German U-Boat Losses During World War II: Details of Destruction by Alex Niestle

Author:Alex Niestle
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Bisac Code 1: HIS027100; HISTORY / Military / World War II
ISBN: 9781473838291
Publisher: Frontline Books
Published: 2014-06-30T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter 3

1. U 25 was ordered to operate against Allied shipping in the Bay of Biscay. When it failed to report its position after sailing from Wilhelmshaven, the boat was posted as missing effective 2 August 1940. In the absence of Allied attacks to account for its loss, it is probable that U 25 was lost to mining in the British mine barrage Field No. 7 while outbound in the North Sea. Field No. 7 was laid on its exit route on 3 March 1940 by the destroyers HMS Express, HMS Esk, HMS Icarus, and HMS Impulsive.

2. Original postwar assessment changed by the Foreign Documents Section of the Naval Historical Branch of U.K. Ministry of Defence (hereafter cited as FDS/NHB) in December 1993. The attack by the submarine HMS Porpoise on 16 April 1940 in position 58°18n/05°47e, formerly credited with the destruction of U 1, was actually directed against U 3 inflicting no damage. U 1 was ordered to operate in a waiting position to the west of Obrestad, Norway. When the boat failed repeatedly to report its position, it was posted as missing effective 21 April 1940. U 1 was lost to mining in the British mine barrage Field No. 7 while outbound in the North Sea. Field No. 7 was laid on its exit route on 3 March 1940 by the destroyers HMS Express, HMS Esk, HMS Icarus, and HMS Impulsive. In June 2007 a Dutch diving company salvaged the anti-aircraft gun of U 1 from the waters North of Terschelling.

3. U 12 was ordered to operate in the English Channel against the cross-channel troop transports between Britain and France. It made no report after sailing from Wilhelmshaven. The boat was posted as missing effective 20 October 1939. In the absence of an Allied attack to account for its loss, there is a possibility that U 12 was lost to mining in the Dover-Calais mine barrage during the outbound or return trip through the Straits of Dover. The body of its commanding officer, Kaptlt. von der Ropp, was washed ashore on the French coast near Dunkirk on 29 October 1939.

4. U 16 reported last early on 25 October 1939 about heavy damage and the intention to scuttle. When the boat failed to report thereafter, it was posted as missing. On 25 October 1939, the wreck of U 16 was discovered by British forces on the Goodwin Sands. A British salvage attempt failed. Nineteen dead crew members were recovered by the Royal Navy or washed ashore on the French and Dutch coast. It is possible that the damage reported by U 16 was the result of striking a mine in the Dover barrage.

5. U 22 was originally ordered to operate against enemy shipping east of the Orkney Islands. On 22 March 1940, the boat was ordered to patrol temporarily off Ryvingen, Norway, to guard German merchant vessels. It made no report after sailing from Wilhelmshaven. U 22 was posted as missing effective 27 March 1940. There is presently no plausible explanation for its loss.

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