U-190

Type

IXC/40

Ordered

4 Nov 1940

Laid down

7 Oct 1941

AG Weser, Bremen (werk 1036)

Launched

8 Jun 1942

Commissioned

24 Sep 1942

Kptlt. Max Wintermeyer

Commanders

24 Sep 1942	-	5 Jul 1944		Kptlt. Max Wintermeyer
6 Jul 1944	-	12 May 1945		Oblt. Hans-Erwin Reith

Career
6 patrols

24 Sep 1942	-	28 Feb 1943	4. Flottille (training)
1 Mar 1943	-	30 Sep 1944	2. Flottille (active service)
1 Oct 1944	-	1 May 1945	33. Flottille (active service)

Successes

1 ship sunk, total tonnage 7,015 GRT
1 warship sunk, total tonnage 590 tons

Fate

Surrendered on 14 May 1945 at Bay Bulls, Newfoundland.

The boat was taken to St. John's in June and then to Halifax, Canada.

Final location

See the 2 ships hit by U-190 - View the 6 war patrols

She was used for tests and finally sunk 21 Oct, 1947 off Nova Scotia by bombs and gunfire from the Canadian destroyer HMCS Nootka and the Canadian minesweeper HMCS New Liskeard and several Fireflies and Seafire aircraft.

Wolfpack operations

U-190 operated with the following Wolfpacks during its career:
   Neuland (4 Mar 1943 - 6 Mar 1943)
   Ostmark (6 Mar 1943 - 11 Mar 1943)
   Stürmer (11 Mar 1943 - 19 Mar 1943)
   Without name (5 May 1943 - 10 May 1943)

Attacks on this boat

28 May 1943
The boat was bombed by an American B-24 (pilot J. M. Vivian) off Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, causing severe damage. The crew were able to effect repairs and continue the patrol. (Sources: Blair, vol 2, page 347)

23 Oct 1943
While escorting convoy GUS-18 the American destroyer USS Turner (DD-648) engaged a surfaced U-boat ahead of the convoy with gunfire and dropped depth charges as it dived. U-190 escaped almost unharmed. (Sources: http://www.ussturner.org/history648.php)

2 recorded attacks on this boat.

General notes on this boat

Read about U-190's career, both in German and Canadian hands here.

The Crow's Nest Officers Club in St. John's, Newfoundland had a ceremony on 22 Oct. 1998 to celebrate the complete refurbishment of U-190's periscope, installed in the club since 1963. It had apparently finally succumbed to 35 years of "horrible weather" overlooking Water Street outside the club.

21 Oct 1947. U-190 was sunk by the Royal Canadian Navy on 21 October 1947 as a training exercise called "Operation Scuttled". The site chosen was the position off Halifax where she sank HMCS Esquimalt in 1945, the last Canadian vessel lost to enemy action in WW2.

Schnorchel-fitted U-boat
This boat was fitted with a Schnorchel underwater-breathing apparatus and sailed equipped with it in August 1944 but it was of course installed prior to that date. Read more about the Schnorchel and see list of fitted boats.

Men lost from U-boats

Unlike many other U-boats, which during their service lost men due to accidents and various other causes, U-190 did not suffer any casualties (we know of) until the time of her loss.