U-37, (an identical U-boat to U-42) at Lorient in 1940. |
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| Career (Nazi Germany) | |
|---|---|
| Name: | U-42 |
| Ordered: | 21 November 1936[1] |
| Builder: | AG Weser, Bremen |
| Yard number: | 947[1] |
| Laid down: | 21 December 1937[1] |
| Launched: | 16 February 1939[1] |
| Commissioned: | 15 July 1939[1] |
| Fate: | Sunk on 13 October 1939 southwest of Ireland. 26 dead and 20 survivors.[2] |
| General characteristics [3][4] | |
| Type: | Type IXA submarine |
| Displacement: | 1,032 t (1,016 long tons) surfaced 1,152 t (1,134 long tons) submerged |
| Length: | 76.6 m (251 ft 4 in) o/a 58.7 m (192 ft 7 in) pressure hull |
| Beam: | 6.5 m (21 ft 4 in) o/a 4.4 m (14 ft 5 in) pressure hull |
| Height: | 9.4 m (30 ft 10 in) |
| Draft: | 4.7 m (15 ft 5 in) |
| Propulsion: | 2 × MAN M9V40/46 supercharged 9-cylinder diesel engines, 4,400 hp (3,281 kW) 2 × SSW GU345/34 double-acting electric motors, 1,000 hp (746 kW) |
| Speed: | 18.2 knots (33.7 km/h) surfaced 7.7 knots (14.3 km/h) submerged |
| Range: | 19,425 nmi (35,975 km) at 10 knots (19 km/h) surfaced 144 nmi (267 km) at 4 kn (7.4 km/h) submerged |
| Test depth: | 230 m (750 ft) |
| Complement: | 46 |
| Armament: | • 6 × torpedo tubes (4 bow, 2 stern) • 22 × 533 mm (21 in) torpedoes • 1 × Utof 105 mm/45 deck gun (110 rounds) • 2 cm FlaK 30 AA guns |
| Service record | |
| Part of: | Kriegsmarine: 6th U-boat Flotilla |
| Identification codes: | M 05 024 |
| Commanders: | Rolf Dau |
| Operations: | 1 |
| Victories: | 1 ship damaged for a total of 4,803 gross register tons (GRT) |
German submarine U-42 was a Type IXA U-boat of the German Kriegsmarine that operated during World War II.[2]
U-42 was ordered by the Kriegsmarine on 21 November 1936. Her keel was laid down on 21 December 1937 by AG Weser of Bremen as Werk 947. She was launched on 16 February 1939 and commissioned on 15 July 1939 with Kapitänleutnant Rolf Dau in command of the vessel.[2]
U-42 had a very short career, being sunk while still on her first war patrol. During her service with the German Kriegsmarine, U-42 conducted only one training patrol and one war patrol, during which she damaged one enemy vessel for a total of 4,803 gross register tons (GRT). Both of U-42's patrols took part as a member of the 6th U-boat Flotilla. On 13 October 1939, U-42 was sunk southwest of Ireland. Out of a crew of 46, 20 survived and 26 went down with the submarine.[2]
Contents |
U-42 was ordered by the German Kriegsmarine on 21 November 1936 (as part of Plan Z. Her keel was laid down on 21 December 1937 by AG Weser, Bremen as Werk 947. U-42 was launched on 16 February 1939 and commissioned on 15 July of that same year under the command of Kapitänleutnant Rolf Dau.[2]
Like all other Type IXA U-boats, U-42 had two MAN M9V40/46 supercharged 9-cylinder diesel engines that put out 4,400 hp (3,281 kW), as well as two SSW GU345/34 double-acting electric motors that produced 1,000 hp (746 kW) and allowed her to travel at 18.2 knots (33.7 km/h) while surfaced and 7.7 knots (14.3 km/h) submerged. She had a range of 19,425 nmi (35,975 km) at 10 knots (19 km/h) while on the surface and 144 nmi (267 km) at 4 kn (7.4 km/h) while submerged. U-42 had six torpedo tubes (four in the bow and two in the stern). She also carried a total of twenty-two 533 mm (21 in) torpedoes and had a Utof 105 mm/45 deck gun that held 110 rounds. She was equipped with 2 cm FlaK 30 anti-aircraft guns. U-42 had a crew of 46 men. However, she could hold up to 56 crew members at any given time. After being commissioned and deployed, U-42 was stationed in the German port city of Wilhelmshaven.[3][4] This city was to be her home port for the rest of her fairly short career.[2]
Following training exercises with the 6th Flotilla from 16 July 1939 to 1 October 1939, U-42 was moved into active service with the 6th Flotilla, ready for action at the front. The day after her training exercises ended, U-42 left the port of Wilhelmshaven on 2 October 1939. On a 12 day journey, U-42 traveled into the North Sea and circumnavigated the British Isles. She then entered into the North Atlantic in search of any Allied convoys.[5] During this operation, one enemy ship was damaged, the 4,803 ton British steam freighter SS Stonepool, which had become separated from convoy OB 17 from Liverpool, England to North America. This was to be her first and only attack on any Allied merchant vessels in her entire career.[6]
While still on her first war patrol, U-42 was sunk on 13 October 1939 by depth charges[2] from the British warships HMS Imogen and HMS Ilex. This attack took place off of the southwest coast of neutral Ireland.[7] Of the 46 man crew, 26 were killed in the depth charging, with 20 crew members surviving the attack and being taken prisoners of war by the British for the remainder of the war. The youngest crew member aboard U-42 was Rudolf Nuggel who was born on 22 December 1919 and was among the 26 dead. He was 19 years old with his 20th birthday just over two months away. The captain, Rolf Dau, was the oldest known crew member of U-42. He was born on 1 April 1906 and was 33 years old at the time of U-42's sinking.[1] He managed to survive and was captured by the British warships.[5] U-42 was the fifth U-boat to be lost in World War II.[8]
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