German submarine U-158 (1941)

Last updated

U-505chicago.jpg
U-505, a typical Type IXC boat
History
War ensign of Germany (1938-1945).svg Nazi Germany
NameU-158
Ordered25 September 1939
Builder DeSchiMAG AG Weser, Bremen
Yard number1000
Laid down1 November 1940
Launched21 June 1941 [1]
Commissioned25 September 1941 [1]
FateSunk 30 June 1942, west of Bermuda, by a US aircraft [1]
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
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
  • 7.7 knots (14.3 km/h; 8.9 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 [2]
Part of:
Identification codes: M 14 343
Commanders:
  • Kptlt. Erwin Rostin
  • 25 September 1941 – 30 June 1942
Operations:
  • 2 patrols:
  • 1st patrol:
  • 7 February – 31 March 1942
  • 2nd patrol:
  • 4 May – 30 June 1942
Victories:
  • 17 merchant ships sunk
    (101,321  GRT)
  • 2 merchant ships damaged
    (15,264  GRT)

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

Contents

Her keel was laid down on 1 November 1940 by DeSchiMAG AG Weser in Bremen as yard number 1000. She was commissioned on 25 September 1941, with Kapitänleutnant Erwin Rostin (Knights Cross) in command. [2]

Design

German Type IXC submarines were slightly larger than the original Type IXBs. U-158 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. [3] 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). [3]

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). [3] 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-158 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. [3]

Service history

U-158 conducted only two combat patrols, sinking 17 ships totalling 101,321  gross register tons  (GRT) and damaging two others totalling 15,264 GRT. [2]

First patrol

U-158 departed the German administered island of Helgoland, (sometimes spelt 'Heligoland'), for her first patrol on 7 February 1942. Her route took her north of the British Isles, through the gap between Iceland and the Faroe Islands and into the Atlantic Ocean.

Her first victim was Empire Celt, sunk about 420 nmi (780 km; 480 mi) south southeast of St Johns on 24 February. The ship broke in two after being hit and the stern section was last seen on 4 March. In the same attack, the U-boat also damaged Diloma. This tanker was able to proceed under her own power at reduced speed. She was repaired in Baltimore and returned to service in June 1942.

The submarine then moved further down the US east coast. She sank another four ships and damaged one more. They were: Finnanger (1 March), Caribsea (11 March), John D. Gill (13 March), Olean (damaged on 15 March) and Ario (also on 15 March). [4]

John D. Gill was another tanker; her cargo did not ignite on being hit by a torpedo. Instead, the surrounding water was turned into a blazing inferno after a seaman threw a life ring overboard and its built-in carbide lamp malfunctioned. Almost half the crew died.

Olean was towed to Hampton Roads, rebuilt and renamed Sweep and then returned to service. [5]

Having caused so much mayhem, the boat sailed for France, arriving at Lorient on 31 March 1942.

Second patrol

For her second foray, U-158 moved into the Caribbean and the Gulf of Mexico in May 1942. On the way she sank Darina about 500 nmi (930 km; 580 mi) east southeast of Bermuda on 4 May and Frank B. Baird on the 22nd. [6]

Following the sinking of Knoxville City on 2 June, the survivors in their lifeboats declined an offer of help from Jamaica as they thought the German submarine was still nearby.

The Hermis, despite being hit by two torpedoes on the seventh, maintained a speed of eight knots due to the engines still running. The U-boat surfaced and shelled the ship. She was observed some twelve hours later with her stern out of the water; she eventually sank shortly afterward.

Fate

U-158 was sunk on 30 June 1942, west of the Bermudas, in position 32°50′N67°28′W / 32.833°N 67.467°W / 32.833; -67.467 , by depth charges from a PBM Mariner aircraft commanded by Richard Schreder of United States Navy Squadron VP-74. None of her 54 crewmen on board survived the sinking. [1] [2]

Summary of raiding history

DateShipNationalityTonnage [Note 1] Fate [7]
24 February 1942 Diloma Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 8,146Damaged
24 February 1942 Empire Celt Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 8,032Sunk
1 March 1942 Finnager Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 9,551Sunk
11 March 1942 Caribsea Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg  United States 2,609Sunk
13 March 1942 John D. Gill Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg  United States 11,641Sunk
15 March 1942 Ario Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg  United States 6,952Sunk
15 March 1942 Olean Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg  United States 7,118Damaged
20 May 1942 Darina Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 8,113Sunk
22 May 1942 Frank D. Baird Canadian Red Ensign (1921-1957).svg  Canada 1,748Sunk
2 June 1942 Knoxville City Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg  United States 5,686Sunk
4 June 1942 Nidarnes Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 2,647Sunk
5 June 1942 Velma Lykes Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg  United States 2,572Sunk
7 June 1942 Hermis Flag of Panama.svg  Panama 5,234Sunk
11 June 1942 Sheherazade Flag of Panama.svg  Panama 13,467Sunk
12 June 1942 Cities Service Toledo Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg  United States 8,192Sunk
17 June 1942 Moira Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 1,560Sunk
17 June 1942 San Blas Flag of Panama.svg  Panama 3,601Sunk
23 June 1942 Major General Henry Gibbins Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg  United States Navy 5,766Sunk
23 June 1942 Everalda Flag of Latvia.svg  Latvia 3,950Sunk

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References

Notes

  1. ↑ Merchant ship tonnages are in gross register tons. Military vessels are listed by tons displacement.

Citations

  1. 1 2 3 4 Kemp 1999, p. 83.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type IXC boat U-158". German U-boats of WWII – uboat.net. Retrieved 22 February 2010.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Gröner 1991, p. 68.
  4. ↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "War Patrols by German U-boat U-158". German U-boats of WWII – uboat.net. Retrieved 3 October 2014.
  5. ↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "John D. Gill". German U-boats of WWII – uboat.net. Retrieved 3 October 2014.
  6. ↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "War patrols of German U-boat U-153". German U-boats of WWII – uboat.net. Retrieved 7 December 2014.
  7. ↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U-158". German U-boats of WWII – uboat.net. Retrieved 3 October 2014.

Bibliography

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