German submarine U-107 (1940) explained

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 Günter Hessler. She was later commanded, in order, by Harald Gelhaus, Valker Simmermacher and her final commander, Karl Heinz Fritz.

Design

Type IXB submarines were slightly larger than the original Type IX submarines, later designated IXA. U-107 had a displacement of 1051t when at the surface and 1178t while submerged. The U-boat had a total length of 76.5abbr=onNaNabbr=on, a pressure hull length of 58.75m (192.75feet), a beam of 6.76m (22.18feet), a height of 9.6m (31.5feet), and a draught of 4.7m (15.4feet). The submarine was powered by two MAN M 9 V 40/46 supercharged four-stroke, nine-cylinder diesel engines producing a total of 4400PS for use while surfaced, two Siemens-Schuckert 2 GU 345/34 double-acting electric motors producing a total of 1000PS for use while submerged. She had two shafts and two 1.92abbr=onNaNabbr=on propellers. The boat was capable of operating at depths of up to .

The submarine had a maximum surface speed of and a maximum submerged speed of . When submerged, the boat could operate for at ; when surfaced, she could travel at . U-107 was fitted with six 53.30NaN0 torpedo tubes (four fitted at the bow and two at the stern), 22 torpedoes, one 10.52NaN2 SK C/32 naval gun, 180 rounds, and a 3.7sp=usNaNsp=us SK C/30 as well as a 2sp=usNaNsp=us C/30 anti-aircraft gun. The boat had a complement of forty-eight.

Service history

First patrol

-DateNameFlagTonnage[1] ConvoyPosition
3 February 1941Empire Citizen United Kingdom4,683Convoy OB 27958.2°N -45°W
3 February 19415,051Convoy OB 28056.6333°N -25°W
6 February 1941Maplecourt Canada3,388Convoy SC 2057.55°N -41°W
23 February 19415,360Convoy OB 28858.2167°N -54°W

Second patrol and most successful period

-DateNameFlagTonnage (GRT)ConvoyPosition
8 April 1941Helena Margareta United Kingdom3,316Convoy OG 5733°N -75°W
8 April 1941Eskdene United Kingdom3,829Convoy OG 5734.7167°N -45°W
9 April 1941Harpathian United Kingdom4,671Convoy OG 5732.3667°N -75°W
9 April 1941Duffield United Kingdom8,516Convoy OG 5731.2167°N -47°W
21 April 1941Calchas United Kingdom10,30523.8333°N -27°W
30 April 1941Lassell United Kingdom7,417Convoy OB 30912.9167°N -84°W
17 May 1941Marisa Netherlands8,0296.1667°N -27°W
18 May 1941Piako United Kingdom8,2867.8667°N -71°W
27 May 1941Colonial United Kingdom5,108Convoy OB 3189.2167°N -24°W
28 May 1941Papalemos Greece3,7488.1°N -34°W
31 May 1941Sire United Kingdom5,6648.8333°N -45°W
1 June 1941Alfred Jones United Kingdom5,013Convoy OB 3208°N -15°W
8 June 1941Adda United Kingdom7,816Convoy OB 3238.5°N -53°W
13 June 1941Pandias Greece4,9817.8167°N -51°W

Third patrol

-DateNameFlagTonnage (GRT)ConvoyPosition
24 September 1941Dixcove United Kingdom3,790Convoy SL 8731.2°N -64°W
24 September 1941Lafian United Kingdom4,876Convoy SL 8731.2°N -55°W
24 September 1941John Holt United Kingdom4,975Convoy SL 8731.2°N -55°W

Fifth patrol

-DateNameFlagTonnage (GRT)ConvoyPosition
31 January 1942San Arcadio United Kingdom7,41938.1667°N -113°W
6 February 1942Major Wheeler United States3,431E of Cape Hatteras
21 February 1942Egda Norway10,068Convoy ON 6541.2°N -107°W Damaged

Sixth patrol

-DateNameFlagTonnage (GRT)ConvoyPosition
29 May 1942Western Head United Kingdom2,59919.95°N -92°W
1 June 1942Bushranger Panama4,53618.25°N -106°W
7 June 1942Castilla Honduras3,91020.25°N -101°W
8 June 1942Suwied United States3,24920°N -132°W
10 June 1942Merrimack United States2,60619.7833°N -140°W
19 June 1942Cheerio United States3518.0333°N -107°W
26 June 1942Jagersfontein Netherlands10,08331.9333°N -102°W

Eighth patrol

-DateNameFlagTonnage (GRT)ConvoyPosition
3 September 1942Hollinside United Kingdom4,17238°N -9°W
3 September 1942Penrose United Kingdom4,39338°N -9°W
7 October 1942Andalucia Star United Kingdom14,9436.6333°N -61°W

Ninth patrol

Moderately damaged by the attack.

Undamaged

-DateNameFlagTonnage (GRT)ConvoyPosition
22 February 1943Roxborough Castle United Kingdom7,80138.2°N -48°W
13 March 1943Oporto United Kingdom2,352Convoy OS 4442.75°N -44°W
13 March 1943Marcella United Kingdom4,592Convoy OS 4442.75°N -44°W
13 March 1943Sembilangan Netherlands4,990Convoy OS 4442.75°N -44°W
13 March 1943 United Kingdom5,442Convoy OS 4442.75°N -44°W

Tenth patrol

-DateNameFlagTonnage (GRT)ConvoyPosition
1 May 1943Port Victor United Kingdom12,41147.8167°N -24°W

Eleventh patrol

-DateNameFlagTonnage[2] ConvoyPosition
28 August 1943 United States7,176Off Savannah, Georgia Damaged
11 September 19438,246Convoy NG 38532.65°N -122°W Damaged

Fifteenth patrol

-DateNameFlagTonnage (GRT)ConvoyPosition
13 June 1944Lark United States14843°N -77°W Damaged

Sixteenth and final patrol

On 16 August 1944, U-107 departed from Lorient on a transport run to La Pallice. She was intercepted on 18 August in the Bay of Biscay, west of La Rochelle, in position 46.7667°N -52°W, 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.[3] [4]

Wolfpacks

U-107 took part in 15 wolfpacks, namely:

Summary of raiding history

DateNameNationalityTonnage
(GRT)		Fate[5]
3 February 1941Empire Citizen United Kingdom4,683Sunk
3 February 19415,051Sunk
6 February 1941Maplecourt Canada3,388Sunk
23 February 1941HMS Manistee5,360Sunk
8 April 1941Eskdene United Kingdom3,829Sunk
8 April 1941Helena Margareta United Kingdom3,316Sunk
9 April 1941Harpathian United Kingdom4,671Sunk
9 April 1941Duffield United Kingdom8,516Sunk
21 April 1941Calchas United Kingdom10,305Sunk
30 April 1941Lassell United Kingdom7,417Sunk
17 May 1941Marisa Netherlands8,029Sunk
18 May 1941Piako United Kingdom8,286Sunk
27 May 1941Colonial United Kingdom5,108Sunk
28 May 1941Papalemos Greece3,748Sunk
31 May 1941Sire United Kingdom5,664Sunk
1 June 1941Alfred Jones United Kingdom5,013Sunk
8 June 1941Adda United Kingdom7,816Sunk
13 June 1941Pandias Greece4,981Sunk
24 September 1941John Holt United Kingdom4,975Sunk
24 September 1941Dixcove United Kingdom3,790Sunk
24 September 1941Lafian United Kingdom4,876Sunk
31 January 1942San Arcadio United Kingdom7,419Sunk
6 February 1942Major Wheeler United States3,431Sunk
21 February 1942Egda Norway10,068Damaged
29 May 1942Western Head United Kingdom2,599Sunk
1 June 1942Bushranger Panama4,536Sunk
7 June 1942Castilla Honduras3,910Sunk
8 June 1942Suwied United States3,249Sunk
10 June 1942Merrimack United States2,606Sunk
19 June 1942Cheerio United States35Sunk
26 June 1942Jagersfontein Netherlands10,083Sunk
3 September 1942Hollinside United Kingdom4,172Sunk
3 September 1942Penrose United Kingdom4,393Sunk
7 October 1942Andalucia Star United Kingdom14,943Sunk
22 February 1943Roxborough Castle United Kingdom7,801Sunk
13 March 1943 United Kingdom5,442Sunk
13 March 1943Marcella United Kingdom4,592Sunk
13 March 1943Oporto United Kingdom2,352Sunk
13 March 1943Sembilangan Netherlands4,990Sunk
1 May 1943Port Victor United Kingdom12,411Sunk
28 August 1943 United States7,176Damaged
11 September 19438,246Damaged
13 June 1944Lark United States148Damaged

References

Citations

Bibliography

External links

Notes and References

  1. 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.
  2. Merchant ship tonnages are in gross register tons. Military vessels are listed by tons displacement.
  3. Web site: The Type IXB boat U-107 . Helgason . Guðmundur . German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net . 22 February 2010.
  4. Caught on the Surface . Brian . Landers . Aeroplane . April 2012 . 16–22 . Kelsey Publishing . Cudham . 0143-7240.
  5. Web site: Ships hit by U-107 . Helgason . Guðmundur . German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net . 3 October 2014.

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