U-130

Type

IXC

Ordered

7 Aug, 1939

Laid down

20 Aug, 1940

AG Weser, Bremen (werk 993)

Launched

14 Mar, 1941

Commissioned

11 Jun, 1941

Korvkpt. Ernst Kals (Knights Cross)

Commanders

11 Jun, 1941 - 1 Jan, 1943	KrvKpt. Ernst Kals (Knights Cross)
7 Feb, 1943 - 12 Mar, 1943	Oblt. Siegfried Keller

Career

6 patrols

11 Jun, 1941 - 31 Aug, 1941  4. Flottille (training)
1 Sep, 1941 - 30 Nov, 1941  2. Flottille (training)
1 Dec, 1941 - 12 Mar, 1943  2. Flottille (front boat)

Successes

21 ships sunk for a total of 127.608 GRT
3 auxiliary warships sunk for a total of 34.407 GRT
1 ship damaged for a total of 6.986 GRT

Fate

Sunk 12 Mar 1943 west of the Azores, in position 37.10N, 40.21W, by depth charges from the US destroyer USS Champlin. 53 dead (all hands lost).

See the 25 ships hit by U-130 - View the 6 war patrols

Wolfpack operations

U-130 operated with the following Wolfpacks during its career:
Westwall (25 Nov, 1942 - 25 Dec, 1942)
Unverzagt (12 Mar, 1943 - 12 Mar, 1943)

Attacks on this boat

12 Jan, 1942
While on the surface near Canada on his first patrol the boat was attacked by a Canadian aircraft, dropping 250 pound depth charges. Luckily for the boat the green aircrew botched up the attack and the boat escaped unharmed. (Sources: Blair, vol 1, page 470)

17 Jan, 1942
The boat was nearly lost when located by 2 Canadian "destroyers" and forced to submerge. The ice had caused equipment on the boat to freeze up and the boat took on 8 tons of seawater into the engine room. Luckily the "destroyers" dropped no depth charges, perhaps due to their equipment also being frozen. The U-boat crew managed to pump up the water and the boat headed southwards into warmer seas. (Sources: Blair, vol 1, page 471)

2 recorded attacks on this boat.

Men lost from U-boats

Unlike many other U-boats, which during their service lost men due to accidents and various other causes, U-130 did not suffer any casualties (we know of) until the time of her loss.