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German submarine U-119 (1942)

Coordinates: 44°59′N 12°24′W / 44.983°N 12.400°W / 44.983; -12.400
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For other ships with the same name, see German submarine U-119.
History
Nazi Germany
NameU-119
Ordered7 August 1939
BuilderGermaniawerft, Kiel
Yard number624
Laid down15 May 1940
Launched6 January 1942[1]
Commissioned2 April 1942[1]
FateSunk on 24 June 1943[1] by a British warship
General characteristics [2]
Class and typeType X submarine minelayer
Displacement
  • 1,763 tonnes (1,735 long tons) surfaced
  • 2,177 tonnes (2,143 long tons) submerged
Length
Beam
  • 9.20 m (30 ft 2 in) o/a
  • 4.75 m (15 ft 7 in) pressure hull
Height10.20 m (33 ft 6 in)
Draught4.71 m (15 ft 5 in)
Propulsion
Speed
  • 16.4–17 knots (30.4–31.5 km/h; 18.9–19.6 mph) surfaced
  • 7 knots (13 km/h; 8.1 mph) submerged
Range
  • 18,450 nautical miles (34,170 km; 21,230 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) surfaced
  • 93 nmi (172 km; 107 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph) submerged
Test depthCalculated crush depth: 220 m (720 ft)
Complement5 officers, 47 enlisted
Armament
Service record[3][4]
Part of:
Identification codes: M 43 666
Commanders:
  • Kptlt. Alois Zech
  • 2 April 1942 – 16 April 1943
  • Kptlt. Horst-Tessen von Kameke
  • 15 April – 24 June 1943
Operations:
  • 2 patrols:
  • 1st patrol:
  • 6 February – 1 April 1943
  • 2nd patrol:
  • 25 April – 24 June 1943
Victories:
  • 1 merchant ship sunk
    (2,937 GRT)
  • 1 merchant ship damaged
    (7,176 GRT)

German submarine U-119 was a Type XB minelaying U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. She was laid down at the Germaniawerft in Kiel on 15 May 1940 as yard number 624. She was launched on 6 January 1942 and commissioned under Kapitänleutnant Alois Zech on 2 April 1942, he was replaced by Kptlt. Horst-Tessen von Kameke on 15 April 1943, who remained in command until her loss.

U-119's service career began with the 4th U-boat Flotilla on 2 April 1942 where she underwent training. She was declared operational on 1 February 1943 when she moved over to the 12th flotilla.

Operational career

[edit]

The boat made a short run from Kiel to Frederikshaven in Denmark and back from 4 to 10 August 1942.

First patrol

[edit]

Her first patrol commenced with her departure from Kiel on 6 February 1943. She crossed the North Sea and skirted the northern coast of Iceland, arriving at Bordeaux in occupied France on 1 April.

Second patrol and loss

[edit]

U-119 was unsuccessfully attacked on 29 April 1943 by a Short Sunderland flying boat of 461 Squadron RAAF (Royal Australian Air Force). The boat sustained no damage but one man was killed.

She sank Halma on 3 June east of Halifax, Nova Scotia and damaged John A. Poor on 27 July. Both ships were attacked with mines laid by U-119 on 1 June.

U-119 was sunk by a combination of depth charges, gunfire and ramming from HMS Starling on 24 June 1943.[1]

Summary of raiding history

[edit]
Date Name Nationality Tonnage
(GRT) 		Fate[5]
3 June 1943 Halma  Panama 2,937 Sunk (Mine)
28 July 1943 John A. Poor  United States 7,176 Damaged (Mine)

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d Kemp 1999, p. 126.
  2. ^ Gröner 1991, p. 116.
  3. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type XB boat U-119". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 8 July 2012.
  4. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "War Patrols by German U-boat U-119". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 8 July 2012.
  5. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U-119". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net.

Bibliography

[edit]
  • 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.
  • Kemp, Paul (1999). U-Boats Destroyed - German Submarine Losses in the World Wars. London: Arms & Armour. ISBN 1-85409-515-3.
[edit]
  • Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type X boat U-119". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 6 December 2014.
  • Hofmann, Markus. "U 119". Deutsche U-Boote 1935-1945 - u-boot-archiv.de (in German). Retrieved 6 December 2014.

44°59′N 12°24′W / 44.983°N 12.400°W / 44.983; -12.400

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