German submarine U-119 (1942)

For other ships of the same name, see German submarine U-119.
Career (Nazi Germany)
Name: U-119
Ordered: 7 August 1939
Builder: Germaniawerft, Kiel
Yard number: 624
Laid down: 15 May 1940
Launched: 6 January 1942[1]
Commissioned: 2 April 1942[1]
Fate: Sunk on 24 June 1943[1] by a British warship
General characteristics [2]
Class and type:Submarine minelayer
Displacement:1,763 tonnes (1,735 long tons) surfaced
2,177 tonnes (2,143 long tons) submerged
Length:89.80 m (294 ft 7 in) o/a
70.90 m (232 ft 7 in) pressure hull
Beam:9.20 m (30 ft 2 in) o/a
4.75 m (15 ft 7 in) pressure hull
Height:10.20 m (33 ft 6 in)
Draught:4.71 m (15 ft 5 in)
Propulsion:2 × supercharged GW F 46 a 9 pu 9 cylinder, four-stroke diesel engines, 4,800 bhp (3,600 kW)
2 × AEG GU 720/8-287 electric motors, 1,100 hp (820 kW)
Speed:16.4–17 knots (30.4–31.5 km/h; 18.9–19.6 mph) surfaced
7 knots (13 km/h; 8.1 mph) submerged
Range:18,450 nautical miles (34,170 km; 21,230 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) surfaced
93 nmi (172 km; 107 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph) submerged
Test depth:Calculated crush depth: 220 m (720 ft)
Complement:5 officers, 47 enlisted
Armament:
Service record[3][4]
Part of: 2nd U-boat Flotilla
(26 July 1941–31 January 1942)
1st U-boat Flotilla
(1 February 1942–6 October 1942)
Commanders: Kptlt. Alois Zech
(2 April 1943–16 April 1942)
Kptlt. Horst-Tessen von Kameke
(1 February 1943–24 June 1943)
Operations: 1st patrol:
6 February–1 April 1943
2nd patrol:
(25 May–24 June 1943)
Victories: Two commercial ships sunk (2,937 GRT)
One commercial ship damaged - 7,176 GRT

German submarine U-119 was a Type XB minelaying U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. She was laid down at the Germaniawerft in Kiel on 15 May 1940 as yard number 624. She was launched on 6 January 1942 and commissioned under Kapitänleutnant Alois Zech on 2 April 1942, he was replaced by Kptlt. Horst-Tessen von Kameke on 1 February 1943, who remained in command until her loss.

U-119 '​s service career began with the 4th U-boat Flotilla on 2 April 1942 where she underwent training. She was declared operational on 1 February 1943 when she moved over to the 12th flotilla.

Operational career

The boat made a short run from Kiel to Frederikshaven in Denmark and back between 4 August 1942 and the 10th.

1st patrol

Her first patrol commenced with her departure from Kiel on 6 February 1943. She crossed the North Sea and skirted the northern coast of Iceland, arriving at Bordeaux in occupied France on 1 April.

2nd patrol and loss

U-119 was unsuccessfully attacked on 29 April 1943 by a Short Sunderland flying boat of 461 Squadron RAAF (Royal Australian Air Force). The boat sustained no damage but one man was killed.

She sank Halma on 3 June east of Halifax, Nova Scotia and damaged John A. Poor on 27 July. Both ships were attacked with mines laid by U-119 on 1 June.

U-119 was sunk by a combination of depth charges, gunfire and ramming from HMS Starling on 24 June 1943.[1]

Summary of raiding history

Date Name Nationality Tonnage
(GRT)
Fate[5]
3 June 1943 Halma  Panama 2,937 Sunk (Mine)
28 July 1943 John A. Poor  USA 7,176 Damaged (Mine)

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Kemp 1999, p. 126.
  2. Gröner, p. 116.
  3. Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type XB boat U-116". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 8 July 2012.
  4. Helgason, Guðmundur. "War Patrols by German U-boat U-119". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 8 July 2012.
  5. Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U-119". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net.

Bibliography

External links

Coordinates: 44°59′N 12°24′W / 44.983°N 12.400°W