U-boats in operation, August 1939

[CNE503]

Hello,

Does anyone know what were the German submarines that were sent in operation in the Atlantic between August 19th and 29th 1939?
I read that there were 17 of them (and sometimes 18), but I'm unable to trace them individually.
I guess it was the following ones: U 27, U 28, U 29, U 30, U 33, U 34, U 37, U 38, U 39, U 40, U 41, U 45, U 46, U 47, U 48, U 52, U 53. Am I right?
Thanks for your help.
Cheers,

CNE503

[tigre]

Hello CNE503 ; in short....................

Pre-war deployment........................

On August 19, 1939 and as it had been foreseen sailed the following boats:

U-Flotille “Wegener” (Type VIIB): U 45 (Kplt. Alexander Gelhaar, IWO OLt. z.S Ernst v. Bergen-Windels, WO Lt. z. S. Heinz Döring); U 46 (Kplt Herbert Sohler, IWO Oblt Erich Topp); U 47 (Kplt Günther Prien, IWO Oblt Engelbert Endrass, IIWO Lt. Amelung v. Varendorff); U 48 (Kplt. Herbert Schulze, IWO Lt. Reinhard Suhren, IIWO Lt. Otto Ites); U 52 (Kplt. Wolfgang Barten, IWO Hans-Jürgen Radke, IIWO Lt. Wolfgang Römer) from Kiel;

U-Flotilla “Hundius” (Type IXA): U 37 (Kplt. Heinrich Schuch, IWO Oblt Ernst Bauer), U 38 (Kplt. Heinrich Liebe, IWO Olt. z. S. Wolfgang Lüth), U 39 (Kplt. Gerhard Glattes; IWO Olt. Friedrich von Gärzke; IIWO Lt. Dietrich Jahr), U 40 (Kplt. Werner v. Schmidt, IWO Lt. Paul-Karl Loeser), U 41 (Olt. Gustav Adolf Mugler; IWO Olt. Adolf Gerlach, WO Olt. Jürgen Sander) from Wilhelmshaven. The tactical command of the whole group was in hand of the Commander of U-Flotille "Hundius" (6.), KKpt. Werner Hartmann aboard of U 37. Of these boats, U 39 did not come back and would be lost in action in what would be its first and last patrol.

Besides four boats of the U-Flotilla “Saltzwedel” (Type VIIA): U 28 (Olt. Günther Kuhnke, IWO Olt. z. S. Hans-Jürgen Zetzsch), U 29 (Kplt. Otto Schuhart, IWO Lt. Georg Lassen, IIWO Ludwig Forster), U 33 (Kplt. Hans-Wilhelm v. Dresky, IWO Olt. Hans Heidtmann), U 34 (Kplt. Wilhelm Rollmann, IWO Olt. Wilfried Prellberg) from Wilhelmshaven.

On August 22, 1939 at 03:00 hours sailed from Wilhelmshaven U 30 (Olt. Fritz-Julius Lemp, IWO Olt. Hans-Peter Hinsch, IIWO Lt Friedrich Bothe). On August 23, 1939 at 23:00 hours, and with the storm at the gates, sailed from Wilhelmshaven U 27 (Kplt. Johannes Franz; IWO Olt. Werner Kolb; IIWO Olt. Hermann Beckmann); this boat also would be lost in action in what would be its first and last patrol.

Also effective since August 24, 1939 came into force the so called Maßnahme Schweden (Measure Sweden), it was intended to prevent that Poles ships can sail to the North Sea. Here were engaged U 31 (Kplt. Johannes Habekost, IWO Olt. Heinz-Otto Schulze), U 32 (Kplt. Paul Büchel, IWO Olt. Hans Jenisch) and U 35 (Kplt. Werner Lott, IWO Olt. Hans-Bernhard Michalowski). These boats sailed to Memel on August 24, 1939 arriving there on August 26, 1939.

On August 29, 1939 sailed from Wilhelmshaven U 26 (Kptlt. Klaus Ewerth, IWO Olt. Ottokar Arnold Paulsen, IIWO Lt. Horst Hamm) and U 53 (Kplt. Heinz-Günther Heinicke, IWO Olt. Heinrich Schonder), aboard was the Commander of the 7. U-Flotille. On August 31, 1939 sailed from Wilhelmshaven U 36 (Kplt. Wilhelm Fröhlich).

Sources: KTB U-Bootwaffe. 1923 - 1938. Das Kriegstagebuch der U-Bootwaffe von Roland Berr.
Fotoalbum-U-Boot-Atlantikboot-Feindfahrten-FrontbootTop bei eBay_de 1918-1945 (endet 14_02_10 200556 MEZ)
http://www.uboatarchive.net/BDUKTB.htm

Cheers. Raúl M .

[CNE503]

Hello Raul!
Thanks for this!
I will exploit this right now!

Cheers,
CNE503

[tigre]

Hello CNE503 ; you're welcome. Take in account that I've checked the crew list for those U boats, however It's my own compilation. Cheers. Raúl M .

[CNE503]

Hello Raul!

What about the following submarines: U 5, U 6, U 7, U 14, U 18, U 22 and U 57?
It seems to have been sent to screen the Polish navy along the Bay of Danzig, is it right? If so, have you their day of departure from Kiel or Pillau?

Cheers,

CNE503

[tigre]

Hello CNE503 ; in short.............................................

Submarine warfare in the Baltic 1939. Pre-war deployment!

On the occasion of the plans against Poland (Fall Weiss) Kap.z.S. Dönitz took over as FdU-Ost with his HQ in Swinemünde, while Kpt.z.S. Ibbeken took over as FdU-West. Due to Case White, the small German U boats type II A/B U 5, U 6, U 7, U 14, U 18 and U 22 were deployed to the Baltic; of these U 14 (Kplt. Horst Wellner), U 18 (Kplt. Max-Hermann Bauer; IWO Oblt.z.S. Udo Heilmann) and U 22 (Kplt. Werner Winter) as part of "Transportübung Lübeck" sailed from Kiel to Memel on August 23, 1939. The U boats type II C of the newly created Emsmann Flotilla U 56, U 57, U 58 and U 59 would operate against the Polish coast as part of Unternehmen "Gustav".

On August 25, 1939 the Maßnahme Ulla (Measure Ulla) was put into effect; it was intended to monitor the eastern access of the Canal and British ports from Latitude 0º. At 04:00 hours sailed U 13 (Kplt. Hans-Gerrit von Stockhausen), 15 (Kplt. Heinz Buchholz), 17 (Kplt. Heinz von Reiche), 21 (Kplt. Fritz Frauenheim), 23 (Kplt. Otto Kretschmer), 12 (Kplt. Dietrich von der Ropp), 16 (Kplt. Hannes Weingärtner), 20 (Kplt. Karl-Heinz Moehle), 24 (Kplt. Udo Behrens), 56 (Kplt. Wilhelm Zahn, IWO Lt. z.S. Herwig Collmann, WO Obstrm Kurt Pressel), 58 (Kplt. Herbert Kuppisch), 59 (Oblt. z.S. Harald Jürst). At 10:00 hours sailed U 9 (Kplt. Ludwig Mathes) and U 19 (Kplt. Hans Meckel). Six U boats were available in Wilhelmshaven.

On August 26, 1939, U 22 and U 57 (Kplt. Klaus Korth, IWO Lt. Kurt Reichenbach-Klinke) sailed from Memel (the last left Neustadt on August 15, 1939).

On August 30, 1939 at midnight the U boat Type IIA U 6 (kplt. Joachim Matz, IWO Oblt.z.S. Klaus Bargsten) sailed from Kiel together with her twin U 5 (Kplt. Günter Kutschmann) and the Type IIB U 7 (Oblt.z.S. Werner Heidel). The mission of these U boats was to patrol the waters of the Kattegat and monitor the maritime traffic out of the Baltic. On this day also sailed from Memel the U 14 and U 18.

on August 31, 1939 Dönitz moved his HQ to Wilhelmshaven and assumed as FdU-West, the new FdU-Ost was FKpt. Schomburg.

Sources: Vom Original Zum Modell – Uboottyp II.
http://www.ubootarchiv.de/ubootwiki/index.php/1939
http://www.uboatarchive.net/BDUKTB.htm
http://historisches-marinearchiv.de/pro ... eitung.php

Hope be useful. Cheers. Raúl M .

[CNE503]

Raul,

That's great. Thanks again for your constant help, dear friend.
Cheers,

CNE503

[tigre]

Do not mention it . Cheers. Raúl M .

[tigre]

Hello to all ; a query: Unternehmen Fritz 1939.
During the planning of the Fall Weiss, or the attack on Poland in 1939, the Submarine Force planned several operations (some were not subsequently executed). One of these was the Unternehmen Fritz:
 July 20, 1939 the U 37 planned for Operation FRITZ3 in Fall Weiss 31 / 07-05 / 08/39.
August 22, 1939 Operation FRITZ will not take place.
Source: https://historisches-marinearchiv.de/pr ... var2=wert2
http://www.ebay.de/itm/like/15293561370 ... rmvSB=true

Does anyone have more details? Cheers. Raúl M .

[tigre]

Hello to all ; more: Unternehmen Fritz 1939.
This operation sought to recognize the Gulf of Finland and by the foreseen boats, I presume that it was a very important operation and not intended against the Poles precisely ..... Canceled on August 22, 1939.
Period between July 16 to July 30, 1939.
Fritz1 - U 29; Fritz2 - U 33; Fritz3 - U 45; Fritz4 - U 46; Fritz5 - U 47; Fritz6 - U 35

Period between July 31 to August 5, 1939.
Fritz1 - U 51; Fritz2 - U 52; Fritz3 - U 37; Fritz4 - U 38; Fritz5 - U 45; Fritz6 - U 46

Period between August 06 to 19, 1939
Fritz1 - U 12; ; Fritz2 - U 16; Fritz3 - U 14; Fritz4 - U 20; Fritz5 - U 24; Fritz6 - U 18?

Period from August 20, 1939
Fritz1 - U 12; ; Fritz2 - U 16; Fritz3 - U 14; Fritz4 - U 20; Fritz5 - U 24; Fritz6 - U 18

Source: https://historisches-marinearchiv.de/pr ... uik=search
Nr.56 Unterseeboote auslaufend U-Boot submarine Päckchen Feldpost Nr.242

Cheers. Raúl M .

[tigre]

Hello to all ; more: Unternehmen Irmgard 1939.
This operation sought to Patrol in the Baltic Sea to observe the shipping in the Irbe Strait. ..... on August 22, 1939 at 22:30 hours the following radio message was made immediately to the 3rd U-Flotilla: "Operation Fritz cancelled. On receipt of code-word only operation Irmgard is to be carried out by U 22. Remaining boats of 3rd U-Flotilla are to remain in the Rügen area until further orders.".

Foreseen for "Irmgard" in Fall Weiss.

Period between July 16 to July 30, 1939.
U 34

Period between July 31 to August 5, 1939.
U 47

Period as of August 06, 1939
U 22

Source: https://historisches-marinearchiv.de/pr ... uik=search
http://www.uboatarchive.net/BDU/BDUKTB30247.htm
https://uboot-recherche.de/en/U22-5518

Cheers. Raúl M .

[tigre]

Hello to all ; Unternehmen Gustav.

This operation had as its purpose the planned reconnaissance in front of the island of Gotland. The FdU set the following objective: For U boats "Gustav 4" in particular, monitoring off Libau against incoming Polish forces and attack them after the start of hostilities. The U boats in "Gustav 2" and "Gustav 3" if possible on the surface, acting as repeaters for radio transmissions.

After the German-Soviet non-aggression pact, the operation was suspended. Only U 57 was possibly employed. It is no longer possible to reconstruct the exact sequence of events and many questions about the "Unternehmen Gustav" remain open.

For the Case "White" the attack on Poland, 4 groups were planned:

Gustav 1 - Grids 433, 434, 493, 494 G; Gustav 2 - Grids 910, 911, 970, 971, 1030, 1031 G; Gustav 3 - Grids 1148, 1149, 1208, 1209, 1268, 1269 G; Gustav 4 - Qrids 1324, 1325, 1384, 1385 G

Period between July 16 to July 30, 1939.
Gustav1 - U 56; Gustav2 - U 58; Gustav3 - U 59; Gustav4 - U 57.

Period between July 31 to August 5, 1939.
Gustav1 - U 39; Gustav2 - U 48; Gustav3 - U 41; Gustav4 - U 40.

Period between August 06 to 19, 1939
Gustav1 - U 45; Gustav2 - U 46; Gustav3 - U 47; Gustav4 - U 51.

Period from August 20, 1939
Gustav1 - U 28; Gustav2 - U 33; Gustav3 - U 34; Gustav4 - U 26.

Source: http://www.ubootarchiv.de/ubootwiki/ind ... men_Gustav
https://www.forum-marinearchiv.de/smf/i ... c=29317.30
http://www.ebay.de/itm/U-Boot-U-57-Lieg ... 1650662235

Cheers. Raúl M .