Unterseeboot 31 (1936)

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Career (Nazi Germany)

Name:	U-31
Ordered:	April 1, 1935
Builder:	AG Weser, Bremen, yard 912
Laid down:	March 1, 1936
Launched:	September 25, 1936
Commissioned:	December 28, 1936
Fate:	Sunk November 2, 1940 north-west of Ireland. 2 dead and 44 survivors.
Class and type:	Type VII U-boat

Service record
Part of	Kriegsmarine: 2. Unterseebootsflottille
Identification codes	M 28 961
Commanders	Rolf Dau Johannes Habekost Wilfried Prellberg
Operations	7
Victories	11 ships sunk for a total of 27.751 gross register tons (GRT) 2 auxiliary warships sunk for a total of 160 GRT 1 warship damaged for a total of 33.950 tons

Unterseeboot 31 (also known as U-31) was a German Type VIIA submarine used in World War II. She was laid down on March 1, 1936 and commissioned December 28, 1936.

During her career U-31 was involved in 7 patrols and attacked the first convoy of World War II, OB-4 on September 16, 1939 where she sank the British steamer SS Aviemore.

In U-31's entire career she sunk 11 ships, totalling 27,751 GRT, and one auxiliary warship totalling 160 GRT. U-30 also damaged the British warship HMS Nelson totalling 33.950 tons.

[edit] Fate

She was sunk on March 11, 1940 in Jadebusen by British Bristol Blenheim aircraft of the RAF Bomber Command. All 58 men on board died. She was raised, repaired and returned to service, but was sunk again on November 2, 1940 north-west of Ireland by depth charges from the British destroyer HMS Antelope. Two men were killed and 44 survived.