U-1
Type | IIA | |||||||
| Ordered | 2 Feb, 1935 | |||||||
| Laid down | 11 Feb, 1935 | Deutsche Werke, Kiel (werk 236) | ||||||
| Launched | 15 Jun, 1935 | |||||||
| Commissioned | 29 Jun, 1935 | Kptlt. Klaus Ewerth | ||||||
| Commanders |
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| Career | 2 patrols | 1 Jul, 1935 - 1 Sep, 1939 U-Bootschulflottille (school boat) 1 Sep, 1939 - 1 Feb, 1940 U-Bootschulflottille (school boat) 1 Mar, 1940 - 6 Apr, 1940 U-Bootschulflottille (front boat) | ||||||
| Successes | No ships sunk or damaged | |||||||
| Fate | The boat was lost around 6 April, 1940 in the North Sea, probably to a British mine in the mine barrage Field No 7. 24 dead (all hands lost). | |||||||
Mine barrage Field No 7 was laid by the destroyers HMS Express, HMS Esk, HMS Icarus and HMS Impulsive in the North Sea on 3 March, 1940. It probably accounted for several U-boats on their inbound or return journey.
Another explanation is that she was sunk by a mine laid by the British submarine HMS Narwhal in position 54.37N, 03.35E.
Previously recorded fate (Last revised by FDS/NHB during December 1993). More on revised fates
It was believed that U-1 was sunk on 16 April, 1940 in the North Sea southwest of Stavanger, Norway, in position 58.18N, 05.47E, by a torpedo from the British submarine HMS Porpoise. But this attack was against U-3, which escaped unharmed.
Men lost from U-boats
Unlike many other U-boats, which during their service lost men due to accidents and various other causes, U-1 did not suffer any casualties (we know of) until the time of her loss.
 U-Bootkrieg 1939-1945 (Band 1), Der Busch, Rainer and Röll, Hans Joachim Buy this title at amazon.de EUR 39.90 ( -6% off |
Books dealing with this subject include: German Submarines, Lenton, H.T., 1965 German U-Boat Losses During World War II, Niestle, Axel, 1998 U-Boat Operations of the Second World War - Vol 1, Wynn, Kenneth, 1998 U-Boat Operations of the Second World War - Vol 2, Wynn, Kenneth, 1998  Der U-Bootkrieg 1939-1945 (Band 1), Busch, Rainer and Röll, Hans Joachim, 1996 (transl.) |
There was another U-1 in World War One
That boat was launched from its shipyard on 4 Aug, 1909 and commissioned into the Imperial Navy on 14 Dec, 1906. The Naval war in WWI was brought to an end with the Armistice signed on 11 Nov, 1918. Read about the U 1 during WWI.
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Related page: U-boats Missing in Action. |