German_submarine_U-128_(1941)
German submarine U-128 (1941)
German World War II submarine
German submarine U-128 was a Type IXC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. She was sunk 17 May 1943, by American action.
Air attack on U-128 | |
History | |
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Nazi Germany | |
Name | U-128 |
Ordered | 7 August 1939 |
Builder | DeSchiMAG AG Weser in Bremen |
Yard number | 991 |
Laid down | 10 July 1940 |
Launched | 20 February 1941 |
Commissioned | 12 May 1941 by Ulrich Heyse |
Fate | Sunk, 17 May 1943 |
General characteristics | |
Class and type | Type IXC submarine |
Displacement | |
Length |
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Beam |
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Height | 9.60 m (31 ft 6 in) |
Draught | 4.70 m (15 ft 5 in) |
Installed power |
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Propulsion |
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Speed |
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Range |
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Test depth | 230 m (750 ft) |
Complement | 4 officers, 44 enlisted |
Armament |
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Service record[1] | |
Part of: |
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Identification codes: | M 41 096 |
Commanders: |
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Operations: |
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Victories: |
12 merchant ships sunk (83,639 GRT) |
German Type IXC submarines were slightly larger than the original Type IXBs. U-128 had a displacement of 1,120 tonnes (1,100 long tons) when at the surface and 1,232 tonnes (1,213 long tons) while submerged.[2] The U-boat had a total length of 76.76 m (251 ft 10 in), 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 18.3 knots (33.9 km/h; 21.1 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 63 nautical miles (117 km; 72 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph); when surfaced, she could travel 13,450 nautical miles (24,910 km; 15,480 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph). U-128 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]
Ordered on 7 August 1939 from DeSchiMAG AG Weser in Bremen, U-128 was laid down on 10 July 1940, launched on 20 February 1941 and commissioned by Kapitänleutnant Ulrich Heyse on 12 May 1941.
The boat was a training vessel in the second flotilla until 30 November 1941 based in Wilhelmshaven. She was then based in Lorient.
During her six completed war patrols, U-128 sank 12 ships, for a total of 83,639 tons. On 1 March 1943 command was transferred to Kptlt. Hermann Steinert, who commanded her until her loss a few months later.
On 17 May 1943, while operating in the South Atlantic near Pernambuco, two Mariner flying boats, PBM 74-P5 and PBM-74-P6 of the US Navy Patrol Squadron VP-74, made U-128 surface with depth charges. Two US Navy destroyers (USS Jouett and Moffett) also hit her with 5-inch gunfire. The crew opened the submarine's seacocks as they abandoned ship, scuttling the submarine. The final toll was seven dead but there were 47 survivors.
Date | Ship Name | Nationality | Tonnage (GRT) | Fate[3] | Position | Deaths |
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19 February 1942 | Pan Massachusetts | United States | 8,202 | Sunk | 28°27′N 80°08′W | 20 |
22 February 1942 | Cities Service Empire | United States | 8,103 | Sunk | 28°25′N 80°02′W | 14 |
5 March 1942 | O.A. Knudsen | Norway | 11,007 | Sunk | 26°17′N 75°50′W | 2 |
13 May 1942 | Denpark | United Kingdom | 3,491 | Sunk | 22°28′N 28°10′W | 21 |
8 June 1942 | South Africa | Norway | 9,234 | Sunk | 12°47′N 49°44′W | 6 |
21 June 1942 | West Ira | United States | 5,681 | Sunk | 12°28′N 57°05′W | 1 |
23 June 1942 | Andrea Brøvig | Norway | 10,173 | Sunk | 12°10′N 59°10′W | 0 |
27 June 1942 | Polybius | United States | 7,041 | Sunk | 10°55′N 57°40′W | 10 |
8 November 1942 | Maloja | Norway | 6,400 | Sunk | 11°58′N 27°08′W | 2 |
10 November 1942 | Cerinthus | United Kingdom | 3,878 | Sunk | 12°27′N 27°45′W | 20 |
10 November 1942 | Start Point | United Kingdom | 5,293 | Sunk | 13°12′N 27°27′W | 2 |
5 December 1942 | Teesbank | United Kingdom | 5,136 | Sunk | 03°33′N 29°35′W | 1 |
- Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type IXC boat U-128". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 16 October 2014.
- Gröner 1991, p. 68.
- Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U-128". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 30 November 2009.
- Busch, Rainer; Röll, Hans-Joachim (1999). German U-boat commanders of World War II : a biographical dictionary. Translated by Brooks, Geoffrey. London, Annapolis, Md: Greenhill Books, Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-55750-186-6.
- Busch, Rainer; Röll, Hans-Joachim (1999). Deutsche U-Boot-Verluste von September 1939 bis Mai 1945 [German U-boat losses from September 1939 to May 1945]. Der U-Boot-Krieg (in German). Vol. IV. Hamburg, Berlin, Bonn: Mittler. ISBN 3-8132-0514-2.
- Gröner, Erich; Jung, Dieter; Maass, Martin (1991). U-boats and Mine Warfare Vessels. German Warships 1815–1945. Vol. 2. Translated by Thomas, Keith; Magowan, Rachel. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-593-4.
- Hofmann, Markus. "U 128". Deutsche U-Boote 1935-1945 - u-boot-archiv.de (in German). Retrieved 7 December 2014.
- Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type IXC boat U-128". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 7 December 2014.