U-45
Type | VIIB | |||
| Ordered | 21 Nov, 1936 | |||
| Laid down | 23 Feb, 1937 | Germaniawerft, Kiel (werk 580) | ||
| Launched | 27 Apr, 1938 | |||
| Commissioned | 25 Jun, 1938 | Kptlt. Alexander Gelhaar | ||
| Commanders |
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| Career | 2 patrols | 25 Jun, 1938 - 31 Aug, 1939 7. Flottille (front boat) 1 Sep, 1939 - 14 Oct, 1939 7. Flottille (front boat) | ||
| Successes | 2 ships sunk for a total of 19.313 GRT | |||
| Fate | Sunk 14 Oct 1939 south-west of Ireland, in position 50.58N, 12.57W, by depth charges from the British destroyers HMS Inglefield, HMS Ivanhoe and HMS Intrepid. 38 dead (all hands lost). | |||
See the 2 ships hit by U-45 - View the 2 war patrols
Men lost from U-boats
Unlike many other U-boats, which during their service lost men due to accidents and various other causes, U-45 did not suffer any casualties (we know of) until the time of her loss.
 German U-Boat Losses During World War II Niestle, Axel Buy this title at amazon.co.uk See more sellers |
Books dealing with this subject include: 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 |
There was another U-45 in World War One
That boat was launched from its shipyard on 15 Apr, 1915 and commissioned into the Imperial Navy on 9 Oct, 1915. The Naval war in WWI was brought to an end with the Armistice signed on 11 Nov, 1918. Read about the U 45 during WWI.