German submarine U-99 (1940)
U-52, a typical Type VIIB boat
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History | |
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Nazi Germany | |
Name | U-99 |
Ordered | 15 December 1937 |
Builder | Germaniawerft, Kiel |
Yard number | 593 |
Laid down | 31 March 1939 |
Launched | 12 March 1940 |
Commissioned | 18 April 1940 |
Fate | Sunk on 17 March 1941, by HMS Walker southeast of Iceland. Three dead and 40 survivors[1][2] |
General characteristics | |
Class and type | Type VIIB submarine |
Displacement | |
Length |
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Beam |
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Height | 9.50 m (31 ft 2 in) |
Draught | 4.74 m (15 ft 7 in) |
Installed power |
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Propulsion |
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Speed |
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Range | |
Test depth |
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Complement | 4 officers, 40–56 enlisted |
Sensors and processing systems | Gruppenhorchgerät |
Armament |
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Service record | |
Part of: |
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Identification codes: | M 17 046 |
Commanders: |
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Operations: |
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Victories: |
German submarine U-99 was a
U-99 was one of the most successful German U-boats in the war, sinking 38 ships for a total tonnage of 244,658 gross register tons (GRT) of Allied shipping in eight patrols. She damaged five more ships and took one vessel as a prize. U-99 was sunk on 17 March 1941 by British destroyer HMS Walker while attacking convoy HX 112.
Design
The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 17.9 knots (33.2 km/h; 20.6 mph) and a maximum submerged speed of 8 knots (15 km/h; 9.2 mph).
Service history
From April to June 1940, the crew of U-99 were under training, based at Kiel and St. Nazaire.
First patrol
On 18 June, U-99 departed Kiel for operations in the
Second patrol
U-99 departed Wilhelmshaven on 27 June to patrol southwest of Ireland. On 29 June, she was attacked by British aircraft. A crash dive was carried out with the result that the boat hit the seabed, causing some damage which was able to be repaired.[4] On this patrol U-99 sank six ships and captured one, the Estonian 2,136 GRT cargo steamship Merisaar, carrying a load of timber from New Orleans, to Cork, Ireland.)[5] An attack on the 5,360 GRT Manistee was called off on 7 July, when the defensively equipped merchant ship returned fire.[6] On 8 July, over 100 depth charges were dropped by the escorts of Convoy HX 53, but U-99 escaped undamaged.[4] The patrol ended on 21 July.
Date | Ship | Nationality | Tonnage[Note 1] | Fate |
---|---|---|---|---|
5 July 1940 | Magog † | Canada | 2,053 | Sunk |
7 July 1940 | Bissen | Sweden | 1,514 | Sunk |
Manistee | United Kingdom | 5,360 | Escaped | |
Sea Glory | United Kingdom | 1,964 | Sunk | |
8 July 1940 | Humber Arm ‡ | United Kingdom | 5,758 | Sunk |
12 July 1940 | Ia | Greece | 4,860 | Sunk |
Merisaar* | Estonia | 2,136 | Captured as prize | |
18 July 1940 | Woodbury | United Kingdom | 4,434 | Sunk |
† Convoy HX 52, ‡ Convoy HX 53, * sunk by German bombing, 15 July 1940
Third patrol
On 25 July, U-99 departed Lorient for the North Atlantic. Four ships were sunk and three others damaged. On the 31st, the escorts of Convoy OB 191 dropped 20 depth charges on the boat without effect. Later that evening, a flying boat also attacked her, again without causing any damage.[4] The patrol ended on 5 August.
Date | Ship | Nationality | Tonnage[Note 1] (GRT) | Fate |
---|---|---|---|---|
28 July 1940 | Auckland Star | United Kingdom | 13,212 | Sunk |
29 July 1940 | Clan Menzies | United Kingdom | 7,336 | Sunk |
31 July 1940 | Jamaica Progress | United Kingdom | 5,475 | Sunk |
Jersey City † | United Kingdom | 6,322 | Sunk | |
2 August 1940 | Alexia †, ‡ | United Kingdom | 8,016 | Damaged |
Lucerna †, ‡ | United Kingdom | 6,556 | Damaged | |
Strinda †, ‡ | Norway | 10,973 | Damaged |
† Convoy OB 191, ‡ Damaged
Fourth patrol
U-99 departed Lorient on 4 September for the North Atlantic; seven ships were sunk. The patrol ended on the 25th. U-99 was slightly damaged in an air raid on Lorient on 27 September.[4]
Date | Ship | Nationality | Tonnage[Note 1] (GRT) | Fate |
---|---|---|---|---|
11 September 1940 | Albionic | United Kingdom | 2,468 | Sunk |
15 September 1940 | Kenordoc † | Canada | 1,780 | Sunk |
16 September 1940 | Lotos † | Norway | 1,327 | Sunk |
17 September 1940 | Crown Arun ‡ | United Kingdom | 2,372 | Sunk |
21 September 1940 | Baron Blythswood * | United Kingdom | 3,668 | Sunk |
Elmbank * | United Kingdom | 5,156 | Sunk | |
Invershannon* | United Kingdom | 9,154 | Sunk |
† Convoy SC 3, ‡ Convoy HX 71, * Convoy HX 72
Fifth patrol
On 13 October, U-99 departed Lorient to patrol the North West Approaches. Six ships from Convoy SC 7 were sunk and another was damaged. The patrol ended on 22 October.
Date | Ship | Nationality | Tonnage[Note 1] (GRT) | Fate |
---|---|---|---|---|
18 October 1940 | Empire Miniver | United Kingdom | 6,055 | Sunk |
Fiscus | United Kingdom | 4,815 | Sunk | |
Niritos | Greece | 3,854 | Sunk | |
19 October 1940 | Clintonia † | United Kingdom | 3,106 | Damaged |
Empire Brigade | United Kingdom | 5,154 | Sunk | |
Snefjeld | Norway | 1,643 | Sunk | |
Thalia | Greece | 5,875 | Sunk |
Sixth patrol
U-99 departed Lorient for the North West Approaches on 30 October 1940; four ships were sunk. The patrol ended on 8 November.
Date | Ship | Nationality | Tonnage[Note 1] (GRT) | Fate |
---|---|---|---|---|
3 November 1940 | Casanare | United Kingdom | 5,376 | Sunk |
HMS Laurentic
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Royal Navy | 18,724 | Sunk | |
4 November 1940 | HMS Patroclus | Royal Navy | 11,314 | Sunk |
5 November 1940 | Scottish Maiden † | United Kingdom | 6,993 | Sunk |
† Convoy HX 83
Seventh patrol
On 27 November, U-99 departed Lorient for the North Atlantic. Four ships were sunk. The patrol ended on 12 December.
Date | Ship | Nationality | Tonnage[Note 1] (GRT) | Fate |
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2 December 1940 | HMS Forfar | Royal Navy | 16,402 | Sunk |
Samnanger | Norway | 4,276 | Sunk | |
3 December 1940 | Conch † | United Kingdom | 8,376 | Sunk |
7 December 1940 | Farmsum ‡ | Netherlands | 5,237 | Sunk |
† Convoy HX 90, ‡ Convoy OB 252
Eighth patrol
U-99 departed Lorient on 22 February 1941 to patrol in the North Atlantic; eight ships were sunk. U-99 was attacked herself, with severe damage inflicted. Kretschmer surrendered and scuttled the submarine with the loss of three lives.
Date | Ship | Nationality | Tonnage[Note 1] (GRT) | Fate |
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7 March 1941 | Athelbeach † | United Kingdom | 6,568 | Sunk |
Terje Viken | United Kingdom | 20,638 | Sunk | |
16 March 1941 | Beduin ‡ | Norway | 8,136 | Sunk |
Ferm ‡ | Norway | 6,593 | Sunk | |
Franche-Comté ‡ | United Kingdom | 9,314 | Damaged | |
J. B. White | Canada | 7,375 | Sunk | |
Korshamn ‡ | Sweden | 6,673 | Sunk | |
Venetia † | United Kingdom | 5,728 | Sunk |
† Convoy OB 293, ‡ Convoy HX 112
Fate
On 17 March 1941, U-99 had just fired the last of her
Macintyre took Kretschmer's binoculars as a souvenir. But in 1955, he gave them back to Kretschmer.
Wolfpack operations
U-99 operated with the following Wolfpacks during her career:
- Wolfpack 1 (20 – 22 September 1940)
- Wolfpack 2 (17 – 19 October 1940)
Summary of raiding history
Date | Name | Nationality | Tonnage[Note 1] | Fate[11] |
---|---|---|---|---|
5 July 1940 | Magog | Canada | 2,053 | Sunk |
7 July 1940 | Sea Glory | United Kingdom | 1,964 | Sunk |
7 July 1940 | Bissen | Sweden | 1,514 | Sunk |
8 July 1940 | Humber Arm | United Kingdom | 5,758 | Sunk |
12 July 1940 | Ia | Greece | 4,860 | Sunk |
12 July 1940 | Merisaar | Estonia | 2,136 | Captured as prize |
18 July 1940 | Woodbury | United Kingdom | 4,434 | Sunk |
28 July 1940 | Auckland Star | United Kingdom | 13,212 | Sunk |
29 July 1940 | Clan Menzies | United Kingdom | 7,336 | Sunk |
31 July 1940 | Jamaica Progress | United Kingdom | 5,475 | Sunk |
31 July 1940 | Jersey City | United Kingdom | 6,322 | Sunk |
2 August 1940 | Strinda | Norway | 10,973 | Damaged |
2 August 1940 | Lucerna | United Kingdom | 6,556 | Damaged |
2 August 1940 | Alexia | United Kingdom | 8,016 | Damaged |
11 September 1940 | Albionic | United Kingdom | 2,468 | Sunk |
15 September 1940 | Kenordoc | Canada | 1,780 | Sunk |
16 September 1940 | Lotos | Norway | 1,327 | Sunk |
17 September 1940 | Crown Arun | United Kingdom | 2,372 | Sunk |
21 September 1940 | Invershannon | United Kingdom | 9,154 | Sunk |
21 September 1940 | Baron Blythswood | United Kingdom | 3,668 | Sunk |
21 September 1940 | Elmbank | United Kingdom | 5,156 | Sunk |
18 October 1940 | Empire Miniver | United Kingdom | 6,055 | Sunk |
18 October 1940 | Niritos | Greece | 3,854 | Sunk |
18 October 1940 | Fiscus | United Kingdom | 4,815 | Sunk |
19 October 1940 | Empire Brigade | United Kingdom | 5,154 | Sunk |
19 October 1940 | Thalia | Greece | 5,875 | Sunk |
19 October 1940 | Snefjeld | Norway | 1,643 | Sunk |
19 October 1940 | Clintonia | United Kingdom | 3,106 | Damaged |
3 November 1940 | Casanare | United Kingdom | 5,376 | Sunk |
3 November 1940 | HMS Laurentic
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Royal Navy | 18,724 | Sunk |
4 November 1940 | HMS Patroclus | Royal Navy | 11,314 | Sunk |
5 November 1940 | Scottish Maiden | United Kingdom | 6,993 | Sunk |
2 December 1940 | HMS Forfar | Royal Navy | 16,402 | Sunk |
2 December 1940 | Samnanger | Norway | 4,276 | Sunk |
3 December 1940 | Conch | United Kingdom | 8,376 | Sunk |
7 December 1940 | Farmsum | Netherlands | 5,237 | Sunk |
7 March 1941 | Terje Viken | United Kingdom | 20,638 | Sunk |
7 March 1941 | Athelbeach | United Kingdom | 6,568 | Sunk |
16 March 1941 | Beduin | Norway | 8,136 | Sunk |
16 March 1941 | Franche-Comté | United Kingdom | 9,314 | Damaged |
16 March 1941 | J. B. White | Canada | 7,375 | Sunk |
16 March 1941 | Korshamn | Sweden | 6,673 | Sunk |
16 March 1941 | Venetia | United Kingdom | 5,728 | Sunk |
16 March 1941 | Ferm | Norway | 6,593 | Sunk |
See also
- List of successful U-boats
- Operation Kiebitz
References
Notes
- ^ gross register tons. Military vessels are listed by tons displacement.
Citations
- ^ Kemp 1997, p. 69.
- ^ Niestle 1998, p. 41.
- ^ a b c d Gröner 1991, pp. 43–44.
- ^ a b c d e Helgason, Guðmundur. "U-99". uboat.net. Retrieved 17 November 2009.
- ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Merisaar". uboat.net. Retrieved 17 November 2009.
- ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "HMS Manistee (F104)". uboat.net. Retrieved 17 November 2009.
- ^ White 2006, p. 79.
- ^ White 2006, p. 81.
- ^ C.B. 04051 (20) "U 99" Interrogation of Survivors. Naval Intelligence Division, Admiralty. April 1941. p. 7.
- ^ C.B. 04051 (20) "U 99" Interrogation of Survivors. Naval Intelligence Division, Admiralty. April 1941. p. 14.
- ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U-99". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 11 December 2013.
Bibliography
- Busch, Rainer; Röll, Hans-Joachim (1999). German U-boat commanders of World War II : a biographical dictionary. Translated by Brooks, Geoffrey. London, Annapolis, Md: Greenhill Books, Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-55750-186-6.
- Busch, Rainer; Röll, Hans-Joachim (1999). Deutsche U-Boot-Verluste von September 1939 bis Mai 1945 [German U-boat losses from September 1939 to May 1945]. Der U-Boot-Krieg (in German). Vol. IV. Hamburg, Berlin, Bonn: Mittler. ISBN 3-8132-0514-2.
- Edwards, Bernard (1996). Dönitz and the Wolf Packs – The U-boats at War. Cassell Military Classics. pp. 23, 27, 28, 32, 35, 42–44, 48–49. ISBN 0-304-35203-9.
- Gröner, Erich; Jung, Dieter; Maass, Martin (1991). German Warships 1815–1945, U-boats and Mine Warfare Vessels. Vol. 2. Translated by Thomas, Keith; Magowan, Rachel. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-593-4.
- Kemp, Paul (1997). U-Boats Destroyed, German Submarine Losses in the World Wars. Arms and Armour. ISBN 1-85409-515-3.
- Niestle, Axel (1998). German U-Boat Losses during World War II. Greenhill Books. ISBN 1-85367-352-8.
- Sharpe, Peter (1998). U-Boat Fact File. Great Britain: Midland Publishing. ISBN 1-85780-072-9.
- White, David Fairbank (2006). Bitter Ocean – The dramatic story of the Battle of the Atlantic 1939–1945. Headline Publishing Group. ISBN 978-0-7553-1089-0.
External links
- Hofmann, Markus. "U 99". Deutsche U-Boote 1935–1945 – u-boot-archiv.de (in German). Retrieved 8 December 2014.
- uboataces.com webpage with insignia for U-99
- uboatarchive.net U-99 Interrogation of Survivors, Naval Intelligence Division, April 1941