U-47
Type | VIIB | |||
| Ordered | 21 Nov, 1936 | |||
| Laid down | 27 Feb, 1937 | Germaniawerft, 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)
5 Sep, 1940
The boat lost a man overboard during use of the deck gun. [MtrOGfr Heinrich Mantyk]
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)
4 recorded attacks on this boat.
General notes on this boat
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 -
 U-Boats of World War Two Volume 1 Stern, Robert C. Buy this title at amazon.co.uk See more sellers |
Books dealing with this subject include: Battle Beneath the Waves, Stern, Robert C., 1999 Black Saturday, McKee, Alexander, 1966 German U-Boat Losses During World War II, Niestle, Axel, 1998  Le Mystere de Scapa Flow, Korganoff, Alexandre, 1969 (transl.) Prien greift, Frank, Wolfgang, 1942 Prien, Günther, Alman, Karl, 1981 The Royal Oak Disaster, Snyder, Gerald S., 1976 (transl.) The Star of Shame, Hickey, Des & Smith, Gus, 1989 Der Stier von Scapa Flow, Frank, Wolfgang, 1958 (transl.) Submarines!, Miller, Carey, 1971 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-Boats of World War Two Volume 1, Stern, Robert C., 1988 Verdammter Atlantik, Herlin, Hans, 1994 (transl.) |
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. |