German submarine U-160 (1941)

Last updated

U-505chicago.jpg
U-505, a typical Type IXC boat
History
War ensign of Germany (1938-1945).svg Nazi Germany
NameU-160
Ordered23 December 1939
Builder DeSchiMAG AG Weser, Bremen
Yard number1010
Laid down21 November 1940
Launched12 July 1941
Commissioned16 October 1941
FateSunk on 14 July 1943
General characteristics
Class and type Type IXC submarine
Displacement
  • 1,120  t (1,100 long tons) surfaced
  • 1,232 t (1,213 long tons) submerged
Length
  • 76.76 m (251 ft 10 in) o/a
  • 58.75 m (192 ft 9 in) pressure hull
Beam
  • 6.76 m (22 ft 2 in) o/a
  • 4.40 m (14 ft 5 in) pressure hull
Height9.60 m (31 ft 6 in)
Draught4.70 m (15 ft 5 in)
Installed power
  • 4,400 PS (3,200 kW; 4,300 bhp) (diesels)
  • 1,000 PS (740 kW; 990 shp) (electric)
Propulsion
Speed
  • 18.3 knots (33.9 km/h; 21.1 mph) surfaced
  • 7.3 knots (13.5 km/h; 8.4 mph) submerged
Range
  • 13,450  nmi (24,910 km; 15,480 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) surfaced
  • 64 nmi (119 km; 74 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph) submerged
Test depth230 m (750 ft)
Complement4 officers, 44 enlisted
Armament
Service record
Part of:
Identification codes: M 40 802
Commanders:
  • Kptlt. Georg Lassen
  • 16 October 1941 – 14 June 1943
  • Oblt.z.S. Gerd von Pommer-Esche
  • 15 June 1943 – 14 July 1943
Operations:
  • 5 patrols:
  • 1st patrol:
  • 1 March – 28 April 1942
  • 2nd patrol:
  • 20 June – 24 August 1942
  • 3rd patrol:
  • 23 September – 9 December 1942
  • 4th patrol:
  • 6 January – 10 May 1943
  • 5th patrol:
  • 29 June – 14 July 1943
Victories:
  • 25 merchant ships sunk
    (155,352  GRT)
  • 1 auxiliary warship sunk
    (730  GRT)
  • 5 merchant ships damaged
    (34,419  GRT)

German submarine U-160 was a Type IXC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine built for service during World War II. The keel for this boat was laid down on 21 November 1940 at the DeSchiMAG AG Weser yard in Bremen, Germany as yard number 1010. She was launched on 12 July 1941 and commissioned on 16 October under the command of Kapitänleutnant Georg Lassen (Knight's Cross).

Contents

The U-boat's service began in training with the 4th U-boat Flotilla. She lost seven men and one was injured in a fire on 14 December 1941 at Danzig (now Gdańsk, Poland). [1] She then moved to the 10th flotilla on 1 March 1942 for operations.

She sank 26 ships, totalling 156,082  gross register tons  (GRT) and damaged five more, for 34,419 GRT. She was sunk by American carrier-borne aircraft on 14 July 1943.

Design

German Type IXC submarines were slightly larger than the original Type IXBs. U-160 had a displacement of 1,120 tonnes (1,100 long tons) when at the surface and 1,232 tonnes (1,213 long tons) while submerged. [2] The U-boat had a total length of 76.76 m (251 ft 10 in), a pressure hull length of 58.75 m (192 ft 9 in), a beam of 6.76 m (22 ft 2 in), a height of 9.60 m (31 ft 6 in), and a draught of 4.70 m (15 ft 5 in). The submarine was powered by two MAN M 9 V 40/46 supercharged four-stroke, nine-cylinder diesel engines producing a total of 4,400 metric horsepower (3,240 kW; 4,340 shp) for use while surfaced, two Siemens-Schuckert 2 GU 345/34 double-acting electric motors producing a total of 1,000 metric horsepower (740 kW; 990 shp) for use while submerged. She had two shafts and two 1.92 m (6 ft) propellers. The boat was capable of operating at depths of up to 230 metres (750 ft). [2]

The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 18.3 knots (33.9 km/h; 21.1 mph) and a maximum submerged speed of 7.3 knots (13.5 km/h; 8.4 mph). [2] When submerged, the boat could operate for 63 nautical miles (117 km; 72 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph); when surfaced, she could travel 13,450 nautical miles (24,910 km; 15,480 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph). U-160 was fitted with six 53.3 cm (21 in) torpedo tubes (four fitted at the bow and two at the stern), 22 torpedoes, one 10.5 cm (4.13 in) SK C/32 naval gun, 180 rounds, and a 3.7 cm (1.5 in) SK C/30 as well as a 2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 anti-aircraft gun. The boat had a complement of forty-eight. [2]

Service history

Before starting on her first patrol, U-160 made a brief journey from Wilhelmshaven to Helgoland on 24 February 1942.

First and second patrols

She departed the German island on 1 March 1942, crossed the North Sea entered the Atlantic Ocean via the Faroe / Shetland gap and headed for the US east coast. Her first victim was Equipoise, sunk on 27 March 1942 60 nautical miles (110 km; 69 mi) southeast of Cape Henry, Virginia. The confusion of the sinking was not helped by there being nationals from at least ten countries among the crew. The boat went on to successfully attack City of New York, Rio Blanco and Ulysses. One ship that did not sink was Bidwell; indeed, she survived the war, not being broken up until 1965.

U-160's second foray saw the boat leave Lorient on 20 June 1942. She crossed the Atlantic again but made for the northern coast of South America. The pickings were just as rich here as they had been further north. Sinking Beaconlight, Carmona and the Treminnard, who were all sailing without an escort, was accomplished within 200 nmi (370 km; 230 mi) of Trinidad. She also damaged Thorshavet, an 11,015 GRT tanker, with torpedo and gun on 4 August 1942. The drifting wreck was subsequently sunk by the Italian submarine Enrico Tazzoli on 6 August. U-160 returned to Lorient on the 24th.

Third patrol

It was during her third patrol that the boat almost came to grief. She sank HMS Castle Harbour, which was travelling as part of Convoy TRIN-19 from Trinidad at 2120 hours on 16 October 1942. The ship sank within twenty seconds with the loss of nine of her twenty-two crew. [3] [4] U-160 herself was attacked by the escorts of the convoy, but the damage was slight. The submarine returned to her former hunting grounds off South America and sank Gypsum Express and Leda to name but two.

Fourth patrol

Her fourth sortie was her longest, at 125 days, but also her most successful. Moving into the south Atlantic, she sank SS Roger B. Taney on 8 February. She then attacked and sank Nirpura, Empire Mahseer and Marietta E. east of South Africa. Also lost with Marietta E. were eight landing craft. Other ships were also sunk. When the submariners questioned the survivors of Aelbryn, they misunderstood the ship's name, reporting it as Arian, an American vessel.

Fifth patrol and loss

By now she was based in Bordeaux, from which she departed on 29 June 1943. She was sunk by TBM Avenger and F4F Wildcat aircraft from the carrier USS Santee south of the Azores on 14 July 1943 with the loss of all 57 on board.

Summary of raiding history

DateNameNationalityTonnage
(GRT)		Fate [5]
27 March 1942 Equipoise Flag of Panama.svg  Panama 6,210Sunk
29 March 1942 City of New York Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg  United States 8,272Sunk
1 April 1942 Rio Blanco Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 4,086Sunk
6 April 1942 Bidwell Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg  United States 6,837Damaged
9 April 1942 Malchace Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg  United States 3,516Sunk
11 April 1942 Ulysses Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 14,647Sunk
16 July 1942 Beaconlight Flag of Panama.svg  Panama 6,926Sunk
18 July 1942 Carmona Flag of Panama.svg  Panama 5,496Sunk
21 July 1942 Donovonia Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 8,149Sunk
25 July 1942 Telamon Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands 2,078Sunk
29 July 1942 Prescodoc Canadian Red Ensign (1921-1957).svg  Canada 1,938Sunk
2 August 1942 Treminnard Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 4,694Sunk
4 August 1942 Havsten Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 6,161Damaged
16 October 1942 HMS Castle Harbour Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Navy 730Sunk
16 October 1942 Winona Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg  United States 6,197Damaged
3 November 1942 Chr. J. Kampmann Canadian Red Ensign (1921-1957).svg  Canada 2,260Sunk
3 November 1942 Gypsum Express Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 4,034Sunk
3 November 1942 Leda Flag of Panama.svg  Panama 8,546Sunk
3 November 1942 Thorshavet Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 11,015Sunk
6 November 1942 Arica Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 5,431Sunk
11 November 1942 City of Ripon Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 6,368Sunk
21 November 1942 Bintang Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands 6,481Sunk
8 February 1943 Roger B. Taney Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg  United States 7,191Sunk
3 March 1943 Harvey W. Scott Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg  United States 7,176Sunk
3 March 1943 Nipura Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 5,961Sunk
3 March 1943 Tibia Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands 10,356Damaged
3 March 1943 Empire Mahseer Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 5,087Sunk
4 March 1943 Marietta E. Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 7,628Sunk
4 March 1943 Sheaf Crown Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 4,868Damaged
8 March 1943 James B. Stephens Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg  United States 7,176Sunk
11 March 1943 Aelbryn Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 4,986Sunk

Related Research Articles

German submarine <i>U-512</i> German World War II submarine

German submarine U-512 was a Type IXC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine built for service during World War II. Although she was short-lived, U-512 was quite a successful boat, making full use of the time she enjoyed in the entrance to the Caribbean Sea, during the Second Happy Time. She was commanded by Kapitänleutnant Wolfgang Schultze, an admiral's son and previously training captain of U-17.

German submarine <i>U-509</i> German World War II submarine

German submarine U-509 was a Type IXC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. The submarine was laid down on 1 November 1940 at the Deutsche Werft yard in Hamburg as yard number 305. She was launched on 19 August 1941, and commissioned on 4 November 1941 under the command of Korvettenkapitän Karl-Heinz Wolff.

German submarine <i>U-502</i> German World War II submarine

German submarine U-502 was a Type IXC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. The submarine was laid down on 2 April 1940 at the Deutsche Werft yard in Hamburg with yard number 292, launched on 18 February 1941 and commissioned on 31 May under the command of Kapitänleutnant Jürgen von Rosenstiel.

German submarine <i>U-504</i> German World War II submarine

German submarine U-504 was a Type IXC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. The submarine was laid down on 29 April 1940 at the Deutsche Werft yard in Hamburg as yard number 294, launched on 24 April 1941 and commissioned on 30 July 1941 under the command of Korvettenkapitän Hans-Georg Friedrich "Fritz" Poske. Initially attached to the 4th U-boat Flotilla for training, the U-boat was transferred to the 2nd flotilla on 1 January 1942 for front-line service. She was a member of six wolfpacks.

German submarine <i>U-125</i> (1940) German World War II submarine

German submarine U-125 was a Type IXC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. She was laid down at the DeSchiMAG AG Weser as yard number 988 on 10 May 1940, launched on 10 December and commissioned on 3 March 1941. In seven patrols, she sank 17 ships for a total of 82,873 gross register tons (GRT). The boat was a member of three wolfpacks. She was sunk on 6 May 1943. All 54 men on board died.

German submarine <i>U-185</i> German World War II submarine

German submarine U-185 was a Type IXC/40 U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine built for service during World War II.

German submarine <i>U-176</i> German World War II submarine

German submarine U-176 was a Type IXC U-boat in Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

German submarine <i>U-511</i> German World War II submarine

German submarine U-511 was a Type IXC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. The submarine was laid down on 21 February 1941 at the Deutsche Werft yard in Hamburg as yard number 307, launched on 22 September 1941 and commissioned on 8 December 1941 under the command of Kapitänleutnant Friedrich Steinhoff.

German submarine <i>U-66</i> (1940) German World War II submarine

German submarine U-66 was a Type IXC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. The submarine was laid down on 20 March 1940 at the AG Weser yard at Bremen, launched on 10 October and commissioned on 2 January 1941 under the command of Kapitänleutnant Richard Zapp as part of the 2nd U-boat Flotilla.

German submarine <i>U-515</i> German World War II submarine

German submarine U-515 was a Type IXC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine built for service during World War II. She was commissioned on 21 February 1942 and sunk on 9 April 1944. U-515 completed seven operational patrols and sank 23 ships, badly damaged two ships which later sank, and damaged two additional ships.

German submarine U-184 was a Type IXC/40 U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine built for service during World War II.

German submarine <i>U-510</i> German World War II submarine

German submarine U-510 was a Type IXC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II, which later served in the French Navy. The submarine was laid down on 1 November 1940 at the Deutsche Werft yard at Hamburg as yard number 306, launched on 4 September 1941, and commissioned on 25 November 1941 under the command of Korvettenkapitän Karl Neitzel.

German submarine <i>U-157</i> (1941) German World War II submarine

German submarine U-157 was a Type IXC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. The submarine was laid down on 21 October 1940 at the DeSchiMAG AG Weser yard in Bremen, launched on 5 June 1941, and commissioned on 15 September under the command of Korvettenkapitän Wolf Henne. After training with the 4th U-boat Flotilla, U-157 was transferred to the 2nd U-boat Flotilla for front-line service on 3 June 1942.

German submarine <i>U-506</i> German World War II submarine

German submarine U-506 was a Type IXC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. The submarine was laid down on 11 July 1940 at the Deutsche Werft yard in Hamburg as yard number 296, launched on 20 June 1941 and commissioned on 15 September 1941 under the command of Kapitänleutnant Erich Würdemann.

German submarine <i>U-158</i> (1941) German World War II submarine

German submarine U-158 was a Type IXC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine built for service during World War II.

German submarine <i>U-126</i> (1940) German World War II submarine

German submarine U-126 was a Type IXC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. In six patrols, she sank 25 ships for a total of 111,564 gross register tons (GRT) and 450 tons. She was laid down at the DeSchiMAG AG Weser yard in Bremen as yard number 989 on 1 June 1940, launched on 31 December and commissioned on 22 March 1941 under Kapitänleutnant Ernst Bauer.

German submarine U-167 was a Type IXC/40 U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine built for service during World War II. Her keel was laid down on 12 March 1941 by the Deutsche Schiff- und Maschinenbau AG in Bremen as yard number 706. She was launched on 5 March 1942 and commissioned on 4 July with Kapitänleutnant Kurt Neubert in command.

German submarine U-186 was a Type IXC/40 U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine built for service during World War II. Her keel was laid down on 24 July 1941 by DeSchiMAG AG Weser in Bremen as yard number 1026. She was launched on 11 March 1942 and commissioned on 10 July with Korvettenkapitän Siegfried Hesemann in command.

German submarine U-525 was a Type IXC/40 U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine built for service during World War II.

German submarine U-857 was a Type IXC/40 U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine built for service during the Second World War. She was ordered on 5 June 1941, laid down on 16 November 1942, and launched on 25 May 1943. For her operational lifespan, she was commanded by Kapitänleutnant Rudolf Premauer and had a crew complement of 59.

References

  1. ↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type IXC boat U-160". German U-boats of WWII – uboat.net. Retrieved 7 December 2014.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Gröner 1991, p. 68.
  3. ↑ Castle Harbour, Uboat.net
  4. ↑ The Andrew and the Onions: The Story of the Royal Navy in Bermuda, 1795–1975, Lt. Commander Ian Stranack, The Bermuda Maritime Museum Press, The Bermuda Maritime Museum, The Keep, Royal Naval Dockyard, Ireland Island, Sandys Parish, Bermuda. Postal address: P.O. Box MA 133, Mangrove Bay, Bermuda MA BX.
  5. ↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U-160". German U-boats of WWII – uboat.net. Retrieved 7 December 2014.

Bibliography

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.