50.100°N 10.383°W / 50.100; -10.383
29 March 1941 Germanic   United Kingdom 5,352 Sunk 61°18′N 22°05′W / 61.300°N 22.083°W / 61.300; -22.083
29 March 1941 Limbourg   Belgium 2,483 Sunk 61°18′N 22°05′W / 61.300°N 22.083°W / 61.300; -22.083
29 March 1941 Hylton   United Kingdom 5,197 Sunk 60°20′N 18°10′W / 60.333°N 18.167°W / 60.333; -18.167
2 April 1941 Beaverdale   United Kingdom 9,957 Sunk 60°50′N 29°19′W / 60.833°N 29.317°W / 60.833; -29.317
3 June 1941 Inversuir   United Kingdom 9,456 Damaged 48°30′N 28°30′W / 48.500°N 28.500°W / 48.500; -28.500
5 June 1941 Wellfield   United Kingdom 6,054 Sunk 48°34′N 31°34′W / 48.567°N 31.567°W / 48.567; -31.567
6 June 1941 Tregarthen   United Kingdom 5,201 Sunk 46°17′N 36°20′W / 46.283°N 36.333°W / 46.283; -36.333
8 June 1941 Pendrecht   Netherlands 10,746 Sunk 45°18′N 36°40′W / 45.300°N 36.667°W / 45.300; -36.667
12 June 1941 Empire Dew   United Kingdom 7,005 Sunk 51°09′N 30°16′W / 51.150°N 30.267°W / 51.150; -30.267

See also edit

References edit

Notes edit

  1. ^ Merchant ship tonnages are in gross register tons. Military vessels are listed by tons displacement.

Citations edit

  1. ^ a b c d e f Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIB boat U-48". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 8 December 2014.
  2. ^ a b c d Gröner 1991, pp. 43–44.
  3. ^ a b Helgason, Guðmundur. "Patrol info for U-48 (First patrol)". U-boat patrols - uboat.net. Retrieved 2 September 2010.
  4. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Royal Sceptre (British Steam merchant)". Allied Ships hit by U-boats. Retrieved 31 August 2010.
  5. ^ a b Helgason, Guðmundur. "Korvettenkapitän Herbert Schultze". German U-boat Commanders of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 25 April 2010.
  6. ^ Tildesley, Kate. "Voices from the Battle of the Atlantic". The Second World War Experience Centre. Archived from the original on 17 July 2011. Retrieved 25 April 2010.
  7. ^ Blair, page 80
  8. ^ Blair, page 85
  9. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Patrol info for U-48 (Second patrol)". U-boat patrols - uboat.net. Retrieved 3 September 2010.
  10. ^ Blair, page 120
  11. ^ "Blue Star's S.S. "Sultan Star"". Blue Star Ships. Blue Star on the Web. 3 February 2012. Archived from the original on 20 July 2008.
  12. ^ Blair, page 161
  13. ^ Kennedy, Michael (2008). "G2, the Coastwatching Service and the Battle of the Atlantic" (PDF). Maritime Institute of Ireland. Retrieved 26 April 2010.
  14. ^ Blair, page 169
  15. ^ Duggan page 111
  16. ^ a b c d e f Nagorski 2006.
  17. ^ Mackinnon did not evacuate the sinking ship; he drowned on board.
  18. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U-48". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 28 February 2010.
  19. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "City of Benares (Steam passenger ship)". Allied Ships hit by U-boats - uboat.net. Retrieved 31 August 2010.
  20. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Marina (Steam passenger ship)". Allied Ships hit by U-boats - uboat.net. Retrieved 31 August 2010.

Bibliography edit

  • Blair, Clay (1996). Hitler's U-Boat War. London: Weidenfeld & Nicolson. ISBN 0-297-84076-2.
  • Bridgland, Tony (2002). Waves of Hate. Barnsley: Leo Cooper. ISBN 0-85052-822-4.
  • 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.
  • Duggan, John P (2003). Herr Hempel. Sallins: Irish Academic Press. ISBN 0-7165-2757-X.
  • Gröner, Erich; Jung, Dieter; Maass, Martin (1991). German Warships 1815–1945, U-boats and Mine Warfare Vessels. Vol. 2. Translated by Thomas, Keith; Magowan, Rachel. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-593-4.
  • Sharpe, Peter (1998). U-Boat Fact File. Leicester: Midland Publishing. ISBN 1-85780-072-9.
  • Nagorski, Tom (2006). Miracles on the Water: The Heroic Survivors of a World War II U-Boat Attack. New York: Hyperion Books. ISBN 978-1-4013-0150-7.

External links edit

  • Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIB boat U-48". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 8 December 2014.
  • Hofmann, Markus. "U 48". Deutsche U-Boote 1935-1945 - u-boot-archiv.de (in German). Retrieved 1 February 2015.

54°07′N 10°50′E / 54.117°N 10.833°E / 54.117; 10.833