U-100

Type

VIIB

 
Ordered15 Dec 1937
Laid down 22 May 1939 F. Krupp Germaniawerft AG, Kiel (werk 594)
Launched10 Apr 1940
Commissioned30 May 1940Kptlt. Joachim Schepke (Oak Leaves)
Commanders
30 May 1940 - 17 Mar 1941  Kptlt. Joachim Schepke (Knights Cross)
Career6 patrols 30 May 1940 - 1 Aug 1940  7. Flottille (training)
1 Aug 1940 - 17 Mar 1941  7. Flottille (front boat)
Successes25 ships sunk for a total of 135,614 GRT
4 ships damaged for a total of 17,229 GRT
1 ship a total loss for a total of 2,205 GRT
Fate

Sank at 0318hrs on 17 March, 1941 south-east of Iceland, in approximate position 61N, 12W, after being rammed and depth charged by the British destroyers HMS Walker and HMS Vanoc. 38 dead and 6 survivors.

See the 30 ships hit by U-100 - View the 6 war patrols

Wolfpack operations

U-100 operated with the following Wolfpacks during its career:
   Without name (20 Sep 1940 - 22 Sep 1940)
   Without name (17 Oct 1940 - 19 Oct 1940)
   Without name (19 Oct 1940 - 20 Oct 1940)

Attacks on this boat

17 Aug 1940
At 20.45 hours, the boat was attacked by a destroyer with 7-8 depth charges, shortly after locating a convoy. The hydrophone was disabled and the boat lost contact to the ships. (Sources: Ritschel)

22 Sep 1940
At the end of its very successful attack on the convoy HX-72, the boat tried to hit the Putney Hill with the last torpedo at 02.57 hours, but missed and was driven away by the ship with 3 rounds. (Sources: Ritschel)

21 Oct 1940
During its attack on convoy HX-79, the boat was shelled by a tanker after missing it with a torpedo at 00.31 hours. No damages. (Sources: Ritschel)

23 Nov 1940
After its successful attack on convoy SC-11, the boat was forced to dive by a destroyer with illuminating shells and then attacked with depth charges, disabling the hydrophone. (Sources: Ritschel)

4 recorded attacks on this boat.

General notes on this boat

17 Mar 1941. U-100 was the first U-boat sunk after being located by radar. HMS Vanoc discovered her during an overcast night that would have kept U-100 safe from lookouts.

Men lost from U-boats

Unlike many other U-boats, which during their service lost men due to accidents and various other causes, U-100 did not suffer any casualties (we know of) until the time of her loss.


We have an emblem for this boat!

You can view it here. (The emblem on the left is not the emblem for this boat).



U-Boat Operations of the Second World War - Vol 2

Wynn, Kenneth


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Books dealing with this subject include:

German U-Boat Losses During World War II. Niestle, Axel, 1998.
Hitler's U-boat War. Blair, Clay, 1996.
Hitler's U-boat War, Vol II. Blair, Clay, 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.
U-Boot Fahrer von heute. Schepke, Joachim, 1940.


There was another U-100 in World War One
That boat was launched from its shipyard on 25 Feb 1917 and commissioned into the Imperial Navy on 17 Apr 1917. The Naval war in WWI was brought to an end with the Armistice signed on 11 Nov, 1918. Read about the U 100 during WWI.