Wolf pack Schlieffen
Encyclopedia
Schlieffen was a wolfpack of German
U-boat
s that operated during the battle of the Atlantic in World War II
.
It consisted of 6 boats from the disbanded group Rossbach
, plus 7 others from bases in France
and Germany
, while another, U-455, joined from patrol in the Mid Atlantic.
Whilst moving into position a number of boats came under attack, principally from aircraft from USS Card, which was operating against their re-fuelling operation.
The tanker U-488
was attacked on 12 October, but suffered little damage; however U-731, which was also attacked later that day was forced to return to base.
On 13 October 2 more boats (U-402
and U-603) were attacked, and both were destroyed.
Another 2 boats, U-631 and U-455 collided; both were damaged, and U-455 was forced to retire to base for repairs, while U-631, with her torpedo tubes out of action, was put on observation duties.
From 15 October Schlieffen operated against convoys ONS 20 and ON 206, which were travelling together; U-boat
s from Schlieffen sank one ship of 6625 GRT
, but lost 6 boats (U-470, U-540, U-630, U-841, U-844 and U-964) in one of the most calamitous nights of the campaign for the U-boat arm (U-Bootwaffe,UBW)
Schlieffen was disbanded after this attack, with a number of it boats forming the nucleus of a new group, code-named Siegfried
.
was a German
field marshal
and strategist
of the 19th Century.
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
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...
s that operated during the battle of the Atlantic in World War II
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...
.
Service history
Schlieffen was formed in October 1943 to operate against the North Atlantic convoy routes and comprised 14 boats.It consisted of 6 boats from the disbanded group Rossbach
Wolf pack Rossbach
Rossbach was a wolfpack of German U-boats that operated during the battle of the Atlantic in World War II.-Service history:Rossbach was formed in October 1943 to operate against the North Atlantic convoy routes and comprised 21 boats....
, plus 7 others from bases in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, while another, U-455, joined from patrol in the Mid Atlantic.
Whilst moving into position a number of boats came under attack, principally from aircraft from USS Card, which was operating against their re-fuelling operation.
The tanker U-488
German submarine U-488
German submarine U-488 was a Type XIV supply and replenishment U-boat of the German Kriegsmarine during World War II....
was attacked on 12 October, but suffered little damage; however U-731, which was also attacked later that day was forced to return to base.
On 13 October 2 more boats (U-402
German submarine U-402
German submarine U-402 was a Type VIIC U-boat built for the German Kriegsmarine for service during World War II.U-402 commanded by Kapitänleutnant Siegfried von Forstner carried out eight combat patrols sinking 14 merchantmen and one warship during the Second World War. U-402 also damaged three...
and U-603) were attacked, and both were destroyed.
Another 2 boats, U-631 and U-455 collided; both were damaged, and U-455 was forced to retire to base for repairs, while U-631, with her torpedo tubes out of action, was put on observation duties.
From 15 October Schlieffen operated against convoys ONS 20 and ON 206, which were travelling together; 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...
s from Schlieffen sank one ship of 6625 GRT
Tonnage
Tonnage is a measure of the size or cargo carrying capacity of a ship. The term derives from the taxation paid on tuns or casks of wine, and was later used in reference to the weight of a ship's cargo; however, in modern maritime usage, "tonnage" specifically refers to a calculation of the volume...
, but lost 6 boats (U-470, U-540, U-630, U-841, U-844 and U-964) in one of the most calamitous nights of the campaign for the U-boat arm (U-Bootwaffe,UBW)
Schlieffen was disbanded after this attack, with a number of it boats forming the nucleus of a new group, code-named Siegfried
Wolf pack Siegfried
Siegfried was a "wolfpack" of German U-boats that operated during the battle of the Atlantic in World War II.-Service history:Siegfried was formed in October 1943to operate against the North Atlantic convoy routes and comprised 18 boats....
.
U-boats involved
- U-91German submarine U-91 (1941)German submarine U-91 was a Type VIIC U-boat of the German Kriegsmarine that saw service during World War II. The U-boat completed six wartime patrols and sank one warship totalling , and damaged four for a total of ....
- U-231
- U-267
- U-271
- U-413
- U-426
- U-437
- U-448
- U-540
- U-668
- U-762
- U-841
- U-842
The name
Schlieffen was named for Count Alfred von Schlieffen, the German strategistwas a German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
field marshal
Field Marshal
Field Marshal is a military rank. Traditionally, it is the highest military rank in an army.-Etymology:The origin of the rank of field marshal dates to the early Middle Ages, originally meaning the keeper of the king's horses , from the time of the early Frankish kings.-Usage and hierarchical...
and strategist
Strategist
A design strategist has the ability to combine the innovative, perceptive and holistic insights of a designer with the pragmatic and systemic skills of a planner to guide strategic direction in context of business needs, brand intent, design quality and customer values...
of the 19th Century.