German submarine U-107 (1940)

German submarine U-107 was a Type IXB U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine that operated during World War II. Between January 1941 and August 1944, she sailed on 13 active patrols at a time when a U-boat averaged a lifespan of seven to ten patrols. During that time, U-107 sank 39 Allied ships and damaged four. The U-boat was launched on 2 July 1940, based at the U-boat port of Lorient, with a crew of 53 under the initial command of Günther Hessler. She was later commanded, in order, by Harald Gelhaus, Valker Simmermacher and her final commander, Karl Heinz Fritz.

For other ships with the same name, see German submarine U-107.
U-107 at Lorient in November 1941
History
Nazi Germany
NameU-107
Ordered24 May 1938
BuilderDeSchiMAG AG Weser, Bremen
Yard number970
Laid down6 December 1939
Launched2 July 1940
Commissioned8 October 1940
HomeportLorient, France
FateSunk, 18 August 1944[1]
General characteristics
Class and typeType IXB U-boat
Displacement
  • 1,051 t (1,034 long tons) surfaced
  • 1,178 t (1,159 long tons) submerged
Length
Beam
  • 6.76 m (22 ft 2 in) o/a
  • 4.40 m (14 ft 5 in) pressure hull
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
Range
  • 12,000 nmi (22,000 km; 14,000 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)
Complement48 to 56 officers and ratings
Armament
Service record
Part of:
Commanders:
Operations:
  • 13 patrols:
  • 1st patrol:
  • 24 January – 1 March 1941
  • 2nd patrol:
  • 29 March – 2 July 1941
  • 3rd patrol:
  • 6 September – 11 November 1941
  • 4th patrol:
  • 10 – 26 December 1941
  • 5th patrol:
  • 7 January – 7 March 1942
  • 6th patrol:
  • 21 April – 11 July 1942
  • 7th patrol:
  • 15 August – 18 November 1942
  • 8th patrol:
  • 30 January – 25 March 1943
  • 9th patrol:
  • 24 April – 26 May 1943
  • 10th patrol:
  • a. 28 July – 3 October 1943
  • b. 10 – 12 November 1943
  • 11th patrol:
  • a. 16 November 1943 – 8 January 1944
  • b. 30 April – 2 May 1944
  • 12th patrol:
  • 10 May – 23 July 1944
  • 13th patrol:
  • 16 – 18 Aug 1944
Victories:
  • 37 merchant ships sunk
    (207,375 GRT)
  • 2 auxiliary warships sunk
    (10,411 GRT)
  • 3 merchant ships damaged
    (17,392 GRT)
  • 1 auxiliary warship damaged
    (8,246 GRT)

Design

German Type IXB submarines were slightly larger than the original German Type IX submarines, later designated IXA. U-107 had a displacement of 1,051 tonnes (1,034 long tons) when at the surface and 1,178 tonnes (1,159 long tons) while submerged.[2] The U-boat had a total length of 76.50 m (251 ft), 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 18.2 knots (33.7 km/h; 20.9 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 64 nautical miles (119 km; 74 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph); when surfaced, she could travel 12,000 nautical miles (22,000 km; 14,000 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph). U-107 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

First patrol
Date Name Flag Tonnage[Note 1] Convoy Position
3 February 1941 Empire Citizen  United Kingdom 4,683 Convoy OB 279 58°12′N 23°22′W
3 February 1941 Crispin  Royal Navy 5,051 Convoy OB 280 56°38′N 20°05′W
6 February 1941 Maplecourt  Canada 3,388 Convoy SC 20 57°33′N 17°24′W
23 February 1941 Manistee  Royal Navy 5,360 Convoy OB 288 58°13′N 21°33′W

Second patrol and most successful period
Date Name Flag Tonnage (GRT) Convoy Position
8 April 1941 Helena Margareta  United Kingdom 3,316 Convoy OG 57 33°00′N 23°52′W
8 April 1941 Eskdene  United Kingdom 3,829 Convoy OG 57 34°43′N 24°21′W
9 April 1941 Harpathian  United Kingdom 4,671 Convoy OG 57 32°22′N 22°53′W
9 April 1941 Duffield  United Kingdom 8,516 Convoy OG 57 31°13′N 23°24′W
21 April 1941 Calchas  United Kingdom 10,305 23°50′N 27°00′W
30 April 1941 Lassell  United Kingdom 7,417 Convoy OB 309 12°55′N 28°56′W
17 May 1941 Marisa  Netherlands 8,029 06°10′N 18°09′W
18 May 1941 Piako  United Kingdom 8,286 07°52′N 14°57′W
27 May 1941 Colonial  United Kingdom 5,108 Convoy OB 318 09°13′N 15°09′W
28 May 1941 Papalemos  Greece 3,748 08°06′N 16°18′W
31 May 1941 Sire  United Kingdom 5,664 08°50′N 15°30′W
1 June 1941 Alfred Jones  United Kingdom 5,013 Convoy OB 320 08°00′N 15°00′W
8 June 1941 Adda  United Kingdom 7,816 Convoy OB 323 08°30′N 14°39′W
13 June 1941 Pandias  Greece 4,981 07°49′N 23°28′W

Third patrol
Date Name Flag Tonnage (GRT) Convoy Position
24 September 1941 Dixcove  United Kingdom 3,790 Convoy SL 87 31°12′N 23°41′W
24 September 1941 Lafian  United Kingdom 4,876 Convoy SL 87 31°12′N 23°32′W
24 September 1941 John Holt  United Kingdom 4,975 Convoy SL 87 31°12′N 23°32′W

Fifth patrol
Date Name Flag Tonnage (GRT) Convoy Position
31 January 1942 San Arcadio  United Kingdom 7,419 38°10′N 63°50′W
6 February 1942 Major Wheeler  United States 3,431 E of Cape Hatteras
21 February 1942 Egda  Norway 10,068 Convoy ON 65 41°12′N 52°55′W Damaged

Sixth patrol
U-107 meets a supply ship in the South Atlantic
Date Name Flag Tonnage (GRT) Convoy Position
29 May 1942 Western Head  United Kingdom 2,599 19°57′N 74°18′W
1 June 1942 Bushranger  Panama 4,536 18°15′N 81°25′W
7 June 1942 Castilla  Honduras 3,910 20°15′N 83°18′W
8 June 1942 Suwied  United States 3,249 20°00′N 84°48′W
10 June 1942 Merrimack  United States 2,606 19°47′N 85°55′W
19 June 1942 Cheerio  United States 35 18°02′N 67°40′W
26 June 1942 Jagersfontein  Netherlands 10,083 31°56′N 54°48′W

Eighth patrol
Date Name Flag Tonnage (GRT) Convoy Position
3 September 1942 Hollinside  United Kingdom 4,172 38°00′N 09°00′W
3 September 1942 Penrose  United Kingdom 4,393 38°00′N 09°00′W
7 October 1942 Andalucia Star  United Kingdom 14,943 06°38′N 15°46′W

Ninth patrol
  • 4 March 1943, came under attack from an unidentified Allied aircraft.
Moderately damaged by the attack.
  • 22 March 1943 at 14:35 it came under attack from another unidentified Allied aircraft
Undamaged
Date Name Flag Tonnage (GRT) Convoy Position
22 February 1943 Roxborough Castle  United Kingdom 7,801 38°12′N 26°22′W
13 March 1943 Oporto  United Kingdom 2,352 Convoy OS 44 42°45′N 13°31′W
13 March 1943 Marcella  United Kingdom 4,592 Convoy OS 44 42°45′N 13°31′W
13 March 1943 Sembilangan  Netherlands 4,990 Convoy OS 44 42°45′N 13°31′W
13 March 1943 SS Clan Alpine  United Kingdom 5,442 Convoy OS 44 42°45′N 13°31′W

Tenth patrol
Date Name Flag Tonnage (GRT) Convoy Position
1 May 1943 Port Victor  United Kingdom 12,411 47°49′N 22°02′W

Eleventh patrol
Date Name Flag Tonnage[Note 2] Convoy Position
28 August 1943 Albert Gallatin  United States 7,176 Off Savannah, Georgia Damaged
11 September 1943 USS Rapidan  United States Navy 8,246 Convoy NG 385 32°39′N 79°43′W Damaged

Fifteenth patrol
Date Name Flag Tonnage (GRT) Convoy Position
13 June 1944 Lark  United States 148 43°00′N 65°12′W Damaged

Sixteenth and final patrol

On 16 August 1944, U-107 departed from Lorient on a transport run to La Pallice.[3] She was intercepted on 18 August in the Bay of Biscay, west of La Rochelle, in position 46°46′N 03°49′W, by Allied forces, and was sunk by depth charges from a Short Sunderland (serialEJ150) of No. 201 Squadron, Royal Air Force. All 58 hands were lost.[4][5]

Wolfpacks

U-107 took part in 15 wolfpacks, namely:

  • Störtebecker (5 – 7 November 1941)
  • Seeräuber (14 – 23 December 1941)
  • Blücher (23 – 28 August 1942)
  • Iltis (6 – 23 September 1942)
  • Hartherz (3 – 7 February 1943)
  • Delphin (11 – 14 February 1943)
  • Robbe (16 February – 13 March 1943)
  • Amsel 2 (4 – 6 May 1943)
  • Elbe (7 – 10 May 1943)
  • Elbe 2 (10 – 14 May 1943)
  • Weddigen (24 November – 7 December 1943)
  • Coronel (7 – 8 December 1943)
  • Coronel 2 (8 – 14 December 1943)
  • Coronel 3 (14 – 17 December 1943)
  • Borkum (18 – 30 December 1943)

Summary of raiding history
Date Name Nationality Tonnage
(GRT)		 Fate[6]
3 February 1941 Empire Citizen  United Kingdom 4,683 Sunk
3 February 1941 HMS Crispin  Royal Navy 5,051 Sunk
6 February 1941 Maplecourt  Canada 3,388 Sunk
23 February 1941 HMS Manistee  Royal Navy 5,360 Sunk
8 April 1941 Eskdene  United Kingdom 3,829 Sunk
8 April 1941 Helena Margareta  United Kingdom 3,316 Sunk
9 April 1941 Harpathian  United Kingdom 4,671 Sunk
9 April 1941 Duffield  United Kingdom 8,516 Sunk
21 April 1941 Calchas  United Kingdom 10,305 Sunk
30 April 1941 Lassell  United Kingdom 7,417 Sunk
17 May 1941 Marisa  Netherlands 8,029 Sunk
18 May 1941 Piako  United Kingdom 8,286 Sunk
27 May 1941 Colonial  United Kingdom 5,108 Sunk
28 May 1941 Papalemos  Greece 3,748 Sunk
31 May 1941 Sire  United Kingdom 5,664 Sunk
1 June 1941 Alfred Jones  United Kingdom 5,013 Sunk
8 June 1941 Adda  United Kingdom 7,816 Sunk
13 June 1941 Pandias  Greece 4,981 Sunk
24 September 1941 John Holt  United Kingdom 4,975 Sunk
24 September 1941 Dixcove  United Kingdom 3,790 Sunk
24 September 1941 Lafian  United Kingdom 4,876 Sunk
31 January 1942 San Arcadio  United Kingdom 7,419 Sunk
6 February 1942 Major Wheeler  United States 3,431 Sunk
21 February 1942 Egda  Norway 10,068 Damaged
29 May 1942 Western Head  United Kingdom 2,599 Sunk
1 June 1942 Bushranger  Panama 4,536 Sunk
7 June 1942 Castilla  Honduras 3,910 Sunk
8 June 1942 Suwied  United States 3,249 Sunk
10 June 1942 Merrimack  United States 2,606 Sunk
19 June 1942 Cheerio  United States 35 Sunk
26 June 1942 Jagersfontein  Netherlands 10,083 Sunk
3 September 1942 Hollinside  United Kingdom 4,172 Sunk
3 September 1942 Penrose  United Kingdom 4,393 Sunk
7 October 1942 Andalucia Star  United Kingdom 14,943 Sunk
22 February 1943 Roxborough Castle  United Kingdom 7,801 Sunk
13 March 1943 SS Clan Alpine  United Kingdom 5,442 Sunk
13 March 1943 Marcella  United Kingdom 4,592 Sunk
13 March 1943 Oporto  United Kingdom 2,352 Sunk
13 March 1943 Sembilangan  Netherlands 4,990 Sunk
1 May 1943 Port Victor  United Kingdom 12,411 Sunk
28 August 1943 Albert Gallatin  United States 7,176 Damaged
11 September 1943 USS Rapidan  United States Navy 8,246 Damaged
13 June 1944 Lark  United States 148 Damaged

References

Notes
  1. Merchant ship tonnages are in gross register tons which is a measure of internal capacity. Military vessels are listed by tons displacement which is a measure of ship weight.
  2. Merchant ship tonnages are in gross register tons. Military vessels are listed by tons displacement.

Citations
  1. Kemp 1999, p. 210.
  2. Gröner 1991, p. 68.
  3. Busch & Röll 1997, p. 447.
  4. Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type IXB boat U-107". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 22 February 2010.
  5. Landers, Brian. "Caught on the Surface". Aeroplane. Cudham: Kelsey Publishing (April 2012): 16–22. ISSN 0143-7240.
  6. Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U-107". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 3 October 2014.

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.
  • Gröner, Erich; Jung, Dieter; Maass, Martin (1991). U-boats and Mine Warfare Vessels. German Warships 1815–1945. Vol. 2. Translated by Thomas, Keith; Magowan, Rachel. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-593-4.
  • Kemp, Paul (1999). U-Boats Destroyed - German Submarine Losses in the World Wars. London: Arms & Armour. ISBN 1-85409-515-3.
  • Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type IXB boat U-107". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 6 December 2014.
  • Hofmann, Markus. "U 107". Deutsche U-Boote 1935-1945 - u-boot-archiv.de (in German). Retrieved 13 December 2015.

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