German submarine U-107 was a Type IXB U-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 Günter Hessler. She was later commanded, in order, by Harald Gelhaus, Valker Simmermacher and her final commander, Karl Heinz Fritz.

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U-107 at Lorient in November 1941
History
Nazi Germany
Name	U-107
Ordered	24 May 1938
Builder	DeSchiMAG AG 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 IXB U-boat
Displacement	1,051 t (1,034 long tons) surfaced 1,178 t (1,159 long tons) submerged
Length	76.50 m (251 ft) o/a 58.75 m (192 ft 9 in) pressure hull
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	2 shafts 2 × diesel engines 2 × electric motors
Speed	18.2 knots (33.7 km/h; 20.9 mph) surfaced 7.3 knots (13.5 km/h; 8.4 mph) submerged
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	6 × torpedo tubes (4 bow, 2 stern) 22 × 53.3 cm (21 in) torpedoes 1 × 10.5 cm SK C/32 naval gun (180 rounds) 1 × 3.7 cm (1.5 in) SK C/30 AA gun 1 × twin 2 cm FlaK 30 AA guns
Service record
Part of:	2nd U-boat Flotilla 8 October 1940 – 18 August 1944
Identification codes:	M 39 808
Commanders:	K.Kapt. Günter Hessler 8 October 1940 – 1 December 1941 Kptlt. Harald Gelhaus 1 December 1941 – 6 June 1943 Kptlt. Volker Simmermacher July 1943 – August 1944 Lt.z.S. Karl-Heinz Fritz August – 18 August 1944
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)

Close

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]