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German submarine U-95 (1940)

For other ships with the same name, see German submarine U-95.

German submarine U-95 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. She was laid down on 16 September 1939 by Germaniawerft at Kiel as yard number 600 and commissioned on 31 August 1940. In seven patrols, she sank eight ships for a total of 28,415 gross register tons (GRT) and damaged four other vessels for a total of 27,916 GRT.

History
Nazi Germany
NameU-95
Ordered30 May 1938
BuilderGermaniawerft, Kiel
Yard number600
Laid down16 September 1939
Launched18 July 1940
Commissioned31 August 1940
FateSunk by a Dutch submarine on 28 November 1941 in the Mediterranean Sea
General characteristics
Class and typeType VIIC submarine
Displacement
Length
Beam
  • 6.20 m (20 ft 4 in) o/a
  • 4.70 m (15 ft 5 in) pressure hull
Height9.60 m (31 ft 6 in)
Draught4.74 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
Speed
  • 17.7 knots (32.8 km/h; 20.4 mph) surfaced
  • 7.6 knots (14.1 km/h; 8.7 mph) submerged
Range
  • 8,500 nmi (15,700 km; 9,800 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) surfaced
  • 80 nmi (150 km; 92 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph) submerged
Test depth
  • 230 m (750 ft)
  • Crush depth: 250–295 m (820–968 ft)
Complement4 officers, 40–56 enlisted
Armament
Service record
Part of:
Identification codes: M 13 550
Commanders:
  • Kptlt. Gerd Schreiber
  • 31 August 1940 – 28 November 1941
Operations:
  • 7 patrols:
  • 1st patrol:
  • 20 November – 6 December 1940
  • 2nd patrol:
  • 16 December 1940 – 14 January 1941
  • 3rd patrol:
  • 16 February – 19 March 1941
  • 4th patrol:
  • 12 April – 13 May 1941
  • 5th patrol:
  • 30 June – 31 July 1941
  • 6th patrol:
  • 21 August – 20 September 1941
  • 7th patrol:
  • 19–28 November 1941
Victories:
  • 8 merchant ships sunk
    (28,415 GRT)
  • 4 merchant ships damaged
    (27,916 GRT)

U-95 was sunk by a torpedo from the Dutch submarine HNLMS O 21 on 28 November 1941 in the Mediterranean Sea.

Design

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German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-95 had a displacement of 769 tonnes (757 long tons) when at the surface and 871 t (857 long tons) while submerged.[1] She had a total length of 67.10 m (220.1 ft), a pressure hull length of 50.50 m (165.7 ft), a beam of 6.20 m (20.3 ft), a height of 9.60 m (31.5 ft), 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 PS (2,060 to 2,350 kW; 2,760 to 3,160 shp) for use while surfaced, two AEG GU 460/8–27 double-acting electric motors producing a total of 750 PS (550 kW; 740 shp) for use while submerged. She had two shafts and two 1.23 m (4.0 ft) propellers. The boat was capable of operating at depths of up to 230 metres (750 ft).[1]

The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 17.7 knots (32.8 km/h; 20.4 mph) and a maximum submerged speed of 7.6 kn (14.1 km/h; 8.7 mph).[1] When submerged, the boat could operate for 80 nautical miles (150 km; 92 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph); when surfaced, she could travel 8,500 nmi (15,700 km; 9,800 mi) at 10 kn (19 km/h; 12 mph). U-95 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 a 2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 anti-aircraft gun. The boat had a complement of between forty-four and sixty.[1]

Service history

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U-95 was a member of two wolfpacks.

First patrol

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The boat left Kiel for her first patrol on 20 November 1940. She entered the Northern Atlantic Ocean and damaged Ringhorn on the 28th with her deck gun, having missed with two torpedoes. The merchantman was hit in the funnel and near the bridge, but the action could not be brought to a successful conclusion because of weather conditions. The Germans, believing the ship would sink, left the area but the crew re-boarded her and sailed to Belfast Lough.

U-95 also damaged Conch on 2 December. This ship had already been hit by U-47 about 370 nautical miles (690 km; 430 mi) west of Bloody Foreland (Ireland). The boat fired four torpedoes, one of which struck the vessel. She was eventually sunk by U-99.

The submarine headed for her new French Atlantic base, arriving at Lorient on 6 December.

Second patrol

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U-95 continued the business of damaging ships when she attacked, but did not sink, Walotira 124 nautical miles (230 km; 143 mi) northwest of Rockall on 26 December 1940. This vessel met her end due to the actions of U-99 on the 27th.

Third patrol

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The boat left Lorient on 16 February 1941 for her third sortie. She sank Cape Nelson and Temple Moat south of Iceland on the 24th.

When Pacific went down on 2 March north of Rockall, there was only one survivor. The destruction of the neutral Murjek was even more bloody. She went to the bottom with all hands on the fifth.

U-95 returned to France, but to St. Nazaire on 19 March.

Fourth patrol

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The boat maintained her success on her fourth patrol, sinking Taranger 150 nautical miles (280 km; 170 mi) southwest of Reykjavík in Iceland on 3 May 1941. 1930 Built as TARANGER at Burmeister & Wains Maskin- & Skibsbyggeri, København, Danmark for Westfal-Larsen & Co. A/S, Bergen. Launched 12/02, delivered in April. Torpedoed and sunk 03/05 by the German submarine U-95 (Kapitänleutnant Gerd Schreiber) abt. 150 nm South West of Reykjavík, Iceland whilst on a voyage from Liverpool, England via Panama to Vancouver, BC, Canada in ballast. 1 man died. 31 survivors.[2]

Fifth patrol

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For her fifth patrol, U-95 damaged Palma west southwest of Bantry Bay (Ireland)[3] on 20 July 1941. One hit with her deck gun was reported when three rounds had struck their _target.

Sixth patrol

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U-95's only kill on her sixth foray was Trinidad. The relatively small ship was sunk with 37 rounds from the boat's deck gun due west of La Rochelle on 6 September 1941.

Seventh patrol and loss

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The submarine successfully forced the heavily defended Strait of Gibraltar and entered the Mediterranean Sea. She was sunk by a torpedo from the Dutch submarine O 21 southwest of Almeria in Spain on 28 November 1941.

35 men died with the U-boat; there were 12 survivors.

Wolfpacks

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U-95 took part in two wolfpacks, namely:

  • Bosemüller (28 August - 2 September 1941)
  • Seewolf (2 – 14 September 1941)

Summary of raiding history

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Date Name Nationality Tonnage
(GRT) 		Fate[4]
27 November 1940 Irene Maria   United Kingdom 1,862 Sunk
28 November 1940 Ringhorn   Norway 1,298 Damaged
2 December 1940 Conch   United Kingdom 8,376 Damaged
26 December 1940 Waiotira   United Kingdom 12,823 Damaged
24 February 1941 Cape Nelson   United Kingdom 3,807 Sunk
24 February 1941 Svein Jarl   Norway 1,908 Sunk
24 February 1941 Temple Moat   United Kingdom 4,427 Sunk
2 March 1941 Pacific   United Kingdom 6,034 Sunk
5 March 1941 Murjek   Sweden 5,070 Sunk
3 May 1941 Taranger   Norway 4,873 Sunk
20 July 1941 Palma   United Kingdom 5,419 Damaged
6 September 1941 Trinidad   Panama 434 Sunk

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d Gröner 1991, pp. 43–46.
  2. ^ "skipshistorie".
  3. ^ The Times Atlas of the World - Third edition, revised 1995, ISBN 0 7230 0809 4, p. 9
  4. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U-95". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 26 December 2014.

Bibliography

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  • Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-95". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 26 December 2014.
  • Hofmann, Markus. "U 95". Deutsche U-Boote 1935-1945 - u-boot-archiv.de (in German). Retrieved 26 December 2014.

36°24′N 3°20′W / 36.400°N 3.333°W / 36.400; -3.333

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