Mediterranean U-boat Campaign
Encyclopedia
The Mediterranean U-boat Campaign lasted approximately from September 21, 1941 to May 1944 during World War II
. The Italians had failed to neutralise Malta as a British base and Axis
supply convoys to north Africa suffered severe losses as a result. This in turn threatened Axis armies' ability to fight. The Kriegsmarine
aimed at isolating Malta
so as to interrupt British
supply convoys to the island. As the Allies gained the upper hand, u-boat operations became targeted at the various landings in southern Europe.
Some 60 U-boats were sent to assist the Italians, though many were attacked in the Strait of Gibraltar
(of which 9 were sunk while attempting passage and 10 more were damaged). Had these U-boats been deployed in the Atlantic, or directly along the coasts of Britain, Germany would have had an advantage. The sea is clear and calm body of water which made escape more difficult for the U-boats. Germany's objective failed. No U-boat
of the Mediterranean ever returned to the Atlantic and all were either sunk in battle or scuttled.
By December 23, 1941, 34 more U-boats had been sent to the Mediterranean. 27 entered successfully, 3 were sunk at Gibraltar
and 5 were damaged and had to return to their French bases. and were sunk within a week after arrival in the region.
Most U-boats failed to sink any ship. The bulk of U-boats lost this year were in Toulon
.
vanished along with 51 men in the Mediterranean some time after 6 April 1944.
was the last U-boat to be scuttled in the Mediterranean. This was done when the Allied Operation Dragoon
was launched.
The Germans sunk 95 allied merchant ships totalling 449,206 tons, and 24 Royal Navy warships including 2 carriers, 1 battleship, 4 cruisers and 12 destroyers at the cost of 62 U-boats. Noteworthy successes were the sinkings of , and , .
in position 36.24°N 03.20°W by torpedoes from the Dutch submarine HrMs O 21. 35 men died but 12 survived. was sunk on 21 January 1943 in the Mediterranean, west of Bonifacio
, in position 41.27°N 07.04°E by torpedoes from the British submarine . 45 men dead but 1 survived. was sunk on 21 May 1943 in the western Mediterranean south of Toulon
, in position 42.50°N 06.00°E by torpedoes from the British submarine
. 20 men died and 28 survived. was sunk on January 12, 1942 in the western Mediterranean, east of Cape Spartivento, in position 37.50°N 16.00°E, by torpedoes from the British submarine . Only 1 person out of 45 survived.
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. The Italians had failed to neutralise Malta as a British base and Axis
Axis Powers
The Axis powers , also known as the Axis alliance, Axis nations, Axis countries, or just the Axis, was an alignment of great powers during the mid-20th century that fought World War II against the Allies. It began in 1936 with treaties of friendship between Germany and Italy and between Germany and...
supply convoys to north Africa suffered severe losses as a result. This in turn threatened Axis armies' ability to fight. The Kriegsmarine
Kriegsmarine
The Kriegsmarine was the name of the German Navy during the Nazi regime . It superseded the Kaiserliche Marine of World War I and the post-war Reichsmarine. The Kriegsmarine was one of three official branches of the Wehrmacht, the unified armed forces of Nazi Germany.The Kriegsmarine grew rapidly...
aimed at isolating Malta
Malta
Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in...
so as to interrupt British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
supply convoys to the island. As the Allies gained the upper hand, u-boat operations became targeted at the various landings in southern Europe.
Some 60 U-boats were sent to assist the Italians, though many were attacked in the Strait of Gibraltar
Strait of Gibraltar
The Strait of Gibraltar is a narrow strait that connects the Atlantic Ocean to the Mediterranean Sea and separates Spain in Europe from Morocco in Africa. The name comes from Gibraltar, which in turn originates from the Arabic Jebel Tariq , albeit the Arab name for the Strait is Bab el-Zakat or...
(of which 9 were sunk while attempting passage and 10 more were damaged). Had these U-boats been deployed in the Atlantic, or directly along the coasts of Britain, Germany would have had an advantage. The sea is clear and calm body of water which made escape more difficult for the U-boats. Germany's objective failed. No U-boat
U-boat
U-boat is the anglicized version of the German word U-Boot , itself an abbreviation of Unterseeboot , and refers to military submarines operated by Germany, particularly in World War I and World War II...
of the Mediterranean ever returned to the Atlantic and all were either sunk in battle or scuttled.
The beginning
was the first U-boat to enter the Mediterranean. She became the first target of an Allied tactic called "Swamp" after 3 years, in which ships and aircraft surround and threaten a U-boat forcing her to remain submerged till her batteries or air run out and then finishing her.By December 23, 1941, 34 more U-boats had been sent to the Mediterranean. 27 entered successfully, 3 were sunk at Gibraltar
Gibraltar
Gibraltar is a British overseas territory located on the southern end of the Iberian Peninsula at the entrance of the Mediterranean. A peninsula with an area of , it has a northern border with Andalusia, Spain. The Rock of Gibraltar is the major landmark of the region...
and 5 were damaged and had to return to their French bases. and were sunk within a week after arrival in the region.
1942
15 U-boats entered the sea in 1942 while 2 failed. But the year was bad for them. 14 were sunk in 1942. Thus, the fleet's strength remained the same.1943
14 U-boats were sent this year. Two were sunk at Gibraltar while one cancelled her mission due to damage.1944
12 U-boats were sent to cross Gibraltar in 1944. 3 of them sank while attempting entry.Most U-boats failed to sink any ship. The bulk of U-boats lost this year were in Toulon
Toulon
Toulon is a town in southern France and a large military harbor on the Mediterranean coast, with a major French naval base. Located in the Provence-Alpes-Côte-d'Azur region, Toulon is the capital of the Var department in the former province of Provence....
.
vanished along with 51 men in the Mediterranean some time after 6 April 1944.
was the last U-boat to be scuttled in the Mediterranean. This was done when the Allied Operation Dragoon
Operation Dragoon
Operation Dragoon was the Allied invasion of southern France on August 15, 1944, during World War II. The invasion was initiated via a parachute drop by the 1st Airborne Task Force, followed by an amphibious assault by elements of the U.S. Seventh Army, followed a day later by a force made up...
was launched.
List of U-boats in the Mediterranean
Success and failure
U-boats sunk by Allied submarines
Four U-boats were sunk by Allied submarines in the Mediterranean. was sunk on November 28, 1941 in the western Mediterranean, south-west of AlmeríaAlmería
Almería is a city in Andalusia, Spain, on the Mediterranean Sea. It is the capital of the province of the same name.-Toponym:Tradition says that the name Almería stems from the Arabic المرية Al-Mariyya: "The Mirror", comparing it to "The Mirror of the Sea"...
in position 36.24°N 03.20°W by torpedoes from the Dutch submarine HrMs O 21. 35 men died but 12 survived. was sunk on 21 January 1943 in the Mediterranean, west of Bonifacio
Andres Bonifacio
Andrés Bonifacio y de Castro was a Filipino nationalist and revolutionary. He was a founder and later Supremo of the Katipunan movement which sought the independence of the Philippines from Spanish colonial rule and started the Philippine Revolution...
, in position 41.27°N 07.04°E by torpedoes from the British submarine . 45 men dead but 1 survived. was sunk on 21 May 1943 in the western Mediterranean south of Toulon
Toulon
Toulon is a town in southern France and a large military harbor on the Mediterranean coast, with a major French naval base. Located in the Provence-Alpes-Côte-d'Azur region, Toulon is the capital of the Var department in the former province of Provence....
, in position 42.50°N 06.00°E by torpedoes from the British submarine
Submarine
A submarine is a watercraft capable of independent operation below the surface of the water. It differs from a submersible, which has more limited underwater capability...
. 20 men died and 28 survived. was sunk on January 12, 1942 in the western Mediterranean, east of Cape Spartivento, in position 37.50°N 16.00°E, by torpedoes from the British submarine . Only 1 person out of 45 survived.