German submarine U-116 (1941)

X B

M 43 288

Germania Werft in Kiel

January 31, 1939

615

July 1, 1939

May 3, 1941

July 26, 1941

July 26, 1941 - September 10, 1942 KKpt. Werner Schmidt
September 11, 1942 - October 11, 1942 Kptlt Wilhelm Grimme

2 U- Flotilla Training Boot July 1941 - January 1942
1 U- boat Flotilla training February to April 1942
1st U- boat Flotilla front April to October 1942

4 patrols

1 ship ( 4,248 GRT)

U 116 was a German U- boat of the type XB, a class of submarine mine -layers, which was used in World War II by the German Navy.

History

The contract for the boat was awarded on 31 January 1939, the Germania shipyard in Kiel. The keel was laid on 1 July 1939, which launched on 3 May 1941 to the putting under Lieutenant Commander Werner Schmidt finally took place on 26 July 1941.

The boat belonged after its commissioning on 26 July 1941 to 31 January 1942 as training boat for the 2nd U- Flotilla in Wilhelmshaven and from 1 February 1942 to April 1942 as a training boat for the first U- Flotilla in Kiel. After training, U 116 was in April 1942 until its sinking on 11 October 1942 as front boat to the first U- Flotilla in Brest.

U 116 took during his service four patrols on which it sink a ship with a tonnage of 4,248 GRT, and could cause damage to a ship with 7,093 GRT.

Use statistics

First patrol

The boat was launched on March 2, 1942 at 12.00 clock from Kiel, and ran on March 3, 1942 in Helgoland, where the diesel had to be repaired. It was launched on March 12, 1942 from Helgoland and on the same day in Brunsbüttel. Again, it was launched on March 14, 1942 at 15.00 clock of Brunsbuttel and on 15 March 1943 at 01.30 clock in Kiel. The boat went in for repair in the shipyards of Kiel. It was launched on April 4, 1942 at 12.30 clock from Kiel, and launched on April 5, 1942 at 16.00 clock in Helgoland. On April 6, 1942 at 8:00 clock again from Heligoland, and at 17.00 clock again, found trace of oil. On April 7, 1942 at 8:00 clock back again from Helgoland, and at 12.00 clock there a diagnose engine problems. It was launched on April 11, 1942 at 16.00 clock from Helgoland, and launched on April 14, 1942 at 20.00 clock in Kristiansand. On April 15, 1942 expired at 4.30 clock again from Kristiansand, and on the same day at 23.00 clock moored in Bergen. There, the boat went to the dock, and was then made ready for sea. It was finally on April 25th, 1942 at 20.00 clock from Bergen, and launched on May 5, 1942 at 9.50 clock in Lorient. In this ten- day-long company in the North Atlantic, where the boat was transferred to France, no ships were sunk or damaged.

Second patrol

The boat was launched on May 16, 1942 at 20.05 clock from Lorient, and expired on June 9, 1942 at 7:20 clock back there one. On this lasting 23 days and about 3,970 nm across and 182 nm under water long company in the North Atlantic and Grand Banks of Newfoundland, no ships were sunk or damaged. Six submarines were supplied.

May 26 1942: Supply of U 406 with 36 m³ fuel and two weeks provisions.
May 26 1942: Supply of U 94 with 34 m³ fuel and two weeks provisions.
May 26 1942: Supply of U 590 with 34 m³ fuel and two weeks provisions.
May 27 1942: Supply of U 96 with 45 m³ fuel. On 28 May 1942, four weeks supply of provisions.
May 27 1942: Supply of U 124 with 30 m³ fuel. On May 29, 1942, two weeks supply of provisions.
May 27 1942: Supply of U 569 with 36 m³ fuel. On May 29, 1942, two weeks supply of provisions.

Third patrol

The boat was launched on June 27, 1942 at 20.30 clock from Lorient, and expired on August 23, 1942 at 15.00 clock back there one. On this lasting 67 days and approximately 7000 nm and about 250 nm under water long company in the mid-Atlantic, west of Freetown, a ship with 4,284 GRT five U- boats was sunk and damaged a ship with 7,093 GRT, and supplies.

July 25, 1942: Supply of U 582 with 45 m³ fuel and a week supplies.
July 28, 1942: Supply of U 130 with 22 m³ fuel and a week supplies.
July 28, 1942: Supply of U 507 with 28 m³ fuel and three weeks provisions.
August 2, 1942: Supply of U 572 with 50 m³ fuel and three weeks provisions.
August 4, 1942: Supply of U 752 with 50 m³ fuel and three weeks provisions.

Fourth patrol

The boat ran from September 22, 1942 Lorient, and was sunk on 11 October 1942. In these 19 -day contractor in the North Atlantic Ocean, southeast of Newfoundland, five submarines were supplied.

September 28, 1942: Supply of U 181 with spare parts.
October 2, 1942: Supply of U 258 with 40 m³ fuel and three weeks provisions.
October 2, 1942: Supply of U 618 with 65 m³ fuel and three weeks provisions.
October 2, 1942: Supply of U 356 with 74 m³ fuel. On 3 October 1942 supplied with provisions.
October 3, 1942: Supply of U 221 with 60 m³ fuel. On October 4, 1942, two weeks supply of provisions.

Whereabouts

The boat is lost in the North Atlantic since 6 October 1942. In all probability, it was sunk by aircraft of the RAF at the position 45 ° 9 ' N, 4 ° 54' W45.15 - 4.9 in naval grid square BF 8350 on 11 October 1942 in the Bay of Biscay. On this day, an aircraft of the RAF reported the attack on a submarine. Since only U 116 could stand in this area, it must be assumed that the submarine was sunk in this attack. The boats U 404 and U 460, who were also at this time in the field BF, reported no aircraft attacks. It was a total loss, with 56 dead.

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