German U-Boats of WWII
Prepared by: Kim H. Cox
Each country in the war had an area which they excelled, and for the Germans that was the powerful U-boats with cannons, big guns and torpedos, sailing the Atlantic. There were many operations for U-boats during WWII. First we’ll discuss the Larconia incident.
Larconia Incident
A German U-boat (U-156) torpedoed a large target in the South Atlantic Ocean. A British liner (Larconia), carrying a 136-man crew, military material and personnel (268 men), about 80 civilians, and around 1800 Italian prisoners of war along with armed guards of 160 Polish soldiers sank at 2323 hours military time.
Amazed to hear Italian voices, the commander, Kptlt. Werner Harenstien at once began a rescue mission for the people struggling in the sea and those in lifeboats. Offering to cease hostilities, he radioed an uncoded message to every vessel within hearing distance for help.
In the days that followed Harenstien’s crew save about 400 survivors, half of which were brought on ship and the other half in lifeboats. Next U-506 arrived and began to help rescue the survivors and a little while later U-507 and an Italian submarine came to help. As the boats headed for shore, towing the lifeboats behind them, an American B-24 Liberator bomber operating from the Ascension Island, its pilot spotted the boats.
The pilot radioed base asking for instructions. Following orders he attacked, forcing the rescue boats to cut the lines leading to the lifeboats, leaving hundreds of survivors in the water again.
Because a French warship from Dakar appeared and began fishing people out of the water again, the US attack didn’t cause as many dead as it could have. Approximately 1500 people survived.
Many times U-boats had helped their survivors with supplies, water and directions of which way to go. After this incident, an order was issued (called the Larconia order) that no U-boats were ever to take part in rescue operations again. They were to leave their survivors in the sea.
Operation Drumbeat: War against America
Hitler was bound by a promise to Japan to declare war on the US and after the Japanese’s attack on Pearl Harbor December 7th, 1941, he did on December 11th. All restrictions on German U-boats not to attack American shipping were removed. Donitz immediately drew up plans to devastate the US eastern seaboard with swift blows.
The only boats capable of cruising that far were the 12 type IX boats. This was Donitz’s plan, but he was forced to lower the number to 6 boats because of Hitler’s preferences of the Gibraltar area. Only five of the six were able to sail as one was in need of repairs.
The first ship of the drumbeaters sailed on December 18th, 1942, the next on the 23rd, one on the 24th and the last two on the 27th. Taking over two weeks to get to the US waters, they were given strict orders not to attack anything unless a warship, carrier or battle ship was located.
Operations ended on the American coast on February 6th. The drumbeats had sank 25 ships. The U-boats destined for home. The Paukenschlag operation began its fast surprise attack on the eastern seaboard. Other waves of U-boats followed that weren’t considered Drumbeaters.
397 ships were sank, costing approximately 5000 lives though only 7 U-boats were sank and 302 Germans lost their lives. In May the US started running convoys on the east coast and proved very effective. Later, on July 19th the war shifted back to where it had all begun, into the North Atlantic where it would eventually end.
Operation
Deadlight?
What was Operation Deadlight? It was the code name for the scuttling of unwanted German U-boats surrendered to the allies after the end of World War Two (WWII)from 1945-1946.
In the near future
you may see these boats raised from the bed of the ocean since the British
government has awarded a salvage contract for them.
Sources:
U-boat Net--The U-boat War 1939-1945
The Larconia Incident
http://uboat.net/ops/larconia.htm
Operation Drumbeat
http://uboat.net/ops/drumbeat.htm
Operation Deadlight
http://uboat.net/fates/deadlight.htm
