German submarine U-119 (1942)

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 1 February 1943, who remained in command until her loss.

For other ships with the same name, see German submarine U-119.
History
Nazi Germany
Name: U-119
Ordered: 7 August 1939
Builder: Germaniawerft, Kiel
Yard number: 624
Laid down: 15 May 1940
Launched: 6 January 1942[1]
Commissioned: 2 April 1942[1]
Fate: Sunk on 24 June 1943[1] by a British warship
General characteristics [2]
Class and type: Submarine minelayer
Displacement:
  • 1,763 tonnes (1,735 long tons) surfaced
  • 2,177 tonnes (2,143 long tons) submerged
Length:
  • 89.80 m (294 ft 7 in) o/a
  • 70.90 m (232 ft 7 in) pressure hull
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[3][4]
Part of:
Commanders:
  • Kptlt. Alois Zech
  • (2 April 1942 – 16 April 1942)
  • Kptlt. Horst-Tessen von Kameke
  • (1 February 1943 – 24 June 1943)
Operations:
  • 1st patrol:
  • 6 February – 1 April 1943
  • 2nd patrol:
  • (25 May – 24 June 1943)
Victories:
  • Two commercial ships sunk (2,937 GRT)
  • One commercial ship damaged - 7,176 GRT

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.

Operational career

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

1st patrol

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.

2nd 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 USA7,176Damaged (Mine)
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References
  1. Kemp 1999, p. 126.
  2. Gröner 1991, p. 116.
  3. Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type XB boat U-119". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 8 July 2012.
  4. Helgason, Guðmundur. "War Patrols by German U-boat U-119". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 8 July 2012.
  5. Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U-119". 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.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Busch, Rainer; Röll, Hans-Joachim (1999). Deutsche U-Boot-Verluste von September 1939 bis Mai 1945 [German U-boat losses from September 1939 to May 1945]. Der U-Boot-Krieg (in German). IV. Hamburg, Berlin, Bonn: Mittler. ISBN 3-8132-0514-2.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • 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.
  • Kemp, Paul (1999). U-Boats Destroyed - German Submarine Losses in the World Wars. London: Arms & Armour. ISBN 1-85409-515-3.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type X boat U-119". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 6 December 2014.
  • Hofmann, Markus. "U 119". Deutsche U-Boote 1935-1945 - u-boot-archiv.de (in German). Retrieved 6 December 2014.

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