German submarine U-100 (1940)
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| Career |  |
|---|---|
| Name: | U-100 |
| Ordered: | 15 December 1937 |
| Builder: | Germaniawerft, Kiel |
| Yard number: | 594 |
| Laid down: | 22 May 1939 |
| Launched: | 10 April 1940 |
| Commissioned: | 30 May 1940 |
| Fate: | Sunk, 17 March 1941 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type: | Type VIIB U-boat |
| Displacement: | Surfaced 753 tons tons submerged 857 tons |
| Length: | Overall 66.6 m pressure hull 48.8 m |
| Beam: | Overall 6.2 m pressure hull 4.7 m |
| Draught: | 4.74 m |
| Propulsion: | Surfaced: two supercharged MAN, 6 cylinder, 4-stroke M6V 40/46 diesels totalling 2,800 - 3,200bhp(2,400 kW). Max rpm: 470-490. |
| Speed: | Surfaced 17.9 knot (33 km/h) submerged 8 knot (15 km/h) |
| Range: | Surfaced: 16,095 km submerged: 175 km |
| Test depth: | 230 m (754 ft). Calculated crush depth: 250-295 m (820-967 ft) |
| Complement: | 44 to 48 officers & ratings |
| Armament: | • 5 × 53.3 cm (21 in) torpedo tubes: 4 bow, 1 stern • 14 × torpedoes or 26 TMA mines • 1 × 8.8 cm (3.5 in) deck gun with 220 rounds • 1 × C30 20 mm AA |
| Service record | |
| Part of: | Kriegsmarine: 7th U-boat Flotilla |
| Commanders: | Kptlt. Joachim Schepke (May 1940–March 1941) |
| Operations: | 6 patrols |
| Victories: | 25 ships sunk for a total of 135,614 gross register tons (GRT) 4 ships damaged for a total of 17,229 GRT 1 ship a total loss 2,205 GRT |
German submarine U-100 was a Type VIIB U-boat of the German Kriegsmarine during World War II. U-100, given its short-lived existence, was one of the most successful and deadly Nazi German U-Boats to have served in World War II.[1]
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[edit] Combat record
[edit] First patrol
U-100 was first launched on 10 April 1940, with a crew of 53, under the command of captain Joachim Schepke. On its first active patrol, U-100 came into contact with two allied convoys, OA-198 and OA-204. U-100 shadowed both convoys with the following results;
- 16 August 1940:
- Sank the British 4,864 ton Empire Merchant, sailing with convoy OA-198
- 25 August 1940:
- Sank the British 5,471 ton Jamaica Pioneer
- 29 August 1940:
- Sank the Swedish 2,373 ton Alida Gorthon, a member of convoy OA-204
- Sank the British 2,393 ton Astra II, part of convoy OA-204
- Sank the British 4,608 ton Dalblair, from convoy OA-204
- Damaged the British 5,498 ton Hartismere, sailing with convoy OA-204
- Sank the British 6,103 ton Empire Moose, a member of convoy OA-204
[edit] Second patrol
On 11 September 1940 U-100 left its base for on its second active patrol, coming into contact with allied convoy HX 72, with the following results;
- 21 September 1940
- Sank the British 4,608 ton Dalcairn
- Sank the British 8,286 ton SS Canonesa
- Sank the British 10,364 ton Torinia
- 22 September 1940
- Sank the British 3,940 ton Scholar
- Sank the Norwegian 6,031 ton Simla
- Sank the British 6,586 ton Empire Airman
- Sank the British 10,525 ton Frederick S Fales
[edit] Third patrol
After resupplying, U-100 departed for its third active patrol on 12 October 1940. During that 11-day patrol, U-100 came into contact with two allied convoys, HX-79 and SC-7, with the following results;
- 18 October 1940:
- Damaged the Dutch 2,118 ton SS Boekelo, a member of convoy SC-7
- Damaged the British 5,458 ton SS Shekatika, part of convoy SC-7
- 19 October 1940:
- Damaged the British 4,155 ton SS Blairspey, from convoy SC-7
- 20 October 1940
- Sank the British 5,452 ton Loch Lomond, sailing with convoy HX-79
- Sank the British 6,218 ton Sitala, a member of convoy HX-79
- Sank the British 8,230 ton Caprella, part of convoy HX-79
[edit] Fourth patrol
On 7 November 1940 U-100 departed on its fourth active duty patrol. On 22 November U-100 came into contact with allied convoy SC-11, and began to shadow it with the following results;
- 23 November 1940
- Fatally damaged the Norwegian 2,205 ton Bruse
- Sank the Norwegian 2,694 ton Salonica
- Sank the British 3,136 ton Leise Mærsk
- Sank the Dutch 3,628 ton Ootmarsum
- Sank the Dutch 3,636 ton Bussum
- Sank the British 4,562 ton Justitia
- Sank the British 4,740 ton Bradfyne
[edit] Fifth patrol
On 2 December 1940 U-100 left its home port on its fifth active patrol, sinking two vessels from convoy OB-256, then later a third solo vessel. They were;
- 14 December 1940:
- Sank the British ship Euphorbia, 3,380 tons, part of convoy OB-256
- Sank the British ship Kyleglen, 3,670 tons, part of convoy OB-256
- 18 December 1940:
- Sank the British ship Napier Star, 10,116 tons
[edit] Sixth and final patrol
On 9 March 1941 U-100 departed on its sixth and what would be its final active patrol. U-100 approached convoy HX 112 from astern in the pre-dawn hours of 17 March 1941 and was detected at a range of 1000 meters by Type 286 RADAR aboard HMS Vanoc.[2] U-100 was the first U-boat detected by RADAR during World War II, and was rammed and sunk by Vanoc while attempting to submerge.[3] Six of the 53 members of its crew survived, spending the remainder of the war as POWs [1].
[edit] References
- Notes
- ^ "Type VIIB U-100". ubootwaffe.net. http://ubootwaffe.net/ops/boat.cgi?boat=100. Retrieved 2010-01-08.
- ^ Rohwer & Hummelchen (1992) p.54
- ^ Macintyre, Donald, CAPT RN "Shipborne Radar" United States Naval Institute Proceedings September 1967 pp.78-79
- Bibliography
- Rohwer, J. and Hummelchen, G. (1992). Chronology of the War at Sea 1939-1945. Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-55750-105-X.
