German submarine U-107 (1940)

Unterseeboot 107 or U-107 was one of the most successful Nazi German U-Boats to serve during World War II. Between January, 1941, and August, 1944, U-107 sailed on 16 active patrols at a time when a U-Boat would average a lifespan of 7 to 10 patrols. During that time, U-107 sank 39 allied ships, in addition to seriously damaging another 4 ships. It was first launched on July 2nd, 1940, based out of the U-Boat port of Lorient, with a crew of 53 under the initial command of Günther Hessler. It was later commanded, in order, by Harald Gelhaus, Valker Simmermacher, and its final commander, Karl Heinz Fritz. [http://ubootwaffe.net/ops/boat.cgi?boat=107]

Combat actions

First patrol

*On 3rd February, 1941: Sank the British 4,683 ton "Empire Citizen", sailing with convoy OB-279
*On 3rd February, 1941: Sank the British 5,051 ton "Crispin", a member of convoy OB-279
*On 6th February, 1941: Sank the Canadian 3,388 ton "Maplecourt", part of convoy SC-20
*On 23rd February, 1941: Sank the British 5,360 ton "Manistee", from convoy OB-288

econd patrol, its deadliest and most successful period

*On 8th April 1941: Sank the British 3,316 ton "Helena Margareta", sailing with convoy OG-57
*On 8th April, 1941: Sank the British 3,829 ton "Eskdene", a member of convoy OG-57
*On 9th April, 1941: Sank the British 4,671 ton "Harpathian", part of convoy OG-57
*On 9th April, 1941: Sank the British 8,516 ton "Duffield", from convoy OG-57
*On 21st April, 1941: Sank the British 10,305 ton "Calchas"
*On 30th April, 1941: Sank the British 7,417 ton "Lassell", sailing with convoy OB-309
*On 17th May, 1941: Sank the Dutch 8,029 ton "Marisa"
*On 18th May, 1941: Sank the British 8,286 ton "Piako"
*On 27th May, 1941: Sank the British 5,108 ton "Colonial", a member of convoy OB-318
*On 28th May, 1941: Sank the Greek 3,748 ton "Papalemos"
*On 31st May, 1941: Sank the British 5,664 ton "Sire"
*On 1st June, 1941: Sank the British 5,013 ton "Alfred Jones", part of convoy OB-320
*On 8th June, 1941: Sank the British 7,816 ton "Adda", from convoy OB-323
*On 13th June, 1941: Sank the Greek 4,981 ton "Pandias"

Third patrol

*On 24th September, 1941: Sank the British 3,790 ton "Dixcove", sailing with convoy SL-87
*On 24th September, 1941: Sank the British 4,876 ton "Lafian", a member of convoy SL-87
*On 24th September, 1941: Sank the British 4,975 ton "John Holt", part of convoy SL-87

Fifth patrol

*On 31st January, 1942: Sank the British 7,419 ton "San Arcadio"
*On 6th February, 1942: Sank the American 3,431 ton "Major Wheeler"
*On 21st February, 1942: Damaged the Norwegian 10,068 ton "Egda", from convoy ON-65

ixth patrol

*On 29th May, 1942: Sank the British 2,599 ton "Western Head"
*On 1st June, 1942: Sank the Panamanian 4,536 ton "Bushranger"
*On 7th June, 1942: Sank the American 3,910 ton "Castilla"
*On 8th June, 1942: Sank the American 3,249 ton "Suwied"
*On 10th June, 1942: Sank the American 2,606 ton "Merrimack"
*On 19th June, 1942: Sank the American 35 ton "Cheerio"
*On 26th June, 1942: Sank the Dutch 10,083 ton "Jagersfontein"

Eighth patrol

*On 3rd September, 1942: Sank the British 4,172 ton "Hollinside"
*On 3rd September, 1942: Sank the British 4,393 ton "Penrose"
*On 7th October, 1942: Sank the British 14,943 ton "Andalucia Star"

Ninth patrol

*On 22nd February, 1943: Sank the British 7,801 ton "Roxborough Castle"
*On the 4th of March, 1943, came under attack from an unidentified allied aircraft. U-107 was moderately damaged by the attack. At 1435 HRS on the 22nd of March, 1943, came under attack from another unidentified allied aircraft, but was not damaged.
*On 13th March, 1943: Sank the British 2,352 ton "Oporto", sailing with convoy OS-44
*On 13th March, 1943: Sank the British 4,592 ton "Marcella", a member of convoy OS-44
*On 13th March, 1943: Sank the Dutch 4,990 ton "Sembilangan", part of convoy OS-44
*On 13th March, 1943: Sank the British 5,442 ton "Clan Alpine", from convoy OS-44

Tenth patrol

*On 1st May, 1943: Sank the British 12,411 ton "Port Victor"

Eleventh patrol

*On 28th August, 1943: Damaged the American 7,176 ton "Albert Gallatin"
*On 11th September, 1943: Damaged the American 8,246 ton "USS Rapidan", sailing with convoy NG-385

Fifteenth patrol

*After three patrols with no result, U-107 damaged the American 148 ton "Lark" on June 13th, 1944.

ixteenth and final patrol

*On August 16th, 1944, U-107 departed on active patrol. It was intercepted by allied forces, and was sunk by depth charge by RAF Squadron 201 on August 18th, 1944. All hands were lost.

Further reading

* [http://www.uboat.net/boats/u107.htm uboat.net webpage for "U-107"]
* [http://ubootwaffe.net/ops/boat.cgi?boat=107 ubootwaffe.net webpage for "U-107"]