German Submarine U-158 (1941)

German submarine ''U-158'' was a Type IXC U-boat of Nazi Germany's ''Kriegsmarine'' built for service during World War II.

Her keel was laid down on 1 November 1940 by DeSchiMAG AG Weser in Bremen as yard number 1000. She was commissioned on 25 September 1941, with '' Kapitänleutnant'' Erwin Rostin (Knights Cross) in command.

Design

German Type IXC submarines were slightly larger than the original Type IXBs. ''U-158'' had a displacement of when at the surface and while submerged. The U-boat had a total length of , a pressure hull length of , a beam of , a height of , and a draught of . The submarine was powered by two MAN M 9 V 40/46 supercharged four-stroke, nine-cylinder diesel engines producing a total of for use while surfaced, two Siemens-Schuckert 2 GU 345/34 double-acting electric motors producing a total of for use while submerged. She had two shafts and two propellers. The boat was capable of operating at depths of up to .

The submarine had a maximum surface speed of and a maximum submerged speed of . When submerged, the boat could operate for at ; when surfaced, she could travel at . ''U-158'' was fitted with six torpedo tubes (four fitted at the bow and two at the stern), 22 torpedoes, one SK C/32 naval gun, 180 rounds, and a SK C/30 as well as a C/30 anti-aircraft gun. The boat had a complement of forty-eight.

Service history

''U-158'' conducted only two combat patrols, sinking 17 ships totalling and damaging two others totalling 15,264 GRT.

First patrol

''U-158'' departed the German administered island of Helgoland, (sometimes spelt 'Heligoland'), for her first patrol on 7 February 1942. Her route took her north of the British Isles, through the gap between Iceland and the Faroe Islands and into the Atlantic Ocean.

Her first victim was ''Empire Celt'', sunk about south southeast of St Johns on 24 February. The ship broke in two after being hit and the stern section was last seen on 4 March. In the same attack, the U-boat also damaged ''Diloma''. This tanker was able to proceed under her own power at reduced speed. She was repaired in Baltimore and returned to service in June 1942.

The submarine then moved further down the US east coast. She sank another four ships and damaged one more. They were: ''Finnanger'' (1 March), ''Caribsea'' (11 March), ''John D. Gill'' (13 March), ''Olean'' (damaged on 15 March) and ''Ario'' (also on 15 March).

''John D. Gill'' was another tanker; her cargo did not ignite on being hit by a torpedo. Instead, the surrounding water was turned into a blazing inferno after a seaman threw a life ring overboard and its built-in carbide lamp malfunctioned. Almost half the crew died.

''Olean'' was towed to Hampton Roads, rebuilt and renamed ''Sweep'' and then returned to service.

Having caused so much mayhem, the boat sailed for France, arriving at Lorient on 31 March 1942.

Second patrol

For her second foray, ''U-158'' moved into the Caribbean and the Gulf of Mexico in May 1942. On the way she sank ''Darina'' about east southeast of Bermuda on 4 May and ''Frank B. Baird'' on the 22nd.

Following the sinking of ''Knoxville City'' on 2 June, the survivors in their lifeboats declined an offer of help from ''Jamaica'' as they thought the German submarine was still nearby.

The ''Hermis'', despite being hit by two torpedoes on the seventh, maintained a speed of eight knots due to the engines still running. The U-boat surfaced and shelled the ship. She was observed some twelve hours later with her stern out of the water; she eventually sank shortly afterward.

Fate

''U-158'' was sunk on 30 June 1942, west of the Bermudas, in position , by depth charges from a PBM Mariner aircraft commanded by Richard Schreder of United States Navy Squadron VP-74. None of her 54 crewmen on board survived the sinking.

Summary of raiding history

References

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{{DEFAULTSORT:U0158
German Type IX submarines
U-boats commissioned in 1941
World War II submarines of Germany
1941 ships
U-boats sunk in 1942
U-boats sunk by depth charges
U-boats sunk by US aircraft
Shipwrecks in the Atlantic Ocean
Ships built in Bremen (state)
Ships lost with all hands
Maritime incidents in June 1942