German submarine U-93 (1940)

German submarine U-93 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. She was laid down on 9 September 1939 at the F. Krupp Germaniawerft in Kiel as yard number 598, launched on 8 June 1940 and commissioned on 30 July 1940 under Kapitänleutnant Claus Korth.

History
Nazi Germany
NameU-93
Ordered30 May 1938
BuilderGermaniawerft, Kiel
Yard number598
Laid down9 September 1939
Launched8 June 1940
Commissioned30 July 1940
FateSunk 15 January 1942 in the Atlantic west of Cape St. Vincent by HMS Hesperus[1]
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 05 631
Commanders:
Operations:
  • 7 patrols:
  • 1st patrol:
  • 9 – 25 October 1940
  • 2nd patrol:
  • 7 – 29 November 1940
  • 3rd patrol:
  • 11 January – 14 February 1941
  • 4th patrol:
  • 3 May – 10 June 1941
  • 5th patrol:
  • 12 July – 21 August 1941
  • 6th patrol:
  • 18 October – 21 November 1941
  • 7th patrol:
  • 23 December 1941 – 15 January 1942
Victories: 8 merchant ships sunk
(43,392 GRT)

She sank eight ships of 43,392 gross register tons (GRT) in seven patrols but was herself sunk by a British destroyer on 15 January 1942.

Design

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German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-93 had a displacement of 769 tonnes (757 long tons) when at the surface and 871 tonnes (857 long tons) while submerged.[2] She had a total length of 67.10 m (220 ft 2 in), a pressure hull length of 50.50 m (165 ft 8 in), a beam of 6.20 m (20 ft 4 in), a height of 9.60 m (31 ft 6 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 AEG GU 460/8–27 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 17.7 knots (32.8 km/h; 20.4 mph) and a maximum submerged speed of 7.6 knots (14.1 km/h; 8.7 mph).[2] 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 nautical miles (15,700 km; 9,800 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph). U-93 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.[2]

Service history

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The boat's first patrol was preceded by a trip from Kiel to Kristiansand in Norway.

First patrol

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She left the Norwegian port on 9 September 1940, heading for St. Nazaire in France which she reached, via the North Sea and the gap between the Faroe and Shetland Islands, on 25 October.

On the way, she sank the Hurunui on the 15th, 120 nautical miles (220 km; 140 mi) west of the Butt of Lewis, (the most northerly point of the Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides). Two crew members died, but there were 73 survivors. She was also attacked three times in one day (17 October), twice by ships and once by an aircraft; no damage was caused. She sank the Dokka south of Iceland on the 17th: The survivors were then questioned by the Germans (a fairly common practice). They said that the sunken ship was the Cukna, but Korth saw through this ruse de guerre. U-93 was forced to dive by the presence and gunfire of HMS Folkestone.

After that, the boat headed for mid-ocean before docking at her French Atlantic base.

Second, third and fourth patrols

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U-93's second voyage was uneventful, but during her third sortie she sank the Dione II with gunfire, northwest of Northern Ireland. She was also attacked by an Armstrong Whitworth Whitley of No. 502 Squadron RAF. The damage was such that the boat required repairs lasting three months.

The submarine's fourth patrol, which commenced on 12 July 1941, was disrupted when three men were wounded in an accident involving a machine gun. Nevertheless, she sank the Elusa on 21 May south southeast of Cape Farewell (Greenland).

Fifth and sixth patrols

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Her fifth patrol took her as far south as a point west of Western Sahara. She was unsuccessfully bombed on the return journey west of Cape St. Vincent in Portugal

The boat's sixth patrol was to an area east of Newfoundland and Labrador on the Canadian side of the Atlantic.

Fate

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Her seventh and final sortie began with her departure from St. Nazaire on 23 December 1941. She was sunk by depth charges dropped by HMS Hesperus between Portugal and the Azores on 15 January 1942.

Wolfpacks

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U-93 took part in five wolfpacks, namely:

  • West (8 – 26 May 1941)
  • Süd (22 July – 5 August 1941)
  • Schlagetot (23 October – 1 November 1941)
  • Raubritter (1 – 8 November 1941)
  • Seydlitz (27 December 1941 – 15 January 1942)

Summary of raiding history

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Date Name Nationality Tonnage[Note 1] Fate[3]
15 October 1940 Hurunui   United Kingdom 9,331 Sunk
17 October 1940 Dokka   Norway 1,168 Sunk
17 October 1940 Uskbridge   United Kingdom 2,715 Sunk
29 January 1941 Aikatern   Greece 4,929 Sunk
29 January 1941 King Robert   United Kingdom 5,886 Sunk
29 January 1941 W.B. Walker   United Kingdom 10,468 Sunk
4 February 1941 Dione II   United Kingdom 2,660 Sunk
21 May 1941 Elusa   Netherlands 6,235 Sunk

References

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Notes

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  1. ^ Tonnages are in gross register tons.

Citations

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  1. ^ Kemp, Paul (1997). U-Boats Destroyed, German Submarine Losses in the World Wars. Arms and Armour. p. 78. ISBN 1-85409-515-3.
  2. ^ a b c d Gröner 1991, pp. 43–46.
  3. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U-93". German U-boats of WWII – uboat.net. Retrieved 26 December 2014.

Bibliography

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  • Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-93". German U-boats of WWII – uboat.net. Retrieved 26 December 2014.
  • Hofmann, Markus. "U 93". Deutsche U-Boote 1935-1945 – u-boot-archiv.de (in German). Retrieved 26 December 2014.

36°10′N 15°52′W / 36.167°N 15.867°W / 36.167; -15.867