German submarine U-220

German submarine U-220 was a Type XB submarine of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

History
Nazi Germany
Name: U-220
Ordered: 6 August 1940
Builder: Germaniawerft, Kiel
Laid down: 16 June 1941
Launched: 16 January 1943
Commissioned: 27 March 1943
Fate: Sunk by depth charges 28 October 1943
General characteristics
Class and type: German Type 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
Height: 10.20 m (33 ft 6 in)
Draught: 4.71 m (15 ft 5 in)
Propulsion:
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 depth: Calculated crush depth: 220 m (720 ft)
Complement: 5 officers, 47 enlisted
Armament:
Service record[1][2]
Part of:
Commanders:
  • Oblt.z.S. Bruno Barber
  • 27 March - 28 October 1943
Operations: 8 September - 28 October 1943
Victories: Two ships sunk, 7,199 GRT

The U-boat was laid down on 16 June 1941 at the Germaniawerft yard at Kiel as yard number 626, launched on 16 January 1943 and commissioned on 27 March 1943 under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Bruno Barber.

The boat's service career began with training in the 4th U-boat Flotilla followed by reassignment to the 12th flotilla for operations.

In one patrol, the submarine sank two ships.

The boat was sunk in October 1943 by US aircraft in mid-Atlantic.

Service history

Patrol and loss

Following a short journey from Kiel to Bergen in Norway, the submarine set out on patrol on 8 September 1943 through the gap between Iceland and the Faroe Islands, heading for the North American coast. Off St. Johns in Canada, she laid 66 magnetic mines on 9 October, one of which sank Delisle on the 19th. Also lost on the same day was Penolver. The master of Delisle was trapped on the sinking ship by his wooden leg. He was freed, rescued and taken to a hospital, minus his leg. He could not be released due to the wartime shortage of artificial limbs, but his original leg was found, washed up on a beach and recovered.

In between these events, two men were lost overboard on the 16th.

U-220 was sunk by depth charges dropped by Avenger and Wildcat aircraft from the carrier USS Block Island on 28 October 1943. Fifty-six men died; there were no survivors.

Summary of raiding history
Date Name Nationality Tonnage
(GRT)		 Fate[3]
19 October 1943 Delisle  United States 3,478 Sunk (Mine)
19 October 1943 Penolver  United Kingdom 3,721 Sunk (Mine)

References
  1. Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type XB boat U-219". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 23 July 2012.
  2. Helgason, Guðmundur. "War Patrols by German U-boat U-220". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 23 July 2012.
  3. Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U-220". 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.
  • 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.
  • Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type X boat U-220". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 6 December 2014.
  • Hofmann, Markus. "U 220". Deutsche U-Boote 1935-1945 - u-boot-archiv.de (in German). Retrieved 6 December 2014.

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