German submarine U-107 was a Type IXBU-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine that operated during World War II. Between January 1941 and August 1944, she sailed on 13 active patrols at a time when a U-boat averaged a lifespan of seven to ten patrols. During that time, U-107 sank 39 Allied ships and damaged four. The U-boat was launched on 2 July 1940, based at the U-boat port of Lorient, with a crew of 53 under the initial command of Günter Hessler. She was later commanded, in order, by Harald Gelhaus, Valker Simmermacher and her final commander, Karl Heinz Fritz.
German Type IXB submarines were slightly larger than the original German Type IX submarines, later designated IXA. U-107 had a displacement of 1,051 tonnes (1,034 long tons) when at the surface and 1,178 tonnes (1,159 long tons) while submerged.[2] The U-boat had a total length of 76.50 m (251 ft), a pressure hull length of 58.75 m (192 ft 9 in), a beam of 6.76 m (22 ft 2 in), a height of 9.60 m (31 ft 6 in), and a draught of 4.70 m (15 ft 5 in). The submarine was powered by two MAN M 9 V 40/46 supercharged four-stroke, nine-cylinder diesel engines producing a total of 4,400 metric horsepower (3,240 kW; 4,340 shp) for use while surfaced, two Siemens-Schuckert 2 GU 345/34 double-acting electric motors producing a total of 1,000 metric horsepower (740 kW; 990 shp) for use while submerged. She had two shafts and two 1.92 m (6 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 18.2 knots (33.7 km/h; 20.9 mph) and a maximum submerged speed of 7.3 knots (13.5 km/h; 8.4 mph).[2] When submerged, the boat could operate for 64 nautical miles (119 km; 74 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph); when surfaced, she could travel 12,000 nautical miles (22,000 km; 14,000 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph). U-107 was fitted with six 53.3 cm (21 in) torpedo tubes (four fitted at the bow and two at the stern), 22 torpedoes, one 10.5 cm (4.13 in) SK C/32 naval gun, 180 rounds, and a 3.7 cm (1.5 in) SK C/30 as well as a 2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 anti-aircraft gun. The boat had a complement of forty-eight.[2]
^Merchant ship tonnages are in gross register tons which is a measure of internal capacity. Military vessels are listed by tons displacement which is a measure of ship weight.
^Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type IXB boat U-107". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 22 February 2010.
^Landers, Brian. "Caught on the Surface". Aeroplane (April 2012). Cudham: Kelsey Publishing: 16–22. ISSN 0143-7240.
^Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U-107". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 3 October 2014.
Bibliographyedit
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. ISBN1-55750-186-6.
Busch, Rainer; Röll, Hans-Joachim (2003). 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. ISBN3-8132-0514-2.
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. ISBN0-85177-593-4.
Kemp, Paul (1999). U-Boats Destroyed - German Submarine Losses in the World Wars. London: Arms & Armour. ISBN1-85409-515-3.
External linksedit
Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type IXB boat U-107". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 6 December 2014.
Hofmann, Markus. "U 107". Deutsche U-Boote 1935-1945 - u-boot-archiv.de (in German). Retrieved 13 December 2015.
German submarine U-107 (1940) at Wikipedia's sister projects:
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April 23, 2024
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For other ships with the same name see German submarine U 107 German submarine U 107 was a Type IXB U boat of Nazi Germany s Kriegsmarine that operated during World War II Between January 1941 and August 1944 she sailed on 13 active patrols at a time when a U boat averaged a lifespan of seven to ten patrols During that time U 107 sank 39 Allied ships and damaged four The U boat was launched on 2 July 1940 based at the U boat port of Lorient with a crew of 53 under the initial command of Gunter Hessler She was later commanded in order by Harald Gelhaus Valker Simmermacher and her final commander Karl Heinz Fritz U 107 at Lorient in November 1941History Nazi Germany NameU 107 Ordered24 May 1938 BuilderDeSchiMAG AG Weser Bremen Yard number970 Laid down6 December 1939 Launched2 July 1940 Commissioned8 October 1940 HomeportLorient France FateSunk 18 August 1944 1 General characteristics Class and typeType IXB U boat Displacement1 051 t 1 034 long tons surfaced 1 178 t 1 159 long tons submerged Length76 50 m 251 ft o a 58 75 m 192 ft 9 in pressure hull Beam6 76 m 22 ft 2 in o a 4 40 m 14 ft 5 in pressure hull Draught4 70 m 15 ft 5 in Installed power4 400 PS 3 200 kW 4 300 bhp diesels 1 000 PS 740 kW 990 shp electric Propulsion2 shafts 2 diesel engines 2 electric motors Speed18 2 knots 33 7 km h 20 9 mph surfaced 7 3 knots 13 5 km h 8 4 mph submerged Range12 000 nmi 22 000 km 14 000 mi at 10 knots 19 km h 12 mph surfaced 64 nmi 119 km 74 mi at 4 knots 7 4 km h 4 6 mph submerged Test depth230 m 750 ft Complement48 to 56 officers and ratings Armament6 torpedo tubes 4 bow 2 stern 22 53 3 cm 21 in torpedoes 1 10 5 cm SK C 32 naval gun 180 rounds 1 3 7 cm 1 5 in SK C 30 AA gun 1 twin 2 cm FlaK 30 AA guns Service record Part of 2nd U boat Flotilla 8 October 1940 18 August 1944Identification codes M 39 808Commanders K Kapt Gunter Hessler 8 October 1940 1 December 1941 Kptlt Harald Gelhaus 1 December 1941 6 June 1943 Kptlt Volker Simmermacher July 1943 August 1944 Lt z S Karl Heinz Fritz August 18 August 1944Operations 13 patrols 1st patrol 24 January 1 March 1941 2nd patrol 29 March 2 July 1941 3rd patrol 6 September 11 November 1941 4th patrol 10 26 December 1941 5th patrol 7 January 7 March 1942 6th patrol 21 April 11 July 1942 7th patrol 15 August 18 November 1942 8th patrol 30 January 25 March 1943 9th patrol 24 April 26 May 1943 10th patrol a 28 July 3 October 1943 b 10 12 November 1943 11th patrol a 16 November 1943 8 January 1944 b 30 April 2 May 1944 12th patrol 10 May 23 July 1944 13th patrol 16 18 Aug 1944Victories 37 merchant ships sunk 207 375 GRT 2 auxiliary warships sunk 10 411 GRT 3 merchant ships damaged 17 392 GRT 1 auxiliary warship damaged 8 246 GRT Contents 1 Design 2 Service history 2 1 First patrol 2 2 Second patrol and most successful period 2 3 Third patrol 2 4 Fifth patrol 2 5 Sixth patrol 2 6 Eighth patrol 2 7 Ninth patrol 2 8 Tenth patrol 2 9 Eleventh patrol 2 10 Fifteenth patrol 2 11 Sixteenth and final patrol 2 12 Wolfpacks 3 Summary of raiding history 4 References 4 1 Notes 4 2 Citations 5 Bibliography 6 External linksDesign editGerman Type IXB submarines were slightly larger than the original German Type IX submarines later designated IXA U 107 had a displacement of 1 051 tonnes 1 034 long tons when at the surface and 1 178 tonnes 1 159 long tons while submerged 2 The U boat had a total length of 76 50 m 251 ft a pressure hull length of 58 75 m 192 ft 9 in a beam of 6 76 m 22 ft 2 in a height of 9 60 m 31 ft 6 in and a draught of 4 70 m 15 ft 5 in The submarine was powered by two MAN M 9 V 40 46 supercharged four stroke nine cylinder diesel engines producing a total of 4 400 metric horsepower 3 240 kW 4 340 shp for use while surfaced two Siemens Schuckert 2 GU 345 34 double acting electric motors producing a total of 1 000 metric horsepower 740 kW 990 shp for use while submerged She had two shafts and two 1 92 m 6 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 18 2 knots 33 7 km h 20 9 mph and a maximum submerged speed of 7 3 knots 13 5 km h 8 4 mph 2 When submerged the boat could operate for 64 nautical miles 119 km 74 mi at 4 knots 7 4 km h 4 6 mph when surfaced she could travel 12 000 nautical miles 22 000 km 14 000 mi at 10 knots 19 km h 12 mph U 107 was fitted with six 53 3 cm 21 in torpedo tubes four fitted at the bow and two at the stern 22 torpedoes one 10 5 cm 4 13 in SK C 32 naval gun 180 rounds and a 3 7 cm 1 5 in SK C 30 as well as a 2 cm 0 79 in C 30 anti aircraft gun The boat had a complement of forty eight 2 Service history editFirst patrol edit Date Name Flag Tonnage Note 1 Convoy Position 3 February 1941 Empire Citizen nbsp United Kingdom 4 683 Convoy OB 279 58 12 N 23 22 W 58 200 N 23 367 W 58 200 23 367 3 February 1941 Crispin nbsp Royal Navy 5 051 Convoy OB 280 56 38 N 20 05 W 56 633 N 20 083 W 56 633 20 083 6 February 1941 Maplecourt nbsp Canada 3 388 Convoy SC 20 57 33 N 17 24 W 57 550 N 17 400 W 57 550 17 400 23 February 1941 Manistee nbsp Royal Navy 5 360 Convoy OB 288 58 13 N 21 33 W 58 217 N 21 550 W 58 217 21 550 Second patrol and most successful period edit Date Name Flag Tonnage GRT Convoy Position 8 April 1941 Helena Margareta nbsp United Kingdom 3 316 Convoy OG 57 33 00 N 23 52 W 33 000 N 23 867 W 33 000 23 867 8 April 1941 Eskdene nbsp United Kingdom 3 829 Convoy OG 57 34 43 N 24 21 W 34 717 N 24 350 W 34 717 24 350 9 April 1941 Harpathian nbsp United Kingdom 4 671 Convoy OG 57 32 22 N 22 53 W 32 367 N 22 883 W 32 367 22 883 9 April 1941 Duffield nbsp United Kingdom 8 516 Convoy OG 57 31 13 N 23 24 W 31 217 N 23 400 W 31 217 23 400 21 April 1941 Calchas nbsp United Kingdom 10 305 23 50 N 27 00 W 23 833 N 27 000 W 23 833 27 000 30 April 1941 Lassell nbsp United Kingdom 7 417 Convoy OB 309 12 55 N 28 56 W 12 917 N 28 933 W 12 917 28 933 17 May 1941 Marisa nbsp Netherlands 8 029 06 10 N 18 09 W 6 167 N 18 150 W 6 167 18 150 18 May 1941 Piako nbsp United Kingdom 8 286 07 52 N 14 57 W 7 867 N 14 950 W 7 867 14 950 27 May 1941 Colonial nbsp United Kingdom 5 108 Convoy OB 318 09 13 N 15 09 W 9 217 N 15 150 W 9 217 15 150 28 May 1941 Papalemos nbsp Greece 3 748 08 06 N 16 18 W 8 100 N 16 300 W 8 100 16 300 31 May 1941 Sire nbsp United Kingdom 5 664 08 50 N 15 30 W 8 833 N 15 500 W 8 833 15 500 1 June 1941 Alfred Jones nbsp United Kingdom 5 013 Convoy OB 320 08 00 N 15 00 W 8 000 N 15 000 W 8 000 15 000 8 June 1941 Adda nbsp United Kingdom 7 816 Convoy OB 323 08 30 N 14 39 W 8 500 N 14 650 W 8 500 14 650 13 June 1941 Pandias nbsp Greece 4 981 07 49 N 23 28 W 7 817 N 23 467 W 7 817 23 467 Third patrol edit Date Name Flag Tonnage GRT Convoy Position 24 September 1941 Dixcove nbsp United Kingdom 3 790 Convoy SL 87 31 12 N 23 41 W 31 200 N 23 683 W 31 200 23 683 24 September 1941 Lafian nbsp United Kingdom 4 876 Convoy SL 87 31 12 N 23 32 W 31 200 N 23 533 W 31 200 23 533 24 September 1941 John Holt nbsp United Kingdom 4 975 Convoy SL 87 31 12 N 23 32 W 31 200 N 23 533 W 31 200 23 533 Fifth patrol edit Date Name Flag Tonnage GRT Convoy Position 31 January 1942 San Arcadio nbsp United Kingdom 7 419 38 10 N 63 50 W 38 167 N 63 833 W 38 167 63 833 6 February 1942 Major Wheeler nbsp United States 3 431 E of Cape Hatteras 21 February 1942 Egda nbsp Norway 10 068 Convoy ON 65 41 12 N 52 55 W 41 200 N 52 917 W 41 200 52 917 Damaged Sixth patrol edit nbsp U 107 meets a supply ship in the South Atlantic Date Name Flag Tonnage GRT Convoy Position 29 May 1942 Western Head nbsp United Kingdom 2 599 19 57 N 74 18 W 19 950 N 74 300 W 19 950 74 300 1 June 1942 Bushranger nbsp Panama 4 536 18 15 N 81 25 W 18 250 N 81 417 W 18 250 81 417 7 June 1942 Castilla nbsp Honduras 3 910 20 15 N 83 18 W 20 250 N 83 300 W 20 250 83 300 8 June 1942 Suwied nbsp United States 3 249 20 00 N 84 48 W 20 000 N 84 800 W 20 000 84 800 10 June 1942 Merrimack nbsp United States 2 606 19 47 N 85 55 W 19 783 N 85 917 W 19 783 85 917 19 June 1942 Cheerio nbsp United States 35 18 02 N 67 40 W 18 033 N 67 667 W 18 033 67 667 26 June 1942 Jagersfontein nbsp Netherlands 10 083 31 56 N 54 48 W 31 933 N 54 800 W 31 933 54 800 Eighth patrol edit Date Name Flag Tonnage GRT Convoy Position 3 September 1942 Hollinside nbsp United Kingdom 4 172 38 00 N 09 00 W 38 000 N 9 000 W 38 000 9 000 3 September 1942 Penrose nbsp United Kingdom 4 393 38 00 N 09 00 W 38 000 N 9 000 W 38 000 9 000 7 October 1942 Andalucia Star nbsp United Kingdom 14 943 06 38 N 15 46 W 6 633 N 15 767 W 6 633 15 767 Ninth patrol edit 4 March 1943 came under attack from an unidentified Allied aircraft Moderately damaged by the attack 22 March 1943 at 14 35 it came under attack from another unidentified Allied aircraft Undamaged Date Name Flag Tonnage GRT Convoy Position 22 February 1943 Roxborough Castle nbsp United Kingdom 7 801 38 12 N 26 22 W 38 200 N 26 367 W 38 200 26 367 13 March 1943 Oporto nbsp United Kingdom 2 352 Convoy OS 44 42 45 N 13 31 W 42 750 N 13 517 W 42 750 13 517 13 March 1943 Marcella nbsp United Kingdom 4 592 Convoy OS 44 42 45 N 13 31 W 42 750 N 13 517 W 42 750 13 517 13 March 1943 Sembilangan nbsp Netherlands 4 990 Convoy OS 44 42 45 N 13 31 W 42 750 N 13 517 W 42 750 13 517 13 March 1943 SS Clan Alpine nbsp United Kingdom 5 442 Convoy OS 44 42 45 N 13 31 W 42 750 N 13 517 W 42 750 13 517 Tenth patrol edit Date Name Flag Tonnage GRT Convoy Position 1 May 1943 Port Victor nbsp United Kingdom 12 411 47 49 N 22 02 W 47 817 N 22 033 W 47 817 22 033 Eleventh patrol edit Date Name Flag Tonnage Note 2 Convoy Position 28 August 1943 Albert Gallatin nbsp United States 7 176 Off Savannah Georgia Damaged 11 September 1943 USS Rapidan nbsp United States Navy 8 246 Convoy NG 385 32 39 N 79 43 W 32 650 N 79 717 W 32 650 79 717 Damaged Fifteenth patrol edit Date Name Flag Tonnage GRT Convoy Position 13 June 1944 Lark nbsp United States 148 43 00 N 65 12 W 43 000 N 65 200 W 43 000 65 200 Damaged Sixteenth and final patrol edit On 16 August 1944 U 107 departed from Lorient on a transport run to La Pallice 3 She was intercepted on 18 August in the Bay of Biscay west of La Rochelle in position 46 46 N 03 49 W 46 767 N 3 817 W 46 767 3 817 by Allied forces and was sunk by depth charges from a Short Sunderland serialEJ150 of No 201 Squadron Royal Air Force All 58 hands were lost 4 5 Wolfpacks edit U 107 took part in 15 wolfpacks namely Stortebecker 5 7 November 1941 Seerauber 14 23 December 1941 Blucher 23 28 August 1942 Iltis 6 23 September 1942 Hartherz 3 7 February 1943 Delphin 11 14 February 1943 Robbe 16 February 13 March 1943 Amsel 2 4 6 May 1943 Elbe 7 10 May 1943 Elbe 2 10 14 May 1943 Weddigen 24 November 7 December 1943 Coronel 7 8 December 1943 Coronel 2 8 14 December 1943 Coronel 3 14 17 December 1943 Borkum 18 30 December 1943 Summary of raiding history editDate Name Nationality Tonnage GRT Fate 6 3 February 1941 Empire Citizen nbsp United Kingdom 4 683 Sunk 3 February 1941 HMS Crispin nbsp Royal Navy 5 051 Sunk 6 February 1941 Maplecourt nbsp Canada 3 388 Sunk 23 February 1941 HMS Manistee nbsp Royal Navy 5 360 Sunk 8 April 1941 Eskdene nbsp United Kingdom 3 829 Sunk 8 April 1941 Helena Margareta nbsp United Kingdom 3 316 Sunk 9 April 1941 Harpathian nbsp United Kingdom 4 671 Sunk 9 April 1941 Duffield nbsp United Kingdom 8 516 Sunk 21 April 1941 Calchas nbsp United Kingdom 10 305 Sunk 30 April 1941 Lassell nbsp United Kingdom 7 417 Sunk 17 May 1941 Marisa nbsp Netherlands 8 029 Sunk 18 May 1941 Piako nbsp United Kingdom 8 286 Sunk 27 May 1941 Colonial nbsp United Kingdom 5 108 Sunk 28 May 1941 Papalemos nbsp Greece 3 748 Sunk 31 May 1941 Sire nbsp United Kingdom 5 664 Sunk 1 June 1941 Alfred Jones nbsp United Kingdom 5 013 Sunk 8 June 1941 Adda nbsp United Kingdom 7 816 Sunk 13 June 1941 Pandias nbsp Greece 4 981 Sunk 24 September 1941 John Holt nbsp United Kingdom 4 975 Sunk 24 September 1941 Dixcove nbsp United Kingdom 3 790 Sunk 24 September 1941 Lafian nbsp United Kingdom 4 876 Sunk 31 January 1942 San Arcadio nbsp United Kingdom 7 419 Sunk 6 February 1942 Major Wheeler nbsp United States 3 431 Sunk 21 February 1942 Egda nbsp Norway 10 068 Damaged 29 May 1942 Western Head nbsp United Kingdom 2 599 Sunk 1 June 1942 Bushranger nbsp Panama 4 536 Sunk 7 June 1942 Castilla nbsp Honduras 3 910 Sunk 8 June 1942 Suwied nbsp United States 3 249 Sunk 10 June 1942 Merrimack nbsp United States 2 606 Sunk 19 June 1942 Cheerio nbsp United States 35 Sunk 26 June 1942 Jagersfontein nbsp Netherlands 10 083 Sunk 3 September 1942 Hollinside nbsp United Kingdom 4 172 Sunk 3 September 1942 Penrose nbsp United Kingdom 4 393 Sunk 7 October 1942 Andalucia Star nbsp United Kingdom 14 943 Sunk 22 February 1943 Roxborough Castle nbsp United Kingdom 7 801 Sunk 13 March 1943 SS Clan Alpine nbsp United Kingdom 5 442 Sunk 13 March 1943 Marcella nbsp United Kingdom 4 592 Sunk 13 March 1943 Oporto nbsp United Kingdom 2 352 Sunk 13 March 1943 Sembilangan nbsp Netherlands 4 990 Sunk 1 May 1943 Port Victor nbsp United Kingdom 12 411 Sunk 28 August 1943 Albert Gallatin nbsp United States 7 176 Damaged 11 September 1943 USS Rapidan nbsp United States Navy 8 246 Damaged 13 June 1944 Lark nbsp United States 148 DamagedReferences editNotes edit Merchant ship tonnages are in gross register tons which is a measure of internal capacity Military vessels are listed by tons displacement which is a measure of ship weight Merchant ship tonnages are in gross register tons Military vessels are listed by tons displacement Citations edit Kemp 1999 p 210 a b c d Groner 1991 p 68 Busch amp Roll 2003 p 447 Helgason Gudmundur The Type IXB boat U 107 German U boats of WWII uboat net Retrieved 22 February 2010 Landers Brian Caught on the Surface Aeroplane April 2012 Cudham Kelsey Publishing 16 22 ISSN 0143 7240 Helgason Gudmundur Ships hit by U 107 German U boats of WWII uboat net Retrieved 3 October 2014 Bibliography editBusch Rainer Roll 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 Roll Hans Joachim 2003 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 Groner 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 Kemp Paul 1999 U Boats Destroyed German Submarine Losses in the World Wars London Arms amp Armour ISBN 1 85409 515 3 External links editHelgason Gudmundur The Type IXB boat U 107 German U boats of WWII uboat net Retrieved 6 December 2014 Hofmann Markus U 107 Deutsche U Boote 1935 1945 u boot archiv de in German Retrieved 13 December 2015 German submarine U 107 1940 at Wikipedia s sister projects nbsp Media from Commons Retrieved from https 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