German submarine U-107 (1940)

For other ships of the same name, see German submarine U-107.

U-107 at Lorient in November 1941.
Career (Nazi Germany)
Name:	U-107
Ordered:	24 May 1938
Builder:	AG Weser, Bremen
Yard number:	970
Laid down:	6 December 1939
Launched:	2 July 1940
Commissioned:	8 October 1940
Homeport:	Lorient, France
Fate:	Sunk, 18 August 1944
General characteristics
Class and type:	Type IXB U-boat
Displacement:	Surfaced 1,051 tons tons submerged 1,178 tons
Length:	Overall 76.5 m (251 ft 0 in) pressure hull 58.7 m (192 ft 7 in)
Beam:	Overall 6.8 m (22 ft 4 in) pressure hull 4.4 m (14 ft 5 in)
Draught:	4.7 m (15 ft 5 in)
Propulsion:	Diesel/Electric, 2x MAN M9V40/46 supercharged 9 cylinder diesel engines, 4,400 hp (3,300kW), 2xSSW GU345/34 double acting electric motors, 1000 hp (740kW)
Speed:	Surfaced 18.2 knots (33.7 km/h) submerged 7.3 knots (13.5 km/h)
Range:	Surfaced: 22,200 km (12,000 nmi) at 10 knots submerged: 118 km (64 nmi) at 4 knots (7 km/h)
Test depth:	230 m (750 ft)
Complement:	48 to 56 officers & ratings
Armament:	6 x 53.3cm Torpedo tubes: 4 bow, 2 stern (22 torpedoes) 1 x Utof 105/45 with 110 rounds
Service record
Part of:	Kriegsmarine: 2nd U-boat Flotilla
Commanders:	KrvKpt. Günther Hessler (October 1940–December 1941) Kptlt. Harald Gelhaus (December 1941–June 1943) Kptlt. Volker Simmermacher (July 1943–August 1944) Ltn. Karl-Heinz Fritz (August 1944)
Operations:	16 patrols
Victories:	37 ships sunk for a total of 207,375 gross register tons (GRT) 2 auxiliary warships sunk for a total of 10,411 GRT 3 ships damaged for a total of 17,392 GRT 1 auxiliary warship (USS Rapidan) of 8,246 GRT damaged

German submarine U-107 was a Type IXB U-boat of the German Kriegsmarine that operated during World War II. Between January 1941 and August 1944, U-107 sailed on 16 active patrols at a time when a U-boat averaged a lifespan of seven to 10 patrols. During that time, U-107 sank 39 Allied ships, in addition to damaging another four ships. It was launched on 2 July 1940, based at the U-boat port of Lorient, with a crew of 53 under the initial command of Günther Hessler. It was later commanded, in order, by Harald Gelhaus, Valker Simmermacher, and its final commander, Karl Heinz Fritz.[1]

Combat actions

First patrol

• On 3 February 1941: Sank the British 4,683 ton Empire Citizen, sailing with convoy OB-279
• On 3 February 1941: Sank the British 5,051 ton Crispin, a member of convoy OB-279
• On 6 February 1941: Sank the Canadian 3,388 ton Maplecourt, part of convoy SC-20
• On 23 February 1941: Sank the British 5,360 ton SS Manistee, from convoy OB-288

Second patrol, its deadliest and most successful period

• On 8 April 1941: Sank the British 3,316 ton Helena Margareta, sailing with convoy OG-57
• On 8 April 1941: Sank the British 3,829 ton Eskdene, a member of convoy OG-57
• On 9 April 1941: Sank the British 4,671 ton Harpathian, part of convoy OG-57
• On 9 April 1941: Sank the British 8,516 ton Duffield, from convoy OG-57
• On 21 April 1941: Sank the British 10,305 ton Calchas
• On 30 April 1941: Sank the British 7,417 ton Lassell, sailing with convoy OB-309
• On 17 May 1941: Sank the Dutch 8,029 ton Marisa
• On 18 May 1941: Sank the British 8,286 ton Piako
• On 27 May 1941: Sank the British 5,108 ton Colonial, a member of convoy OB-318
• On 28 May 1941: Sank the Greek 3,748 ton Papalemos
• On 31 May 1941: Sank the British 5,664 ton Sire
• On 1 June 1941: Sank the British 5,013 ton Alfred Jones, part of convoy OB-320
• On 8 June 1941: Sank the British 7,816 ton Adda, from convoy OB-323
• On 13 June 1941: Sank the Greek 4,981 ton Pandias

Third patrol

• On 24 September 1941: Sank the British 3,790 ton Dixcove, sailing with convoy SL-87
• On 24 September 1941: Sank the British 4,876 ton Lafian, a member of convoy SL-87
• On 24 September 1941: Sank the British 4,975 ton John Holt, part of convoy SL-87

Fifth patrol

• On 31 January 1942: Sank the British 7,419 ton San Arcadio
• On 6 February 1942: Sank the American 3,431 ton Major Wheeler
• On 21 February 1942: Damaged the Norwegian 10,068 ton Egda, from convoy ON-65

Sixth patrol

U-107 meets with a supply ship in the South Atlantic

• On 29 May 1942: Sank the British 2,599 ton Western Head
• On 1 June 1942: Sank the Panamanian 4,536 ton Bushranger
• On 7 June 1942: Sank the American 3,910 ton Castilla
• On 8 June 1942: Sank the American 3,249 ton Suwied
• On 10 June 1942: Sank the American 2,606 ton Merrimack
• On 19 June 1942: Sank the American 35 ton sailing ship Cheerio
• On 26 June 1942: Sank the Dutch 10,083 ton Jagersfontein

Eighth patrol

• On 3 September 1942: Sank the British 4,172 ton Hollinside
• On 3 September 1942: Sank the British 4,393 ton Penrose
• On 7 October 1942: Sank the British 14,943 ton Andalucia Star

Ninth patrol

• On 22 February 1943: Sank the British 7,801 ton Roxborough Castle
• On the 4 of March 1943, came under attack from an unidentified Allied aircraft. U-107 was moderately damaged by the attack. At 14:35 on 22 March 1943, came under attack from another unidentified Allied aircraft, but was not damaged.
• On 13 March 1943: Sank the British 2,352 ton Oporto, sailing with convoy OS-44
• On 13 March 1943: Sank the British 4,592 ton Marcella, a member of convoy OS-44
• On 13 March 1943: Sank the Dutch 4,990 ton Sembilangan, part of convoy OS-44
• On 13 March 1943: Sank the British 5,442 ton SS Clan Alpine, from convoy OS-44

Tenth patrol

• On 1 May 1943: Sank the British 12,411 ton Port Victor

Eleventh patrol

• On 28 August 1943: Damaged the American 7,176 ton SS Albert Gallatin
• On 11 September 1943: Damaged the American 8,246 ton USS Rapidan (AO-18) sailing with convoy NG-385

Fifteenth patrol

• After three patrols with no result, U-107 damaged the American 148 ton Lark on 13 June 1944.

Sixteenth and final patrol

• On 16 August 1944, U-107 departed on active patrol. It was intercepted on 18 August in the Bay of Biscay, west of La Rochelle, in position 46°46′N 03°49′W, by Allied forces, and was sunk by depth charges from a Royal Air Force Sunderland aircraft of No. 201 Squadron. All 58 hands were lost.

References

Notes

Bibliography

• uboat.net webpage for U-107
• ubootwaffe.net webpage for U-107

See also

• List of German U-boats