German submarine U-139 (1940)

For other ships of the same name, see German submarine U-139.
Career (Nazi Germany)
Name: U-139
Ordered: 25 September 1939
Builder: Deutsche Werke, Kiel
Laid down: 20 November 1939
Launched: 28 July 1940
Commissioned: 24 July 1940
Fate: Scuttled on 2 May 1945 at Wilhelmshaven
General characteristics [1]
Class and type:IID
Type:Coastal submarine
Displacement:314 t (309 long tons) surfaced
364 t (358 long tons) submerged
Length:43.97 m (144 ft 3 in)
Beam:4.92 m (16 ft 2 in)
Draft:3.93 m (12 ft 11 in)
Propulsion:2 × propeller shafts
2 × MWM four-stroke diesel engines, 700 shp (520 kW)
2 × Siemens-Schuckert electric motor, 410 shp (310 kW)
Speed:12.7 knots (23.5 km/h; 14.6 mph) surfaced
7.4 knots (13.7 km/h; 8.5 mph) submerged
Range:3,450 nautical miles (6,390 km; 3,970 mi) at 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph) surfaced
56 nmi (104 km; 64 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph) submerged
Test depth:80 m (260 ft)
Complement:3 officers, 22 men
Armament:3 × 53.3 cm (21 in) torpedo tubes
5 × torpedoes
1 × 2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 anti-aircraft gun
Service record[2][3]
Part of:
Commanders:
  • Oblt.z.S. Robert Bartels (24 July20 December 1940)
  • Oblt.z.S. Horst Elfe (21 December 19405 October 1941)
  • Oblt.z.S. Heinz-Konrad Fenn (6 October 194117 May 1942)
  • Oblt.z.S. Albert Lauzemis (18 May30 June 1942)
  • Kptlt. Helmut Sommer (1 July30 September 1942)
  • Oblt.z.S. Richard Böttcher (1 October 19426 September 1943)
  • Oblt.z.S. Hubertus Korndörfer (7 September27 December 1943)
  • Oblt.z.S. Günther Lube (28 December 19433 July 1944)
  • Oblt.z.S. Walter Kimmelmann (4 July 19442 May 1945)
Operations:
  • 1st patrol: 18 July18 August 1941
  • 2nd patrol: 2831 August 1941

German submarine U-139 was a Type IID U-boat of the German Navy during World War II. Her keel was laid down on 20 November 1939 by Deutsche Werke in Kiel as yard number 268. She was launched on 28 July 1940 and commissioned on 24 July 1940 with Kapitänleutnant Robert Bartels in command.

U-137 began her service life with the 1st U-boat Flotilla. She was then assigned to the 21st flotilla and subsequently to the 22nd flotilla where she conducted two patrols, but did not sink or damage any ships. She spent the rest of the war as a training vessel.

She was scuttled in May 1945.

Operational career

She made short voyages from Oxhöft (a suburb of Gdynia in modern-day Poland), to Windau (Ventspils in Latvia) and Stormelö between 16 July and 18 August 1941.

1st patrol

The boat's first official patrol commenced with her departure from Windau on 17 July 1941. She arrived in Stormelö without incident on 18 August.

2nd patrol

Her second patrol was also abortive, departing Stormelö on 28 August 1941 and arriving in Gotenhafen (Gydnia) on 31 August.

Loss

U-139 was scuttled in the Raederschleuse (lock) in Wilhelmshaven on 2 May 1945. The wreck was broken up on an unknown date.

References

  1. Gröner 1985, p. 67.
  2. Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type IID boat U-139". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 12 July 2012.
  3. Helgason, Guðmundur. "War Patrols by German U-boat U-139". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 12 July 2012.

Bibliography

External links