The U-boat war in Maps

The Mediterranean

The first boats to enter the area were the U-97 and U-559 on 26 Sept, 1941. Any U-boat that entered the Mediterranean was lost forever to the Battle of the Atlantic as the currents in the Straits of Gibraltar were simply too strong to escape that way again while submerged (the only feasible way due to strong Allied ASW patrols in the Straits).

In this body of water the allies successfully tried a new ASW tactic called Swamp, see file on U-371 (Oblt. Horst-Arno Fenski) for more info.

Related content
U-boats in the Mediterranean - see the operations, losses and victories

U-boats lost in the Mediterranean

German U-boats lost in the Mediterranean. The following 10 U-boats were lost at Toulon, France during July and August 1944, through allied air raids;
    U-380, U-410, U-421, U-466, U-471,
    U-586, U-642, U-952, U-967 and U-969.

Selected media links


British Submarines 1939-45

Innes McCartney (2006)


amazon.co.uk
(£ 9.99)


U-Boats Beyond Biscay

Bernard Edwards (2017)


amazon.com
($ 13.84)

amazon.co.uk
(£ 12.15)


Periscope patrol

Turner, John Frayn (2009)


amazon.com
($ 34.16)

amazon.co.uk
(£ 19.99)


Struggle for the middle sea

O'Hara, Vincent P. (2009)


The Naval War in the Mediterranean 1940-1943

Greene, Jack and Massignani, Alessandro (1999)


The Maps