German submarine U-124 (1940)

Unterseeboot 124 or U-124 (Type IXB) was one of the most successful Nazi German U-Boats to serve in World War II. It was first launched on March 9th, 1940, with a crew of 54, under the command of Georg-Wilhelm Schulz up until September, 1941, when Johann Mohr took over command. U-124 left Wilhelmshaven on its first active patrol on August 19th, 1940. Over the next two years and eight months it would compile one of the most successful kill records for enemy sea vessels destroyed of the entire war, sinking 48 allied ships totalling 224,953 tonnes, severely damaging another four ships totalling 30,067 tonnes, and shooting down one aircraft. [http://ubootwaffe.net/ops/boat.cgi?boat=124]

Combat record

First patrol

*On 25th August, 1940: Damaged the British 3,900 ton "Stakesby", sailing with convoy HX-65A
*On 25th August, 1940: Sank the British 5,169 ton "Harpalyce", a member of convoy HX-65A
*On 25th August, 1940: Sank the British 5,394 ton "Fircrest", part of convoy HX-65A

econd patrol

*On 16th October, 1940: Sank the Canadian 1,813 ton "Trevisa", from convoy SC-7
*On 20th October, 1940: Sank the British 5,389 ton "Sulaco", sailing with convoy OB-229
*On 20th October, 1940: Sank the Norwegian 5,810 ton "Cubano", a member of convoy OB-229
*On 31st October, 1940: Sank the British 1,437 ton "Rutland", part of convoy HX-82
*On 1st November, 1940: Sank the British 5,612 ton "Empire Bison", from convoy HX-82

Third patrol

*On 6th January, 1941: Sank the British 5,965 ton "Empire Thunder", sailing with convoy OB-269
** 30 of 39 crew rescued by HMS Kingston Onyx under Capt J.B.Wright

Fourth patrol, March and April, 1941, U-124's most successful patrol

*On 8th March, 1941: Sank the British 4,897 ton "Hindpool", a member of convoy SL-67
*On 8th March, 1941: Sank the British 5,304 ton "Lahore", part of convoy SL-67
*On 8th March, 1941: Sank the British 5,984 ton "Tielbank", from convoy SL-67
*On 8th March, 1941: Sank the British 7,974 ton "Nardana", sailing with convoy SL-67
*On 30th March, 1941: Sank the British 3,767 ton "Umona"
*On 4th April, 1941: Sank the British 6,507 ton "Marlene"
*On 7th April, 1941: Sank the Canadian 1,746 ton "Portadoc"
*On 8th April, 1941: Sank the British 2,697 ton "Tweed"
*On 11th April, 1941: Sank the Greek 5,285 ton "Aegeon"
*On 12th April, 1941: Sank the British 4,313 ton "St Helena"
*On 13th April, 1941: Sank the British 4,823 ton "Corinthic"

Fifth patrol

*On the 10th July, 1941, U-124 left Lorient under the command of Georg-Wilhelm Schulz arriving back at Lorient six and a half weeks later on 25th August, 1941, with no results

ixth patrol

*On 20th September, 1941: Sank the British 1,303 ton "Baltallinn", a member of convoy OG-74
*On 20th September, 1941: Sank the British 2,922 ton "Empire Moat", part of convoy OG-74
*On 25th September, 1941: Sank the British 2,922 ton "Empire Stream", from convoy HG-73
*On 26th September, 1941: Sank the British 1,348 ton "Lapwing", sailing with convoy HG-73
*On 26th September, 1941: Sank the British 1,354 ton "Petrel", a member of convoy HG-73
*On 26th September, 1941: Sank the British 1,810 ton "Cervantes", part of convoy HG-73

eventh patrol

*On 24th November, 1941: Sank the British 4,850 ton light cruiser HMS "Dunedin"
*On 3rd December, 1941: Sank the American 6,275 ton "Sagadahoc"

Eighth patrol

*On 14th March, 1942: Sank the British 7,209 ton "British Resource"
*On 17th March, 1942: Sank the 1,698 ton "Ceiba".
*On 17th March, 1942: Damaged the American 6,878 ton "Acme"
*On 18th March, 1942: Sank the Greek 5,106 ton "Kassandra Louloudi"
*On 18th March, 1942: Sank the American 9,647 ton "EM Clark"
*On 19th March, 1942: Sank the American 5,939 ton "Papoose"
*On 19th March, 1942: Sank the American 7,076 ton "WE Hutton"
*On 21st March, 1942: Damaged the American 7,934 ton "Esso Nashville"
*On 21st March, 1942: Damaged the American 11,355 ton "Atlantic Sun"
*On 23rd March, 1942: Sank the American 5,373 ton "Naeco"

Ninth patrol

*On 12th May 1942: Sank the Greek 4,371 ton "Mount Parnes", from convoy ONS-92
*On 12th May 1942: Sank the British 4,959 ton "Llanover", sailing with convoy ONS-92
*On 12th May 1942: Sank the British 5,389 ton "Cristales", a member of convoy ONS-92
*On 12th May 1942: Sank the British 7,065 ton "Empire Dell", part of convoy ONS-92
*On 9th June 1942: Sank the French 925 ton "Mimose", from convoy ONS-100
*On 12th June 1942: Sank the British 4,093 ton "Dartford", sailing with convoy ONS-100
*On 18th June 1942: Sank the American 5,627 ton "Seattle Spirit", a member of convoy ONS-102

Tenth patrol

*On 28th December, 1942: Sank the British 4,692 ton "Treworlas"
*U-124 came under attack from aircraft of the United States Navy, VP-53 squadron on January 1, 1943. U-124 was not severely damaged, and was able to destroy the aircraft with the anti-aircraft deck guns.
*On 9th January, 1943: Sank the American 4,554 ton "Minotaur", part of convoy TB-1
*On 9th January, 1943: Sank the American 5,101 ton "Collingsworth", from convoy TB-1
*On 9th January, 1943: Sank the American 6,194 ton "Birmingham City", sailing with convoy TB-1
*On 9th January, 1943: Sank the American 7,718 ton "Broad Arrow", a member of convoy TB-1

Eleventh and final patrol

*On 2nd April, 1943: Sank the British 4,357 ton "Katha", part of convoy OS-45
*On 2nd April, 1943: Sank the British 5,190 ton "Gogra", from convoy OS-45
*During the attack of allied ships in convoy OS-45, defending vessels attacked U-124 with depth charges, sinking it that same day, April 2nd 1943, with a loss of all hands

External links

*http://ubootwaffe.net/ops/boat.cgi?boat=124
*http://uboat.net/boats/u124.htm