Wolfpack West

Last updated
Wolfpack West
Active8 May - 20 June 1941
CountryFlag of Germany (1935-1945).svg  Nazi Germany
Branch Kriegsmarine
Size23 submarines
Engagements Convoy OB 317
Convoy OB 318
Convoy OB 322
Convoy OB 327
Convoy OB 328
Convoy OB 329
Convoy OB 330
Convoy SC 30
Convoy HX 126
Convoy HX 128
Commanders
Notable
commanders
Gerhard Bigalk
Engelbert Endrass
Robert Gysae
Eitel-Friedrich Kentrat
Wilhelm Kleinschmidt
Claus Korth
Herbert Kuppisch
Fritz-Julius Lemp
Wolfgang Lüth
Ernst Mengersen
Adalbert Schnee
Klaus Scholtz
Heinrich Schonder
Herbert Schultze
Robert Gysae
Karl Thurmann
Helmut Rosenbaum
Herbert Wohlfarth
Robert-Richard Zapp

West was a wolfpack of German U-boats that operated during the World War II Battle of the Atlantic from 8 May 1941 to 20 June 1941. [1]

Contents

This wolfpack was responsible for sinking 33 ships (191,414  gross register tons  (GRT)) and damaging a further four ships (33,448  GRT), making it one of the most successful wolfpacks of World War II.

Raiding Summary

DateU-boatName of shipNationalityTonsConvoyComments
8 May 1941 U-97 Ramillies Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 4,553 OB 317 Sunk
9 May 1941 U-110 Bengore Head Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 2,609 OB 318 Sunk
9 May 1941 U-201 Empire Cloud Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 5,969 OB 318 Damaged
9 May 1941 U-110 Esmond Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 4,976 OB 318 Sunk
9 May 1941 U-201 Gregalia Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 5,802 OB 318 Sunk
10 May 1941 U-556 Aelybryn Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 4,986 OB 318 Damaged
10 May 1941 U-556 Empire Caribou Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 4,861 OB 318 Sunk
10 May 1941 U-556 Gand Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium 5,086 OB 318 Sunk
13 May 1941 U-98 HMS Salopian Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Navy 10,549 SC 30 Sunk
13 May 1941 U-111 Somersby Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 5,170 SC 30 Sunk
20 May 1941 U-556 British Security Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 8,470 HX 126 Sunk
20 May 1941 U-556 Cockaponset Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 5,995 HX 126 Sunk
20 May 1941 U-556 Darlington Court Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 4,974 HX 126 Sunk
20 May 1941 U-109 Harpagus Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 5,173 HX 126 Sunk
20 May 1941 U-94 John P. Pedersen Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 6,128 HX 126 Sunk
20 May 1941 U-94 Norman Monarch Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 4,718 HX 126 Sunk
20 May 1941 U-98 Rothermere Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 5,356 HX 126 Sunk
20 May 1941 U-111 San Felix Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 13,037 OB 322 Damaged
21 May 1941 U-93 Elusa Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands 6,235 HX 126 Sunk
21 May 1941 U-98 Marconi Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 7,402 OB 322 Sunk
22 May 1941 U-111 Barnby Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 4,813 HX 126 Sunk
29 May 1941 U-557 Empire Storm Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 7,290 HX 128 Sunk
2 June 1941 U-108 Michael E. Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 7,628 OB 327 Sunk
3 June 1941 U-75 Eibergen Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands 4,801 OB 327 Sunk
3 June 1941 U-48 Inversuir Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 9,456 OB 327 Damaged
3 June 1941 U-75 Inversuir Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 9,456 OB 327 Sunk
4 June 1941 U-101 Trecarrell Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 5,271 OB 327 Sunk
5 June 1941 U-48 Wellfield Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 6,054 OB 328 Sunk
6 June 1941 U-48 Tregarthen Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 5,201 OB 329 Sunk
6 June 1941 U-43 Yselhaven Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands 4,802 OB 328 Sunk
8 June 1941 U-108 Baron Nairn Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 3,164 OB 328 Sunk
8 June 1941 U-108 Dirphys Flag of Greece.svg  Greece 4,240Sunk
8 June 1941 U-48 Pendrecht Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands 10,746 OB 329 Sunk
9 June 1941 U-101 Trevarrack Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 5,270 OB 329 Sunk
10 June 1941 U-108 Christian Krohg Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 1,992 OB 329 Sunk
10 June 1941 U-204 Mercier Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium 7,886 OB 330 Sunk
13 June 1941 U-77 Tresillian Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 4,743 OB 330 Sunk

U-Boats

Of the 23 U-boat commanders, 19 were either, or went on to become, recipients of the Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross.

U-boatCommanderFromToNotes
U-43 Wolfgang Lüth 17 May 194116 June 1941
U-46 Engelbert Endrass 19 May 19416 June 1941
U-48 Herbert Schultze 2 June 19418 June 1941
U-66 Robert-Richard Zapp 24 May 19415 June 1941
U-73 Helmut Rosenbaum 31 May 194116 June 1941
U-74 Eitel-Friedrich Kentrat 13 May 194122 May 1941
U-75 Helmuth Ringelmann2 June 194120 June 1941
U-77 Heinrich Schonder 6 June 194120 June 1941
U-93 Claus Korth 8 May 194126 May 1941
U-94 Herbert Kuppisch 8 May 194129 May 1941
U-97 Udo Heilmann8 May 194127 May 1941
U-98 Robert Gysae 8 May 194127 May 1941
U-101 Ernst Mengersen 2 June 194120 June 1941
U-108 Klaus Scholtz 2 June 194120 June 1941
U-109 Hans-Georg Fischer13 May 194123 May 1941
U-110 Fritz-Julius Lemp 9 May 19419 May 1941U-boat was lost
U-111 Wilhelm Kleinschmidt 13 May 19415 June 1941
U-201 Adalbert Schnee 8 May 194113 May 1941
U-204 Walter Kell5 June 194116 June 1941
U-553 Karl Thurmann 13 June 194120 June 1941
U-556 Herbert Wohlfarth 10 May 194120 May 1941
U-557 Ottokar Arnold Paulssen25 May 194120 June 1941
U-751 Gerhard Bigalk 16 June 194120 June 1941

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References

  1. Helgason, Guðmundur. "Wolfpack West". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 21 October 2014.