Her service life began with training in the 4th U-boat Flotilla; she moved to the 2nd Flotilla for more training on 1 September 1941 and operations with the same organization on 1 December.
She sank 21 ships, a total of 127,608 GRT and three auxiliary warships totalling 34,407 GRT in six patrols. She also damaged one ship of 6,986 GRT. She was a member of three wolfpacks.
German Type IXC submarines were slightly larger than the original Type IXBs. U-131 had a displacement of 1,120 tonnes (1,100 long tons) when at the surface and 1,232 tonnes (1,213 long tons) while submerged.[2] The U-boat had a total length of 76.76 m (251 ft 10 in), 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 18.3 knots (33.9 km/h; 21.1 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 63 nautical miles (117 km; 72 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph); when surfaced, she could travel 13,450 nautical miles (24,910 km; 15,480 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph). U-131 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
First and second patrols
The boat's operational debut was her departure from Kiel on 1 December 1941. Crossing the North Sea, she entered the Atlantic Ocean via the gap between the Faroe and the Shetland Islands. She sank Kurdistan northwest of Northern Ireland on the tenth before docking at Lorient in occupied France on the 16th. U-130 would use this port for the rest of her career. The Kurdistan survivors were picked up by HMS Kingcup and landed at Derry.
The submarine was unsuccessfully attacked by an aircraft on 12 January 1942 in the Cabot Strait, between Nova Scotia and Newfoundland on her second patrol. She then sank two ships on the 13th east of Nova Scotia. She was almost sunk by two Canadian destroyers on the 18th, but the winter weather played a part, hampering both sides. The U-boat moved south, to warmer waters.
Third, fourth and fifth patrols
U-130's third patrol was marked by using her deck gun in conjunction with her torpedoes in the western north Atlantic and the eastern Caribbean when she sank Grenanger on 11 April 1942 and Esso Boston a day later.
The boat's fourth sortie also brought success, this time near the Cape Verde islands. Among others, she sank Tankexpress, Elmwood and Danmark, all in July 1942.
She tried to impede the landings for Operation Torch, the invasion of North Africa, when she sank three troop transports at anchor off Morocco on 12 November 1942. They were USS Tasker H. Bliss, Edward Rutledge and Hugh L. Scott. The boat then headed off into the Atlantic, north of the Azores.
Sixth patrol and loss
Her last patrol was not without success; she sank Trefusis, Fidra, Empire Tower and Ger-y-Bryn, all on 5 March 1943.
She was sunk on 12 March 1943 by depth charges from the American destroyer USS Champlin west of the Azores. 53 men died. There were no survivors.
^Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U-130". German U-boats of WWII – uboat.net. Retrieved 11 July 2012.
Bibliography
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 (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. ISBN3-8132-0514-2.
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. 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 links
Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type IXC boat U-130". German U-boats of WWII – uboat.net. Retrieved 7 December 2014.
Hofmann, Markus. "U 130". Deutsche U-Boote 1935–1945 – u-boot-archiv.de (in German). Retrieved 7 December 2014.
german, submarine, 1941, other, ships, with, same, name, german, submarine, german, submarine, type, boat, nazi, germany, kriegsmarine, during, world, laid, down, deschimag, weser, yard, bremen, yard, number, august, 1940, launched, march, 1941, commissioned, . For other ships with the same name see German submarine U 130 German submarine U 130 was a Type IXC U boat of Nazi Germany s Kriegsmarine during World War II She was laid down at the DeSchiMAG AG Weser yard Bremen as yard number 993 on 20 August 1940 launched on 14 March 1941 and commissioned on 11 June U 505 a typical Type IXC boatHistoryNazi GermanyNameU 130Ordered7 August 1939BuilderDeSchiMAG AG Weser in BremenYard number993Laid down20 August 1940Launched14 March 1941Commissioned11 June 1941FateSunk west of the Azores on 12 March 1943 by USS Champlin 1 General characteristicsClass and typeType IXC submarineDisplacement1 120 t 1 100 long tons surfaced 1 232 t 1 213 long tons submergedLength76 76 m 251 ft 10 in o a 58 75 m 192 ft 9 in pressure hullBeam6 76 m 22 ft 2 in o a 4 40 m 14 ft 5 in pressure hullHeight9 60 m 31 ft 6 in 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 motorsRange13 450 nmi 24 910 km 15 480 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 submergedTest depth230 m 750 ft Complement4 officers 44 enlisted48 to 56Armament6 torpedo tubes 4 bow 2 stern 22 53 3 cm 21 in torpedoes 1 10 5 cm 4 1 in SK C 32 deck gun 180 rounds 1 3 7 cm 1 5 in SK C 30 AA gun 1 twin 2 cm FlaK 30 AA gunsService recordPart of 4th U boat Flotilla 11 June 31 August 1941 2nd U boat Flotilla 1 September 1941 12 March 1943Commanders K Kapt Ernst Kals 11 June 1941 1 January 1943 Oblt z S Siefried Keller 7 February 12 March 1943Operations 6 patrols 1st patrol 1 16 December 1941 2nd patrol 27 December 25 February 1942 3rd patrol 24 March 1942 6 June 1942 4th patrol 4 July 12 September 1942 5th patrol 29 October 30 December 1942 6th patrol 28 February 12 March 1943Victories 21 merchant ships sunk 127 608 GRT 3 auxiliary warships sunk 34 407 GRT 1 merchant ship damaged 6 986 GRT Her service life began with training in the 4th U boat Flotilla she moved to the 2nd Flotilla for more training on 1 September 1941 and operations with the same organization on 1 December She sank 21 ships a total of 127 608 GRT and three auxiliary warships totalling 34 407 GRT in six patrols She also damaged one ship of 6 986 GRT She was a member of three wolfpacks Contents 1 Design 2 Service history 2 1 First and second patrols 2 2 Third fourth and fifth patrols 2 3 Sixth patrol and loss 2 4 Wolfpacks 3 Summary of raiding history 4 References 4 1 Notes 4 2 Citations 5 Bibliography 6 External linksDesign EditGerman Type IXC submarines were slightly larger than the original Type IXBs U 131 had a displacement of 1 120 tonnes 1 100 long tons when at the surface and 1 232 tonnes 1 213 long tons while submerged 2 The U boat had a total length of 76 76 m 251 ft 10 in 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 3 knots 33 9 km h 21 1 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 63 nautical miles 117 km 72 mi at 4 knots 7 4 km h 4 6 mph when surfaced she could travel 13 450 nautical miles 24 910 km 15 480 mi at 10 knots 19 km h 12 mph U 131 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 and second patrols Edit The boat s operational debut was her departure from Kiel on 1 December 1941 Crossing the North Sea she entered the Atlantic Ocean via the gap between the Faroe and the Shetland Islands She sank Kurdistan northwest of Northern Ireland on the tenth before docking at Lorient in occupied France on the 16th U 130 would use this port for the rest of her career The Kurdistan survivors were picked up by HMS Kingcup and landed at Derry The submarine was unsuccessfully attacked by an aircraft on 12 January 1942 in the Cabot Strait between Nova Scotia and Newfoundland on her second patrol She then sank two ships on the 13th east of Nova Scotia She was almost sunk by two Canadian destroyers on the 18th but the winter weather played a part hampering both sides The U boat moved south to warmer waters Third fourth and fifth patrols Edit U 130 s third patrol was marked by using her deck gun in conjunction with her torpedoes in the western north Atlantic and the eastern Caribbean when she sank Grenanger on 11 April 1942 and Esso Boston a day later The boat s fourth sortie also brought success this time near the Cape Verde islands Among others she sank Tankexpress Elmwood and Danmark all in July 1942 She tried to impede the landings for Operation Torch the invasion of North Africa when she sank three troop transports at anchor off Morocco on 12 November 1942 They were USS Tasker H Bliss Edward Rutledge and Hugh L Scott The boat then headed off into the Atlantic north of the Azores Sixth patrol and loss Edit Her last patrol was not without success she sank Trefusis Fidra Empire Tower and Ger y Bryn all on 5 March 1943 She was sunk on 12 March 1943 by depth charges from the American destroyer USS Champlin west of the Azores 53 men died There were no survivors Wolfpacks Edit U 130 took part in three wolfpacks namely Schlagetot 9 21 November 1942 Westwall 21 November 16 December 1942 Unverzagt 12 March 1943 Summary of raiding history EditDate Name Nationality Tonnage Note 1 Fate 3 10 December 1941 Kirnwood United Kingdom 3 829 Sunk10 December 1941 Kurdistan United Kingdom 5 844 Sunk10 December 1941 Star of Luxor Egypt 5 298 Sunk13 January 1942 Friar Rock Panama 5 427 Sunk13 January 1942 Frisco Norway 1 582 Sunk21 January 1942 Alexander Hoegh Norway 8 248 Sunk25 January 1942 Varanger Norway 9 305 Sunk27 January 1942 Francis E Powell United States 7 096 Sunk27 January 1942 Halo United States 6 986 Damaged11 April 1942 Grenanger Norway 5 393 Sunk11 April 1942 Esso Boston United States 7 699 Sunk25 July 1942 Tankexpress Norway 10 095 Sunk27 July 1942 Elmwood Norway 7 167 Sunk30 July 1942 Danmark United Kingdom 8 391 Sunk9 August 1942 Malmanger Norway 7 078 Sunk11 August 1942 Mirlo Norway 7 455 Sunk25 August 1942 Viking Star United Kingdom 6 445 Sunk26 August 1942 Beechwood United Kingdom 4 897 Sunk12 November 1942 USS Edward Rutledge United States Navy 9 360 Sunk12 November 1942 USS Hugh L Scott United States Navy 12 479 Sunk12 November 1942 USS Tasker H Bliss United States Navy 12 568 Sunk5 March 1943 Empire Tower United Kingdom 4 378 Sunk5 March 1943 Fidra United Kingdom 1 574 Sunk5 March 1943 Ger y Bryn United Kingdom 5 108 Sunk5 March 1943 Trefusis United Kingdom 5 299 SunkReferences EditNotes Edit Merchant ship tonnages are in gross register tons Military vessels are listed by tons displacement Citations Edit Kemp 1999 p 107 a b c d Groner 1991 p 68 Helgason Gudmundur Ships hit by U 130 German U boats of WWII uboat net Retrieved 11 July 2012 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 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 Groner 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 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 IXC boat U 130 German U boats of WWII uboat net Retrieved 7 December 2014 Hofmann Markus U 130 Deutsche U Boote 1935 1945 u boot archiv de in German Retrieved 7 December 2014 Portals Military of Germany World War II Coordinates 10 00 0 N 35 58 3 W 10 00000 N 35 96750 W 10 00000 35 96750 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title German submarine U 130 1941 amp oldid 1082171494, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
