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German submarine U-107 (1940)

January 16, 2022
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German submarine U-107 was a Type IXBU-boat of Nazi Germany‘s Kriegsmarine that operated during World War II. Between January 1941 and August 1944, she sailed on 13 active patrols at a time when a U-boat averaged a lifespan of seven to ten patrols. During that time, U-107 sank 39 Allied ships and damaged four. The U-boat was launched on 2 July 1940, based at the U-boat port of Lorient, with a crew of 53 under the initial command of Günther Hessler. She was later commanded, in order, by Harald Gelhaus, Valker Simmermacher and her final commander, Karl Heinz Fritz.

For other ships with the same name, see German submarine U-107.

U-107 at Lorient in November 1941
History
Nazi Germany
Name U-107
Ordered 24 May 1938
Builder DeSchiMAGAG Weser, Bremen
Yard number 970
Laid down 6 December 1939
Launched 2 July 1940
Commissioned 8 October 1940
Homeport Lorient, France
Fate Sunk, 18 August 1944[1]
General characteristics
Class and type Type IXBU-boat
Displacement
  • 1,051 t (1,034 long tons) surfaced
  • 1,178 t (1,159 long tons) submerged
Length
Beam
  • 6.76 m (22 ft 2 in) o/a
  • 4.40 m (14 ft 5 in) pressure hull
Draught 4.70 m (15 ft 5 in)
Installed power
  • 4,400 PS (3,200 kW; 4,300 bhp) (diesels)
  • 1,000 PS (740 kW; 990 shp) (electric)
Propulsion
Range
  • 12,000 nmi (22,000 km; 14,000 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) surfaced
  • 64 nmi (119 km; 74 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph) submerged
Test depth 230 m (750 ft)
Complement 48 to 56 officers and ratings
Armament
Service record
Part of:
Commanders:
Operations:
  • 13 patrols:
  • 1st patrol:
  • 24 January – 1 March 1941
  • 2nd patrol:
  • 29 March – 2 July 1941
  • 3rd patrol:
  • 6 September – 11 November 1941
  • 4th patrol:
  • 10 – 26 December 1941
  • 5th patrol:
  • 7 January – 7 March 1942
  • 6th patrol:
  • 21 April – 11 July 1942
  • 7th patrol:
  • 15 August – 18 November 1942
  • 8th patrol:
  • 30 January – 25 March 1943
  • 9th patrol:
  • 24 April – 26 May 1943
  • 10th patrol:
  • a. 28 July – 3 October 1943
  • b. 10 – 12 November 1943
  • 11th patrol:
  • a. 16 November 1943 – 8 January 1944
  • b. 30 April – 2 May 1944
  • 12th patrol:
  • 10 May – 23 July 1944
  • 13th patrol:
  • 16 – 18 Aug 1944
Victories:
  • 37 merchant ships sunk
    (207,375 GRT)
  • 2 auxiliary warships sunk
    (10,411 GRT)
  • 3 merchant ships damaged
    (17,392 GRT)
  • 1 auxiliary warship damaged
    (8,246 GRT)

. . . German submarine U-107 (1940) . . .

German Type IXB submarines were slightly larger than the original German Type IX submarines, later designated IXA. U-107 had a displacement of 1,051 tonnes (1,034 long tons) when at the surface and 1,178 tonnes (1,159 long tons) while submerged.[2] The U-boat had a total length of 76.50 m (251 ft), a pressure hull length of 58.75 m (192 ft 9 in), a beam of 6.76 m (22 ft 2 in), a height of 9.60 m (31 ft 6 in), and a draught of 4.70 m (15 ft 5 in). The submarine was powered by two MAN M 9 V 40/46 supercharged four-stroke, nine-cylinder diesel engines producing a total of 4,400 metric horsepower (3,240 kW; 4,340 shp) for use while surfaced, two Siemens-Schuckert 2 GU 345/34 double-acting electric motors producing a total of 1,000 metric horsepower (740 kW; 990 shp) for use while submerged. She had two shafts and two 1.92 m (6 ft)propellers. The boat was capable of operating at depths of up to 230 metres (750 ft).[2]

The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 18.2 knots (33.7 km/h; 20.9 mph) and a maximum submerged speed of 7.3 knots (13.5 km/h; 8.4 mph).[2] When submerged, the boat could operate for 64 nautical miles (119 km; 74 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph); when surfaced, she could travel 12,000 nautical miles (22,000 km; 14,000 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph). U-107 was fitted with six 53.3 cm (21 in)torpedo tubes (four fitted at the bow and two at the stern), 22 torpedoes, one 10.5 cm (4.13 in) SK C/32 naval gun, 180 rounds, and a 3.7 cm (1.5 in) SK C/30 as well as a 2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 anti-aircraft gun. The boat had a complement of forty-eight.[2]

. . . German submarine U-107 (1940) . . .

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. . . German submarine U-107 (1940) . . .