Ernst Kals
Ernst Kals | |
|---|---|
 Ernst Kals | |
| Born | 2 August 1905 Glauchau, Saxony, German Empire |
| Died | 2 November 1979 (aged 74) Emden |
| Allegiance |
|
| Service | |
| Years of service | 1924–45 |
| Rank | Kapitän zur See |
| Unit | |
| Commands | |
| Battles / wars | |
| Awards | Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross |
Ernst Kals (2 August 1905 – 2 November 1979) was a Kapitän zur See with the Kriegsmarine during World War II. He commanded the Type IXC U-boat U-130 on five patrols, and sank twenty ships, for a total of 145,656 tons of Allied shipping. He was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross.
Career
Kals joined the Reichsmarine in 1924. In October 1940, after a period of service on torpedo boats and light cruisers, he transferred to the Ubootwaffe ("U-boat force"). After one patrol on U-37 under the command of Nicolai Clausen as commander in training, he took command of U-130 in June 1941. He was awarded the Knight's Cross in September 1941.[1]
In April 1942, Kals, in U-130, bombarded the Allied petroleum tank farm on Curaçao, in the Netherlands Antilles. He went on to sink a total of 20 ships on five patrols, for a total of 145,656 tons of Allied shipping. In five minutes he sank three United States troopships, the Edward Rutledge, Hugh L. Scott and Tasker H. Bliss.[1]
In January 1943 Kals became commander of the 2nd U-boat Flotilla, based in Lorient, France. Promoted to Kapitän zur See in September 1944, he remained in this position until the end of the war.[1]
Later life
Kals was held in French captivity from May 1945 to January 1948. He died at Emden in 1979 at the age of 74.[1]
Summary of career
Ships attacked
As commander of U-130 Ernst Kals reportedly sank 17 merchant ships for a total of 111,249 gross register tons (GRT), three auxiliary warships for a total of 34,407 GRT and damaged one further ship of 6,986 GRT.
| Date | Name of ship | Flag | Tonnage | Fate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 December 1941 | Kirnwood |  United Kingdom
|
3,829 | Sunk |
| 10 December 1941 | Kurdistan | United Kingdom
|
5,844 | Sunk |
| 10 December 1941 | Star of Luxor |  Egypt
|
5,298 | Sunk |
| 13 January 1942 | Friar Rock |  Panama
|
5,427 | Sunk |
| 13 January 1942 | Frisco |  Norway
|
1,582 | Sunk |
| 21 January 1942 | Alexander Høegh | Norway
|
8,248 | Sunk |
| 25 January 1942 | Varanger | Norway
|
9,305 | Sunk |
| 27 January 1942 | Francis E. Powell |  United States
|
7,096 | Sunk |
| 27 January 1942 | Halo | United States
|
6,986 | Damaged |
| 11 April 1942 | Grenanger | Norway
|
5,393 | Sunk |
| 11 April 1942 | Esso Boston | United States
|
7,699 | Sunk |
| 25 July 1942 | Tankexpress | Norway
|
10,095 | Sunk |
| 27 July 1942 | Elmwood | Norway
|
7,167 | Sunk |
| 30 July 1942 | Danmark | United Kingdom
|
8,391 | Sunk |
| 9 August 1942 | Malmanger | Norway
|
7,078 | Sunk |
| 11 August 1942 | Mirlo | Norway
|
7,455 | Sunk |
| 25 August 1942 | Viking Star | United Kingdom
|
6,445 | Sunk |
| 26 August 1942 | Beechwood | United Kingdom
|
4,897 | Sunk |
| 12 November 1942 | USS Edward Rutledge | United States Navy
|
9,360 | Sunk |
| 12 November 1942 | USS Hugh L. Scott | United States Navy
|
12,479 | Sunk |
| 12 November 1942 | USS Tasker H. Bliss | United States Navy
|
12,568 | Sunk |
Awards
- Iron Cross (1939) 2nd Class (18 December 1939) & 1st Class (18 December 1941)[2]
- U-boat War Badge (1939) (18 December 1941)[2]
- Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 1 September 1942 as Korvettenkapitän and commander of U-130[3]
- War Merit Cross 2nd Class with Swords (30 January 1944)[2]
References
Notes
Bibliography
- Busch, Rainer; Röll, Hans-Joachim (2003). Der U-Boot-Krieg 1939–1945 — Die Ritterkreuzträger der U-Boot-Waffe von September 1939 bis Mai 1945 [The U-Boat War 1939–1945 — The Knight's Cross Bearers of the U-Boat Force from September 1939 to May 1945] (in German). Hamburg, Berlin, Bonn Germany: Verlag E.S. Mittler & Sohn. ISBN 978-3-8132-0515-2.
- Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (2000) [1986]. Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945 — Die Inhaber der höchsten Auszeichnung des Zweiten Weltkrieges aller Wehrmachtteile [The Bearers of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939–1945 — The Owners of the Highest Award of the Second World War of all Wehrmacht Branches] (in German). Friedberg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 978-3-7909-0284-6.
- Scherzer, Veit (2007). Die Ritterkreuzträger 1939–1945 [The Knight's Cross Bearers 1939–1945] (in German). Jena, Germany: Scherzers Militaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2.
