German submarine U-119 (1942)

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NameU-119
Ordered7 August 1939
BuilderGermaniawerft, Kiel
Yard number624
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]
General characteristics [2]
Class & 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 codesM 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)
U-119 under attack

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.

First patrol

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

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

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

Date Name Nationality Tonnage
(GRT)		 Fate[5]
3 June 1943Halma Panama2,937Sunk (Mine)
28 July 1943John A. Poor United States7,176Damaged (Mine)

References

Bibliography

External links

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