Hans-Joachim Horrer Explained

Hans-Joachim Horrer
Birth Date:6 February 1908
Birth Place:Dortmund, German Empire
Death Place:Arctic Ocean
Allegiance:
Branch:
Serviceyears:1933–42
Rank:Korvettenkapitän
Commands:
Battles:World War II
Awards:Narvik Shield, Iron Cross 2nd Class, Iron Cross 1st Class

Hans-Joachim Horrer (6 February 1908 – 12 September 1942) was a German U-boat commander[1] in World War II.

Naval career

Hans-Joachim Horrer joined the Reichsmarine in 1933 and went through the usual officer training. He was a Gunnery Officer and Watch Officer on the destroyer Z9 Wolfgang Zenker from July 1938 to April 1940 when the destroyer was sunk during the fierce battles of Narvik, Norway. Horrer then started his U-boat officer training which lasted from July 1940 to January 1941. He was then assigned to the almost completed Type VIIC as Baubelehrung commander on 18 January, then taking command of the boat upon commission on 30 January 1941. He served on the boat until 25 August 1941 but never went on patrol. He again served as Baubelehrung commander from 26 August to 24 September 1941. He then took command of the new Type VIIC boat . He went on eight patrols with the boat and was lost with his entire crew when the boat was sunk by depth charges from the British destroyer ., and depth charges from a Fairey Swordfish aircraft of the British escort carrier, south-west of Spitzbergen on 12 September 1942.

Summary of career

Ships sunk

DateU-boatName of shipNationalityTonnageFate
1 May 1942 U-589 Tsiolkovskij2,847 Sunk
11 October 1942 U-589 Musson (No 23)417 Sunk

Awards

Bibliography

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Korvettenkapitän Hans-Joachim Horrer. Helgason . Guðmundur . German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. 19 April 2014.