German submarine U-25 was one of two Type IA ocean-going submarines produced by Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine. Constructed by DeSchiMAG AG Weser in Bremen as yard number 903, U-25 was commissioned on 6 April 1936. It experienced a short, but successful combat career, sinking eight ships and damaging one.
Until 1940, U-25 was primarily used as a training vessel. During its trials it was found that the Type IA submarine was difficult to handle due to its poor stability and slow dive rate. In early 1940, the boat was called into combat duty due to the shortage of available submarines. U-25 participated in five war patrols, sinking eight ships and badly damaging one.
On 17 January 1940, 10 miles north of Shetland, U-25 torpedoed . Enid (Captain Wibe), of then-neutral Norway en route to Dublin, went to assist Polzella. U-25 then shelled and sank Enid. Her crew escaped in their lifeboats. None of Polzellas crew survived.
U-25 sank eight vessels for a total of and damaged one for .
Around 2 August 1940, while on a mine-laying mission near Norway, U-25 passed through British minefield Field No. 7, striking a mine. The boat sank, taking all 49 hands with it.
U-25 took part in one wolfpack, namely:
| Date | Name of Ship | Nationality | Tonnage[1] | Fate[2] | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31 October 1939 | Baoulé |  | 5,874 | Sunk | |
| 17 January 1940 | Enid |  | 1,140 | Sunk | |
| 17 January 1940 | Polzella |  | 4,751 | Sunk | |
| 18 January 1940 | Pajala |  | 6,873 | Sunk | |
| 22 January 1940 | Songa | | 2,589 | Sunk | |
| 3 February 1940 | Armanistan | | 6,805 | Sunk | |
| 13 February 1940 | Chastine Mærsk |  | 5,177 | Sunk | |
| 13 June 1940 | HMS Scotstoun | 17,046 | Sunk | ||
| 19 June 1940 | Brumaire | | 7,638 | Damaged |