Unterseeboot 102 (1940)
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| Unterseeboot 102 | |
|---|---|
| Country | Germany |
| Branch | Kriegsmarine |
| Type | Type VIIB |
| Shipyard | Germaniawerft, Kiel |
| Laid down | 22 May 1939 |
| Commissioned | 27 April 1940 |
| Career | |
| Patrols | 1 |
| Flotillas | 7. Unterseebootflottille |
| Commanders | Harro von Klot-Heydenfeldt |
| Successes | |
| 2 ships sunk; 5,430 GRT. | |
| Fate | |
| Sunk south-west of Ireland on 1 July 1940. | |
Unterseeboot 102, or U-102, was a Type VIIB German U-boat employed during World War II. Her only commander, Kptlt. Harro von Klot-Heydenfeldt, commanded the ship from her commissioning on 27 April 1940 to her sinking on 1 July 1940. In her career, which consisted of only a single patrol, serving under 7. Unterseebootflottille from 27 April 1940 to 1 June 1940 for crew training and operationally from 1 June 1940 to her loss on 1 July 1940. U-102 sank two Allied ships, claiming a GRT of 5,430.
[edit] Destruction
On 1 July 1940, only hours before Unterseeboot 102 was sunk by the British destroyer HMS Vansittart, U-102 was responsible for the sinking of one her two victims, the British merchant ship, the SS Clearton, from convoy SL.36. Grevously damaged, the Clearton sunk beneath the waves, but with many survivors in the water. After the battle between U-102 and the HMS Vansittart was over and U-102 sunk, the British destroyer rescued those who had survived the sinking of SS Clearton - twenty-six were rescued (See map). U-102 was originally believed to have been sunk in the Bay of Biscay due to unknown causes on or after 30 June 1940.
