German submarine U-100 (1939)

"U-100", given its shortlived existence, was one of the most successful and deadly Nazi German U-Boats to have served in World War II. [http://ubootwaffe.net/ops/boat.cgi?boat=100] It was of Type VIIB.

Combat record

First patrol

"U-100" was first launched on April 10 1940, with a crew of 53, under the command of captain Joachim Schepke. On its first active patrol, U-100 came into contact with two allied convoys, OA-198 and OA-204. "U-100" shadowed both convoys with the following results;

*August 16 1940: Sank the British 4,864 ton "Empire Merchant", sailing with convoy OA-198
*August 25 1940: Sank the British 5,471 ton "Jamaica Pioneer"
*August 29 1940:
** Sank the Swedish 2,373 ton "Alida Gorthon", a member of convoy OA-204
** Sank the British 2,393 ton "Astra II", part of convoy OA-204
** Sank the British 4,608 ton "Dalblair", from convoy OA-204
** Damaged the British 5,498 ton "Hartismere", sailing with convoy OA-204
** Sank the British 6,103 ton "Empire Moose", a member of convoy OA-204

Second patrol

On September 11 1940 "U-100" left its base for on its second active patrol, coming into contact with allied convoy HX-72, with the following results;

*September 21 1940
** Sank the British 4,608 ton "Dalcairn"
** Sank the British 8,286 ton "Canonesa"
** Sank the British 10,364 ton "Torinia"
*September 22 1940
** Sank the British 3,940 ton "Scholar"
** Sank the Norwegian 6,031 ton "Simla"
** Sank the British 6,586 ton "Empire Airman"
** Sank the British 10,525 ton "Frederick S Fales"

Third patrol

After resupplying, "U-100" departed for its third active patrol on October 12 1940. During that 11 day patrol, "U-100" came into contact with two allied convoys, HX-79 and SC-7, with the following results;

*October 18 1940:
** Damaged the Dutch 2,118 ton "Boekelo", a member of convoy SC-7
** Damaged the British 5,458 ton "Shekatika", part of convoy SC-7
*October 19 1940: Damaged the British 4,155 ton "Blairspey", from convoy SC-7
*October 20 1940
** Sank the British 5,452 ton "Loch Lomond", sailing with convoy HX-79
** Sank the British 6,218 ton "Sitala", a member of convoy HX-79
** Sank the British 8,230 ton "Caprella", part of convoy HX-79

Fourth patrol

On November 7 1940 "U-100" departed on its fourth active duty patrol. On November 22 "U-100" came into contact with allied convoy SC-11, and began to shadow it with the following results;

*November 23 1940
** Fatally damaged the Norwegian 2,205 ton "Bruse"
** Sank the Norwegian 2,694 ton "Salonica"
** Sank the British 3,136 ton "Leise Mærsk"
** Sank the Dutch 3,628 ton "Ootmarsum"
** Sank the Dutch 3,636 ton "Bussum"
** Sank the British 4,562 ton "Justitia"
** Sank the British 4,740 ton "Bradfyne"

Fifth patrol

On December 2 1940 "U-10"0 left its home port on its fifth active patrol, sinking two vessels from convoy OB-256, then later a third solo vessel. They were;

*December 14 1940:
** Sank the British ship "Euphorbia", 3,380 tons, part of convoy OB-256
** Sank the British ship "Kyleglen", 3,670 tons, part of convoy OB-256
*December 18 1940: Sank the British ship "Napier Star", 10,116 tons

Sixth and final patrol

On March 9 1941 "U-100" departed on its sixth and what would be its final active patrol. "U-100" approached convoy HX-112 from astern in the pre-dawn hours of 17 March 1941 and was detected at a range of 1 kilometer by Type 286 RADAR aboard "HMS Vanoc".Rohwer&Hummelchen(1992)p.54] "U-100" was the first U-boat detected by RADAR during World War II, and was rammed and sunk by "HMS Vanoc" while attempting to submerge.Macintyre, Donald, CAPT RN "Shipborne Radar" "United States Naval Institute Proceedings" September 1967 pp.78-79] 6 of the 53 members of its crew survived, spending the remainder of the war as POWs. [http://ubootwaffe.net/crews/crews.cgi?uquery=1;boatnum=100]

Notes

References

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Further reading

*http://ubootwaffe.net/ops/allboats.html
*http://www.canonesa.co.uk/