German submarine U-213

	Crew of U-213
History
Nazi Germany
Name	U-213
Ordered	16 February 1940
Builder	Germaniawerft, Kiel
Yard number	645
Laid down	1 October 1940
Launched	24 July 1941
Commissioned	30 August 1941
Fate	Sunk on 31 July 1942 by British warships
General characteristics
Class and type	Type VIID submarine
Displacement	965 tonnes (950 long tons) surfaced; 1,080 t (1,060 long tons) submerged;
Length	76.90 m (252 ft 4 in) o/a; 59.80 m (196 ft 2 in) pressure hull;
Beam	6.38 m (20 ft 11 in) o/a; 4.70 m (15 ft 5 in) pressure hull;
Height	9.70 m (31 ft 10 in)
Draught	5.01 m (16 ft 5 in)
Installed power	2,800–3,200 PS (2,100–2,400 kW; 2,800–3,200 bhp) (diesels); 750 PS (550 kW; 740 shp) (electric);
Propulsion	2 shafts; 2 × diesel engines; 2 × electric motors;
Speed	16–16.7 knots (29.6–30.9 km/h; 18.4–19.2 mph) surfaced; 7.3 knots (13.5 km/h; 8.4 mph) submerged;
Range	11,200 nmi (20,700 km; 12,900 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) surfaced; 69 nmi (128 km; 79 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph) submerged;
Test depth	200 m (660 ft); Crush depth: 220–240 m (720–790 ft);
Crew	4 officers, 40 enlisted
Armament	5 × 53.3 cm (21 in) torpedo tubes (four bow, one stern); 12 torpedoes or 26 TMA or 39 TMB tube-launched mines; 5 × vertical launchers with 15 SMA mines; 1 × 8.8 cm (3.46 in) deck gun (220 rounds); 1 × 20 mm AA (4,380 rounds);
Service record
Part of:	5th U-boat Flotilla; 30 August – 31 December 1941; 1st U-boat Flotilla; 1 January – 30 April 1942; 9th U-boat Flotilla; 1 May – 31 July 1942;
Identification codes:	M 01 954
Commanders:	Oblt.z.S. Amelung von Varendorff; 30 August 1941 – 31 July 1942;
Operations:	3 patrols:; 1st patrol:; a. 26 January – 20 March 1942; b. 23–24 April 1942; 2nd patrol:; a. 25 April – 20 June 1942; b. 20–21 June 1942; 3rd patrol:; 23–31 July 1942;
Victories:	None

German submarine U-213 was a Type VIID mine-laying U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

Training

Laid down on 1 October 1940 by Friedrich Krupp Germaniawerft in Kiel as yard number 645, the boat was launched on 24 July 1941 and commissioned on 30 August with Oberleutnant zur See Amelung von Varendorff in command.^[1] She trained with the 5th U-boat Flotilla until 31 December 1941; on 1 January 1942 she was assigned to the 1st U-boat Flotilla.^[1] On 1 May 1942 she was assigned to the 9th U-boat Flotilla and spent the rest of her career with that unit.^[1]

Design

As one of the six German Type VIID submarines, U-213 had a displacement of 965 tonnes (950 long tons) when at the surface and 1,080 tonnes (1,060 long tons) while submerged.^[3] She had a total length of 76.90 m (252 ft 4 in), a pressure hull length of 59.80 m (196 ft 2 in), a beam of 6.38 m (20 ft 11 in), a height of 9.70 m (31 ft 10 in), and a draught of 5.01 m (16 ft 5 in). The submarine was powered by two Germaniawerft F46 supercharged four-stroke, six-cylinder diesel engines producing a total of 2,800 to 3,200 metric horsepower (2,060 to 2,350 kW; 2,760 to 3,160 shp) for use while surfaced, two AEG GU 460/8-276 double-acting electric motors producing a total of 750 shaft horsepower (760 PS; 560 kW) for use while submerged. She had two shafts and two 1.23 m (4 ft) propellers. The boat was capable of operating at depths of up to 230 metres (750 ft).^[3]

The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 16–16.7 knots (29.6–30.9 km/h; 18.4–19.2 mph) and a maximum submerged speed of 7.3 knots (13.5 km/h; 8.4 mph).^[3] When submerged, the boat could operate for 69 nautical miles (128 km; 79 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph); when surfaced, she could travel 11,200 nautical miles (20,700 km; 12,900 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph). U-213 was fitted with five 53.3 cm (21 in) torpedo tubes (four fitted at the bow and one at the stern), twelve torpedoes, one 8.8 cm (3.46 in) SK C/35 naval gun, 220 rounds, and an anti-aircraft gun, in addition to five mine tubes with fifteen SMA mines. The boat had a complement of between forty-four.^[3]

Service history

U-213 carried out three war patrols during her career, ranging into the North Atlantic. One of them included the landing of an Abwehr agent, Alfred Langbein, on the Canadian coast near St. Martins, New Brunswick on 14 May 1942. The mission was termed Operation Grete; Langbein was instructed to report on the sailing of convoys. He failed to accomplish this, and surrendered to the authorities in September 1944 after running out of money. He was released after the end of the war. U-213 was a member of three "wolfpacks" during the war, as part of 'Schlei' from 1 February until 12 February 1942, 'Westwall' from the 2 to 12 March, and 'Pfadfinder' from the 2 to 27 May.^[1]

During this period she suffered two attacks, one on 7 February 1942 from the escorts of convoy ON-63, which she was attempting to attack, which left the U-boat slightly damaged after attacks by depth charges; another was when the boat was surprised on the surface by a destroyer in bad weather in the Gulf of Maine, and was again slightly damaged by depth charges on 15 May. U-213 was sunk with all hands on 31 July 1942, while in the North Atlantic, east of the Azores, in a depth charge attack by the British sloops HMS Erne, Rochester and Sandwich.^[1]

Wolfpacks

U-213 took part in three wolfpacks:

Schlei (1–12 February 1942)
Westwall [de] (2–12 March 1942)
Pfadfinder (21–27 May 1942)

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIID U-boat U-213". German U-boats of WWII – uboat.net. Retrieved 6 April 2010.
^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "War Patrols by German U-boat U-213". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 23 July 2012.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Gröner 1991, pp. 66–67.

Bibliography

Gröner, Eric; Jung, Dieter; Maass, Martin (1991). German Warships 1815-1945: U-boats and Mine Warfare Vessels. Vol. 2. Translated by Thomas, Keith; Magowan, Rachel. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-593-4.

External links

Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIID U-boat U-213". German U-boats of WWII – uboat.net. Retrieved 6 April 2010.
Hofmann, Markus. "U 213". Deutsche U-Boote 1935-1945 – u-boot-archiv.de (in German). Retrieved 2 February 2015.

36°45′N 22°50′W / 36.750°N 22.833°W / 36.750; -22.833

[U-213-1] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIID U-boat U-213". German U-boats of WWII – uboat.net. Retrieved 6 April 2010.

[patrols-2] Helgason, Guðmundur. "War Patrols by German U-boat U-213". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 23 July 2012.

[FOOTNOTEGröner199166–67-3] Gröner 1991, pp. 66–67.

[1]

[2]

[3]

v t e Type VII submarines
Type VIIA	U-27 U-28 U-29 U-30 U-31 U-32 U-33 U-34 U-35 U-36
Type VIIB	U-45 U-46 U-47 U-48 U-49 U-50 U-51 U-52 U-53 U-54 U-55 U-73 U-74 U-75 U-76 U-83 U-84 U-85 U-86 U-87 U-99 U-100 U-101 U-102
Type VIIC	U-69 U-70 U-71 U-72 U-77 U-78 U-79 U-80 U-81 U-82 U-88 U-89 U-90 U-91 U-92 U-93 U-94 U-95 U-96 U-97 U-98 U-132 U-133 U-134 U-135 U-136 U-201 U-202 U-203 U-204 U-205 U-206 U-207 U-208 U-209 U-210 U-211 U-212 U-221 U-222 U-223 U-224 U-225 U-226 U-227 U-228 U-229 U-230 U-231 U-232 U-235 U-236 U-237 U-238 U-239 U-240 U-241 U-242 U-243 U-244 U-245 U-246 U-247 U-248 U-249 U-250 U-251 U-252 U-253 U-254 U-255 U-256 U-257 U-258 U-259 U-260 U-261 U-262 U-263 U-264 U-265 U-266 U-267 U-268 U-269 U-270 U-271 U-272 U-273 U-274 U-275 U-276 U-277 U-278 U-279 U-280 U-281 U-282 U-283 U-284 U-285 U-286 U-287 U-288 U-289 U-290 U-291 U-301 U-302 U-303 U-304 U-305 U-306 U-307 U-308 U-309 U-310 U-311 U-312 U-313 U-314 U-315 U-316 U-331 U-332 U-333 U-334 U-335 U-336 U-337 U-338 U-339 U-340 U-341 U-342 U-343 U-344 U-345 U-346 U-347 U-348 U-349 U-350 U-351 U-352 U-353 U-354 U-355 U-356 U-357 U-358 U-359 U-360 U-361 U-362 U-363 U-364 U-365 U-366 U-367 U-368 U-369 U-370 U-371 U-372 U-373 U-374 U-375 U-376 U-377 U-378 U-379 U-380 U-381 U-382 U-383 U-384 U-385 U-386 U-387 U-388 U-389 U-390 U-391 U-392 U-393 U-394 U-396 U-397 U-398 U-399 U-400 U-401 U-402 U-403 U-404 U-405 U-406 U-407 U-408 U-409 U-410 U-411 U-412 U-413 U-414 U-415 U-416 U-417 U-418 U-419 U-420 U-421 U-422 U-423 U-424 U-425 U-426 U-427 U-428 U-429 U-430 U-431 U-432 U-433 U-434 U-435 U-436 U-437 U-438 U-439 U-440 U-441 U-442 U-443 U-444 U-445 U-446 U-447 U-448 U-449 U-450 U-451 U-452 U-453 U-454 U-455 U-456 U-457 U-458 U-465 U-466 U-467 U-468 U-469 U-470 U-471 U-472 U-473 U-475 U-476 U-477 U-478 U-479 U-480 U-481 U-482 U-483 U-484 U-485 U-486 U-551 U-552 U-553 U-554 U-555 U-556 U-557 U-558 U-559 U-560 U-561 U-562 U-563 U-564 U-565 U-566 U-567 U-568 U-569 U-570 U-571 U-572 U-573 U-574 U-575 U-576 U-577 U-578 U-579 U-580 U-581 U-582 U-583 U-584 U-585 U-586 U-587 U-588 U-589 U-590 U-591 U-592 U-593 U-594 U-595 U-596 U-597 U-598 U-599 U-600 U-601 U-602 U-603 U-604 U-605 U-606 U-607 U-608 U-609 U-610 U-611 U-612 U-613 U-614 U-615 U-616 U-617 U-618 U-619 U-620 U-621 U-622 U-623 U-624 U-625 U-626 U-627 U-628 U-629 U-630 U-631 U-632 U-633 U-634 U-635 U-636 U-637 U-638 U-639 U-640 U-641 U-642 U-643 U-644 U-645 U-646 U-647 U-648 U-649 U-650 U-651 U-652 U-653 U-654 U-655 U-656 U-657 U-658 U-659 U-660 U-661 U-662 U-663 U-664 U-665 U-666 U-667 U-668 U-669 U-670 U-671 U-672 U-673 U-674 U-675 U-676 U-677 U-678 U-679 U-680 U-681 U-682 U-683 U-701 U-702 U-703 U-704 U-705 U-706 U-707 U-708 U-709 U-710 U-711 U-712 U-713 U-714 U-715 U-716 U-717 U-718 U-719 U-720 U-721 U-722 U-731 U-732 U-733 U-734 U-735 U-736 U-737 U-738 U-739 U-740 U-741 U-742 U-743 U-744 U-745 U-746 U-747 U-748 U-749 U-750 U-751 U-752 U-753 U-754 U-755 U-756 U-757 U-758 U-759 U-760 U-761 U-762 U-763 U-764 U-765 U-766 U-767 U-768 U-771 U-772 U-773 U-774 U-775 U-776 U-777 U-778 U-779 U-821 U-822 U-825 U-826 U-901 U-903 U-904 U-905 U-907 U-921 U-922 U-923 U-924 U-925 U-926 U-927 U-928 U-951 U-952 U-953 U-954 U-955 U-956 U-957 U-958 U-959 U-960 U-961 U-962 U-963 U-964 U-965 U-966 U-967 U-968 U-969 U-970 U-971 U-972 U-973 U-974 U-975 U-976 U-977 U-978 U-979 U-980 U-981 U-982 U-983 U-984 U-985 U-986 U-987 U-988 U-989 U-990 U-991 U-992 U-993 U-994 U-1051 U-1052 U-1053 U-1054 U-1055 U-1056 U-1057 U-1058 U-1101 U-1102 U-1131 U-1132 U-1161 U-1162 U-1191 U-1192 U-1193 U-1194 U-1195 U-1196 U-1197 U-1198 U-1199 U-1200 U-1201 U-1202 U-1203 U-1204 U-1205 U-1206 U-1207 U-1208 U-1209 U-1210
Type VIIC/41	U-292 U-293 U-294 U-295 U-296 U-297 U-298 U-299 U-300 U-317 U-318 U-319 U-320 U-321 U-322 U-323 U-324 U-325 U-326 U-327 U-328 U-691 U-827 U-828 U-929 U-930 U-995 U-997 U-998 U-999 U-1000 U-1001 U-1002 U-1003 U-1004 U-1005 U-1006 U-1007 U-1008 U-1009 U-1010 U-1011 U-1013 U-1014 U-1015 U-1016 U-1017 U-1018 U-1019 U-1020 U-1021 U-1022 U-1023 U-1024 U-1025 U-1063 U-1064 U-1065 U-1103 U-1104 U-1105 U-1106 U-1107 U-1108 U-1109 U-1110 U-1163 U-1164 U-1165 U-1166 U-1167 U-1168 U-1169 U-1170 U-1171 U-1172 U-1271 U-1272 U-1273 U-1274 U-1275 U-1276 U-1277 U-1278 U-1279 U-1301 U-1302 U-1303 U-1304 U-1305 U-1306 U-1307 U-1308
Type VIID	U-213 U-214 U-215 U-216 U-217 U-218
Type VIIF	U-1059 U-1060 U-1061 U-1062
Preceded by: Type II Followed by: Type IX List of U-boats of Germany

v t e Shipwrecks and maritime incidents in July 1942
Shipwrecks	1 Jul: Edward Luckenbach, Montevideo Maru 2 Jul: Ukraina 3 Jul: Alexander Macomb, U-215 4 Jul: Nenohi, Christopher Newport 5 Jul: Arare, Empire Byron, HMS Niger, River Afton, John Randolph 6 Jul: Avila Star, U-502 7 Jul: RFA Aldersdale, Fiddown, Hartlebury, Pan Kraft, U-701 9 Jul: Empire Explorer, Nicholas Cuneo, Santa Rita 10 Jul: El Capitan 11 Jul: U-136 13 Jul: U-153, R. W. Gallagher 14 Jul: Pietro Calvi, Shch-317, USAT Arcata 15 Jul: Empire Attendant, HMHS Gloucester Castle, U-576 16 Jul: Fairport, Komintern 17 Jul: U-751 22 Jul: Ayatosan Maru, USS Southern Seas 24 Jul: Toufic El Rahman, U-90 26 Jul: Oaxaca 27 Jul: HM Motor Gun Boat 501 28 Jul: Broompark, V 202 Hermann Bösch 30 Jul: Robert E. Lee, U-166 31 Jul: USS Grunion, U-213, U-588, U-754
Other incidents	5 Jul: RFA Aldersdale, Argo, Pan Kraft 7 Jul: J. A. Moffett Jr. 9 Jul: El Capitan 13 Jul: USS S-16 15 Jul: Pennsylvania Sun 19 Jul: Malines 28 Jul: V 203 Carl Röver 30 Jul: Kōtoku Maru
1941 1942 1943 June 1942 August 1942