Mediterranean U-boat Campaign (World War II)

Mediterranean U-boat Campaign Part of the Mediterranean Theatre of World War II Date September 21, 1941 to May, 1944 Location Mediterranean Sea Result Decisive Allied Victory Belligerents Royal Navy Royal Australian Navy United States Navy Other Allied navies Kriegsmarine Regia Marina Strength 62 U-boats Casualties and losses 95 merchant ships sunk 24 major warships sunk 62 U-boats lost

The Mediterranean U-boat Campaign lasted approximately from September 21, 1941 to May 1944 during World War II. The Italians had failed to neutralise Malta as a British base and Axis supply convoys to North Africa suffered severe losses as a result. This in turn threatened Axis armies' ability to fight. The Kriegsmarine aimed at isolating Malta so as to interrupt British supply convoys to the island. As the Allies gained the upper hand, u-boat operations became targeted at the various landings in southern Europe.

Some 60 U-boats were sent to assist the Italians, though many were attacked in the Strait of Gibraltar (of which 9 were sunk while attempting passage and 10 more were damaged). Had these U-boats been deployed in the Atlantic, or directly along the coasts of Britain, Germany would have had an advantage.^{[citation needed]} The sea is clear and calm body of water which made escape more difficult for the U-boats. Germany's objective failed. No U-boat of the Mediterranean ever returned to the Atlantic and all were either sunk in battle or scuttled.^{[citation needed]}

The beginning

German submarine U-371 was the first U-boat to enter the Mediterranean. She became the first target of an Allied tactic called "Swamp" after 3 years, in which ships and aircraft surround and threaten a U-boat forcing her to remain submerged till her batteries or air run out and then finishing her.

By December 23, 1941, 34 more U-boats had been sent to the Mediterranean. 27 entered successfully, 3 were sunk at Gibraltar and 5 were damaged and had to return to their French bases. U-95 and U-557 were sunk within a week after arrival in the region.

1942

15 U-boats entered the sea in 1942 while 2 failed. But the year was bad for them. 14 were sunk in 1942. Thus, the fleet's strength remained the same.

1943

14 U-boats were sent this year. Two were sunk at Gibraltar while one cancelled her mission due to damage.

1944

12 U-boats were sent to cross Gibraltar in 1944. 3 of them sank while attempting entry.

Most U-boats failed to sink any ship. The bulk of U-boats lost this year were in Toulon.

U-455 vanished along with 51 men in the Mediterranean some time after 6 April 1944.

U-466 was the last U-boat to be scuttled in the Mediterranean. This was done when the Allied Operation Dragoon was launched.

List of U-boats in the Mediterranean

U-73 U-74 U-75 U-77 U-79 U-81

U-83 U-95 U-97 U-133 U-205 U-223

U-224 U-230 U-259 U-301 U-303 U-331

U-343 U-371 U-372 U-374 U-375 U-380

U-407 U-409 U-410 U-414 U-421 U-431

U-433 U-443 U-450 U-453 U-455 U-458

U-466 U-471 U-557 U-559 U-561 U-562

U-565 U-568 U-573 U-577 U-586 U-593

U-595 U-596 U-602 U-605 U-616 U-617

U-642 U-652 U-660 U-755 U-952 U-960

U-967 U-969

Success and failure

HMS Barham explodes as her 15 inch magazine ignites, 25 November 1941.

The Germans sunk 95 allied merchant ships totalling 449,206 tons, and 24 Royal Navy warships including 2 carriers, 1 battleship, 4 cruisers and 12 destroyers at the cost of 62 U-boats. Noteworthy successes were the sinkings of HMS Barham, HMS Ark Royal and HMS Eagle , HMS Penelope.

U-boats sunk by Allied submarines

Four U-boats were sunk by Allied submarines in the Mediterranean.

• German submarine U-95 was sunk on November 28, 1941 in the western Mediterranean, south-west of Almería in position 36.24°N 03.20°W / 36.24; -03.20 (U-95 wreck) by torpedoes from the Dutch submarine HrMs O 21. 35 men died but 12 survived.
• U-301 was sunk on 21 January 1943 in the Mediterranean, west of Bonifacio, in position 41.27°N 07.04°E / 41.27; 07.04 (U-301 wreck) by torpedoes from the British submarine HMS Sahib. 45 men dead but 1 survived.
• U-303 was sunk on 21 May 1943 in the western Mediterranean south of Toulon, in position 42.50°N 06.00°E / 42.50; 06.00 (U-303 wreck) by torpedoes from the British submarine HMS Sickle. 20 men died and 28 survived.
• U-374 was sunk on January 12, 1942 in the western Mediterranean, east of Cape Spartivento, in position 37.50°N 16.00°E / 37.50; 16.00 (U-374 wreck), by torpedoes from the British submarine HMS Unbeaten. Only 1 person out of 45 survived.

See also

• Military history of Gibraltar during World War II
• 29th U-boat Flotilla