U-47
Type | VIIB | |||
| Ordered | 21 Nov 1936 | |||
| Laid down | 27 Feb 1937 | F. Krupp Germaniawerft AG, Kiel (werk 582) | ||
| Launched | 29 Oct 1938 | |||
| Commissioned | 17 Dec 1938 | Oblt. Günther Prien | ||
| Commanders |
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| Career | 10 patrols | 17 Dec 1938 - 31 Aug 1939 7. Flottille (front boat) 1 Sep 1939 - 31 Dec 1939 7. Flottille (front boat) 1 Jan 1940 - 7 Mar 1941 7. Flottille (front boat) | ||
| Successes | 30 ships sunk for a total of 162,769 GRT 1 warship sunk for a total of 29,150 tons 8 ships damaged for a total of 62,751 GRT | |||
| Fate | Missing since 7 March, 1941 in North Atlantic near the Rockall Banks in approximate position 60.00N/19.00W. 45 dead (all hands lost). | |||
See the 39 ships hit by U-47 - View the 10 war patrols
Previously recorded fate
(Last revised by FDS/NHB during June 1991. More on revised fates.
There is till today not certain confirmation, how U-47 was lost. For years was it believed that the British destroyer HMS Wolverine sank U-47 on 8 March, 1941 after depth charges attacks, but the Wolverine actually attacked Eckermann's U-A.
Possible reasons for the loss of U-47 include mines, by its own torpedoes or by an attack by British corvettes HMS Camellia and HMS Arbutus.
Wolfpack operations
U-47 operated with the following Wolfpacks during its career:
Prien (12 Jun 1940 - 15 Jun 1940)
Without name (30 Aug 1940 - 9 Sep 1940)
Without name (20 Sep 1940 - 22 Sep 1940)
Without name (19 Oct 1940 - 20 Oct 1940)
Without name (1 Dec 1940 - 3 Dec 1940)
Attacks on this boat
5 Dec 1939
After sinking the British vessel Navasota British destroyers briefly depth charged the boat but she slipped away. (Sources: Blair, vol 1, page 120)
17 Apr 1940
The boat fired a torpedo at the British Battleship HMS Warspite but it missed (or more likely failed to detonate) and destroyers depth charged the boat. The date may be approximate (it was before April 19). (Sources: Blair, vol 1, page 154)
26 Feb 1941
The boat spent the day guiding in German Condor aircraft to attack a convoy. Its escorts depth charged the boat and she was also attacked by an aircraft Prien reported. (Sources: Blair, vol 1, page 238)
3 recorded attacks on this boat.
General notes on this boat
14 Oct 1939. On 14 Oct, 1939 the boat made its incredible raid on Scapa Flow sinking the British battleship HMS Royal Oak.
Men lost from the boat
5 Sep 1940
The boat lost a man overboard during use of the deck gun. [MtrOGfr Heinrich Mantyk]
Related: For more info on such losses see - Men lost from U-boats -
 | We have an emblem for this boat! You can view it here. (The emblem on the left is not the emblem for this boat). |
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Books dealing with this subject include:
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There was another U-47 in World War One
That boat was launched from its shipyard on 16 Aug 1915 and commissioned into the Imperial Navy on 28 Feb 1916. The Naval war in WWI was brought to an end with the Armistice signed on 11 Nov, 1918. Read about the U 47 during WWI.
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Related page: U-boats Missing in Action. |