Wolfpack Wolf Explained

Wolf was a wolfpack of German U-boats that operated from 13 July to 1 August 1942, attacking Convoy ON 115 in the Battle of the Atlantic during World War II. They sank two ships sunk totalling and damaged another .[1]

U-Boats & Commanders

The wolfpack comprised eleven U-boats, namely

U-BoatCommanderFromToNotes
Hans-Joachim Schwantke13 Jul 194230 Jul 1942
Hardo Rodler von Roithberg13 Jul 194230 Jul 1942
Walter Schug13 Jul 194231 Jul 1942
Hans-Jürgen Oldörp13 Jul 194224 Jul 1942Depth-charged and sunk by Canadian destroyer HMCS St. Croix (I81)
Paul-Hugo Kettner13 Jul 19421 Aug 1942
Burckhard Hackländer13 Jul 194230 Jul 1942
Wolf-Harro Stiebler26 Jul 19421 Aug 1942
Erich Topp13 Jul 194230 Jul 1942
Eberhard Bopst13 Jul 194230 Jul 1942
Ernst Mengersen25 Jul 194230 Jul 1942
Horst Wilhelm Kessler13 Jul 194231 Jul 1942

Ships hit by this wolfpack

Broompark

U-552 struck again at 04:09 hours on 25 July, hitting the 5,136-ton British merchant ship Broompark. The ship was taken in tow by the tug, but sank on 28 July about 50nmi SW of St. Johns. The master and three men were lost, while 38 men and 7 gunners were picked up by HMCS Brandon.[2]

Empire Rainbow

At 07.57 hours on 26 July the 6,942-ton British merchant ship Empire Rainbow was hit and damaged by a torpedo fired by about 300nmi E of Cape Race. Later, at 08.11, the ship was hit again, this time by a torpedo fired by, which sank her. The entire crew; Master, 38 men and 8 gunners were picked up by and .[3]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Wolfpack Wolf . Helgason . Guðmundur . German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net . 26 January 2010.
  2. Web site: Broompark (Steam merchant) . Helgason . Guðmundur . German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net . 26 January 2010.
  3. Web site: Empire Rainbow (Motor merchant) . Helgason . Guðmundur . German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net . 26 January 2010.