German submarine U-124 (1940)

For other ships of the same name, see German submarine U-124.

Career (Nazi Germany)
Name:	U-124
Ordered:	15 December 1937
Builder:	AG Weser
Yard number:	956
Laid down:	11 August 1939
Launched:	9 March 1940
Commissioned:	11 June 1940
Fate:	Sunk, 2 April 1943, with a loss of all hands (53 dead).
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

German submarine U-124 was a Type IXB U-boat of the German Kriegsmarine that operated during World War II U-124 was launched on 9 March 1940. From June 1940 until September 1941, she was commanded Georg-Wilhelm Schulz; Johann Mohr then took over command for the remainder of her career.

U-124 left Wilhelmshaven on her first active patrol on 19 August 1940. During 11 patrols over the next two years and eight months, she would compile one of the most successful records of enemy vessels destroyed during World War II, sinking 48 Allied ships totaling 224,953 tonnes, severely damaging another four ships totaling 30,067 tonnes, and shooting down one aircraft.

Combat record

First patrol

• On 25 August 1940: Damaged the British 3,900 ton Stakesby, sailing with Convoy HX 65A
• On 25 August 1940: Sank the British 5,169 ton Harpalyce, a member of Convoy HX 65A
• On 25 August 1940: Sank the British 5,394 ton Fircrest, part of Convoy HX 65A

Second patrol

• On 16 October 1940: Sank the Canadian 1,813 ton Trevisa, from Convoy SC 7
• On 20 October 1940: Sank the British 5,389 ton Sulaco, sailing with Convoy OB 229
• On 20 October 1940: Sank the Norwegian 5,810 ton Cubano, a member of Convoy OB 229
• On 31 October 1940: Sank the British 1,437 ton Rutland, part of Convoy HX 82
• On 1 November 1940: Sank the British 5,612 ton Empire Bison, from Convoy HX 82

Third patrol

• On 6 January 1941: Sank the British 5,965 ton Empire Thunder, sailing with Convoy OB 269
  • 30 of 39 crew rescued by HMS Kingston Onyx under Capt J.B.Wright

Fourth patrol

U-124' fourth patrol, during March and April 1941, was her most successful patrol.

• On 8 March 1941: Sank the British 4,897 ton Hindpool, a member of Convoy SL 67
• On 8 March 1941: Sank the British 5,304 ton Lahore, part of Convoy SL 67
• On 8 March 1941: Sank the British 5,984 ton Tielbank, from Convoy SL 67
• On 8 March 1941: Sank the British 7,974 ton Nardana, sailing with Convoy SL 67
• On 30 March 1941: Sank the British 3,767 ton Umona
• On 4 April 1941: Sank the British 6,507 ton Marlene
• On 7 April 1941: Sank the Canadian 1,746 ton Portadoc
• On 8 April 1941: Sank the British 2,697 ton Tweed
• On 11 April 1941: Sank the Greek 5,285 ton Aegeon
• On 12 April 1941: Sank the British 4,313 ton St Helena
• On 13 April 1941: Sank the British 4,823 ton Corinthic

Fifth patrol

• On the 10 July 1941 U-124 left Lorient under the command of Georg-Wilhelm Schulz arriving back at Lorient six and a half weeks later on 25 August 1941 with no results

Sixth patrol

• On 16 September 1941 departed Lorient under command of Johann Mohr
• On 20 September 1941: Sank the British 1,303 ton Baltallinn, a member of Convoy OG 74
• On 20 September 1941: Sank the British 2,922 ton Empire Moat, part of Convoy OG 74
• On 25 September 1941: Sank the British 2,922 ton Empire Stream, from Convoy HG 73
• On 26 September 1941: Sank the British 1,348 ton Lapwing, sailing with Convoy HG 73
• On 26 September 1941: Sank the British 1,354 ton Petrel, a member of Convoy HG 73
• On 26 September 1941: Sank the British 1,810 ton Cervantes, part of Convoy HG 73

Seventh patrol

• On 24 November 1941: Sank the British 4,850 ton light cruiser HMS Dunedin
• On 3 December 1941: Sank the American 6,275 ton Sagadahoc
• On 9 December 1941: Approached Georgetown on the surface, with the intention of shelling the cable station or sinking any ships at anchor. A coastal gun battery scored near–misses, causing the submarine to crash–dive and retreat
• On 29 December 1941: Reached port in France, carrying 104 survivors from German U-boat supply ships that had been sunk by the British

Eighth patrol

• On 14 March 1942: Sank the British 7,209 ton British Resource
• On 17 March 1942: Sank the 1,698 ton Ceiba.
• On 17 March 1942: Damaged the American 6,878 ton Acme
• On 18 March 1942: Sank the Greek 5,106 ton Kassandra Louloudi
• On 18 March 1942: Sank the American 5,939 ton Papoose
• On 18 March 1942: Sank the American 9,647 ton EM Clark
• On 19 March 1942: Sank the American 7,076 ton WE Hutton
• On 21 March 1942: Damaged the American 7,934 ton Esso Nashville
• On 21 March 1942: Damaged the American 11,355 ton Atlantic Sun
• On 23 March 1942: Sank the American 5,373 ton Naeco

Ninth patrol

• On 12 May 1942: Sank the Greek 4,371 ton Mount Parnes, from Convoy ONS 92
• On 12 May 1942: Sank the British 4,959 ton Llanover, sailing with Convoy ONS 92
• On 12 May 1942: Sank the British 5,389 ton Cristales, a member of Convoy ONS 92
• On 12 May 1942: Sank the British 7,065 ton Empire Dell, part of Convoy ONS 92
• On 9 June 1942: Sank the French 925 ton corvette Mimose, from Convoy ONS 100
• On 12 June 1942: Sank the British 4,093 ton Dartford, sailing with Convoy ONS 100
• On 18 June 1942: Sank the American 5,627 ton Seattle Spirit, a member of Convoy ONS 102

Tenth patrol

• On 28 December 1942: Sank the British 4,692 ton Treworlas
• On 1 January 1943 the U-124 came under attack from aircraft of the United States Navy, VP-53 squadron. U-124 was not severely damaged, and was able to destroy the aircraft with the anti-aircraft deck guns.
• On 9 January 1943: Sank the American 4,554 ton Minotaur, part of Convoy TB 1
• On 9 January 1943: Sank the American 5,101 ton Collingsworth, from Convoy TB 1
• On 9 January 1943: Sank the American 6,194 ton Birmingham City, sailing with Convoy TB 1
• On 9 January 1943: Sank the American 7,718 ton Broad Arrow, a member of Convoy TB 1

Eleventh and final patrol

• On 2 April 1943: Sank the British 4,357 ton Katha, part of Convoy OS 45
• On 2 April 1943: Sank the British 5,190 ton Gogra, from Convoy OS 45

During the attack of Allied ships in Convoy OS-45, defending vessels HMS Black Swan and HMS Stonecrop attacked U-124 with depth charges, sinking it that same day, 2 April 1943, with a loss of all hands.

References

Notes

Bibliography

• U-124 at uboat.net
• U-124 at ubootwaffe.net

See also

• List of German U-boats
• List of successful U-boats