German submarine U-100 (1940)

	U-100
History
Nazi Germany
Name:	U-100
Ordered:	15 December 1937
Builder:	Germaniawerft, Kiel
Yard number:	594
Laid down:	22 May 1939
Launched:	10 April 1940
Commissioned:	30 May 1940
Fate:	Sunk 17 March 1941 by British warships
General characteristics
Class and type:	Type VIIB submarine
Displacement:	753 tonnes (741 long tons) surfaced; 857 t (843 long tons) submerged;
Length:	66.50 m (218 ft 2 in) o/a; 48.80 m (160 ft 1 in) pressure hull;
Beam:	6.20 m (20 ft 4 in) o/a; 4.70 m (15 ft 5 in) pressure hull;
Height:	9.50 m (31 ft 2 in)
Draught:	4.74 m (15 ft 7 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;
Range:	8,700 nmi (16,100 km; 10,000 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) surfaced; 90 nmi (170 km; 100 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph) submerged;
Test depth:	220 m (720 ft); Crush depth: 230–250 m (750–820 ft);
Complement:	4 officers, 40–56 enlisted
Sensors and ; processing systems:	Gruppenhorchgerät
Armament:	5 × 53.3 cm (21 in) torpedo tubes (four bow, one stern); 14 torpedoes or 26 TMA mines; 1 × 8.8 cm (3.5 in) deck gun with 220 rounds; 1 × 2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 anti-aircraft gun;
Service record
Part of:	Kriegsmarine:; 7th U-boat Flotilla;
Commanders:	Kptlt. Joachim Schepke[1]; 30 May 1940 – 17 March 1941;
Operations:	Six patrols; 1st patrol: 9 August – 1 September 1940; 2nd patrol: 11–25 September 1940; 3rd patrol: 12–23 October 1940; 4th patrol: 7–27 November 1940; 5th patrol: 2 December 1940 – 1 January 1941; 6th patrol: 9 – 17 March 1941;
Victories:	25 ships sunk for a total of 135,614 GRT; Four ships damaged for a total of 17,229 GRT; One ship a total loss of 2,205 GRT;

German submarine U-100 was a Type VIIB U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. She, given her short-lived existence, was one of the most successful and deadly U-Boats to have served in the conflict.

Design

German Type VIIB submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIA submarines. U-100 had a displacement of 753 tonnes (741 long tons) when at the surface and 857 tonnes (843 long tons) while submerged.[2] She had a total length of 66.50 m (218 ft 2 in), a pressure hull length of 48.80 m (160 ft 1 in), a beam of 6.20 m (20 ft 4 in), a height of 9.50 m (31 ft 2 in), and a draught of 4.74 m (15 ft 7 in). The submarine was powered by two Germaniawerft F46 four-stroke, six-cylinder supercharged 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 BBC GG UB 720/8 double-acting electric motors producing a total of 750 metric horsepower (550 kW; 740 shp) 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).[2]

The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 17.9 knots (33.2 km/h; 20.6 mph) and a maximum submerged speed of 8 knots (15 km/h; 9.2 mph).[2] When submerged, the boat could operate for 90 nautical miles (170 km; 100 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph); when surfaced, she could travel 8,700 nautical miles (16,100 km; 10,000 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph). U-100 was fitted with five 53.3 cm (21 in) torpedo tubes (four fitted at the bow and one at the stern), fourteen torpedoes, one 8.8 cm (3.46 in) SK C/35 naval gun, 220 rounds, and one 2 cm (0.79 in) anti-aircraft gun The boat had a complement of between forty-four and sixty.[2]

Service history

First patrol

The boat was launched on 10 April 1940, with a crew of 53, under the command of Kapitänleutnant Joachim Schepke. On her first active patrol, U-100 came into contact with two Allied convoys, OA-198 and OA-204. She shadowed both convoys.

Second patrol

U-100 departed for her second active patrol on 11 September 1940, coming into contact with the Allied convoy HX 72. HX 72 lost 11 ships in total, with Schepke and U-100 accounting for 7 ships of 50,340 tons. In the attack on this convoy, while other U-boats stood off to the side and fired their torpedoes to little or no success, Schepke penetrated inside the convoy before attacking, a tactic soon adopted by the C-in-C U-boats, Admiral Karl Donitz.

Third patrol

After resupplying, U-100 departed for her third active patrol on 12 October 1940. She came into contact with two Allied convoys, HX 79 and SC 7.

Fourth patrol

U-100 departed on her fourth patrol on 7 November 1940. On 22 November she came into contact with the Allied convoy SC 11 and began to shadow it.

Fifth patrol

U-100 left for her fifth active patrol on 2 December 1940, sinking two vessels from Convoy OB 256, then a third solo vessel.

Sixth and final patrol

U-100 departed on her sixth and what would be her final patrol on 9 March 1941. She approached convoy HX 112 from astern in the pre-dawn hours of 17 March, but was detected at a range of 1,000 meters by the Type 286 radar aboard HMS Vanoc.[3] U-100 was the first U-boat to be so discovered during World War II; she was rammed and sunk by Vanoc while attempting to submerge.[4] Another destroyer, HMS Walker, was also present.[5] Six of the boat's 53 crew members survived, spending the remainder of the war as POWs. Schepke was not one of them, having been crushed in the conning tower when the U-Boat was rammed.

Summary of raiding history

Date	Ship	Flag	Tonnage (GRT)	Fate
16 August 1940	Empire Merchant	United Kingdom	4,864	Sunk
25 August 1940	Jamaica Pioneer	United Kingdom	5,471	Sunk
29 August 1940	Dalblair	United Kingdom	4,608	Sunk
29 August 1940	Hartismere	United Kingdom	5,498	Damaged
29 August 1940	Astra II	United Kingdom	2,393	Sunk
29 August 1940	Alida Gorthon	Sweden	2,373	Sunk
29 August 1940	Empire Moose	United Kingdom	6,103	Sunk
21 September 1940	Canonesa	United Kingdom	8,286	Sunk
21 September 1940	Torinia	United Kingdom	10,364	Sunk
21 September 1940	Dalcairn	United Kingdom	4,608	Sunk
22 September 1940	Empire Airman	United Kingdom	6,586	Sunk
22 September 1940	Scholar	United Kingdom	3,940	Sunk
22 September 1940	Frederick S. Fales	United Kingdom	10,525	Sunk
22 September 1940	Simla	Norway	6,031	Sunk
18 October 1940	Shekatika	United Kingdom	5,458	Damaged
18 October 1940	Boekelo	Netherlands	2,118	Damaged
19 October 1940	Blairspey	United Kingdom	4,155	Damaged
20 October 1940	Caprella	United Kingdom	8,230	Sunk
20 October 1940	Sitala	United Kingdom	6,218	Sunk
20 October 1940	Loch Lomond	United Kingdom	5,452	Sunk
23 November 1940	Justitia	United Kingdom	4,562	Sunk
23 November 1940	Bradfyne	United Kingdom	4,740	Sunk
23 November 1940	Ootmarsum	Netherlands	3,628	Sunk
23 November 1940	Bruse	Norway	2,205	Total Loss
23 November 1940	Salonica	Norway	2,694	Sunk
23 November 1940	Leise Maersk	United Kingdom	3,136	Sunk
23 November 1940	Bussum	Netherlands	3,636	Sunk
14 December 1940	Kyleglen	United Kingdom	3,670	Sunk
14 December 1940	Euphorbia	United Kingdom	3,380	Sunk
18 December 1940	Napier Star	United Kingdom	10,116	Sunk
Sunk			137,819
Damaged			17,229
Total			155,048

References

Helgason, Guðmundur. "Joachim Schepke (Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves)". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 17 May 2015.
Gröner 1991, pp. 43–44.
Rohwer & Hummelchen (1992) p. 54
Macintyre, Donald, CAPT RN "Shipborne Radar" United States Naval Institute Proceedings September 1967 pp. 78–79
Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIB boat U-100". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net..

Bibliography

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). 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. 2. Translated by Thomas, Keith; Magowan, Rachel. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-593-4.
Rohwer, J.; Hummelchen, G. (1992). Chronology of the War at Sea 1939–1945. Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-55750-105-X.
Kemp, Paul (1997). U-Boats Destroyed – German Submarine Losses in the World Wars. Arms and Armour Press. p. 69. ISBN 1-85409-321-5.

External links

Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIB boat U-100". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 6 December 2014.
Hofmann, Markus. "U 100". Deutsche U-Boote 1935-1945 - u-boot-archiv.de (in German). Retrieved 30 January 2015.
Canonesa, Convoy HX72 & U-100

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[1] Helgason, Guðmundur. "Joachim Schepke (Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves)". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 17 May 2015.

[FOOTNOTEGröner199143–44-2] Gröner 1991, pp. 43–44.

[r&h-3] Rohwer & Hummelchen (1992) p. 54

[proceedings-4] Macintyre, Donald, CAPT RN "Shipborne Radar" United States Naval Institute Proceedings September 1967 pp. 78–79

[5] Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIB boat U-100". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net..

German 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-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

Shipwrecks and maritime incidents in March 1941
Shipwrecks	3 Mar: Knight of Malta 4 Mar: Bernhard Schulte, Elbing, Gumbinnen 7 Mar: Corduff, U-70 9 Mar: Marathon 11 Mar: HMS Witherington 13 Mar: Empire Frost 14 Mar: Western Chief 17 Mar: U-99, U-100 18 Mar: Bremen, HMS Rosaura 20 Mar: Mackay-Bennett 21 Mar: Benwyvis 23 Mar: U-551 25 Mar: Britannia 26 Mar: HMS York, HMCS Otter 27 Mar: Faraday 28 Mar: Fiume 29 Mar: Pola, Zara 30 Mar: Umona 31 Mar: HMS Bonaventure Unknown date: U-47
Other incidents	1 Mar: Empire Simba 25 Mar: Escaut
1940 1941 1942 February 1941 April 1941