uboat.net

The Men - The Commander listing

Ernst Kals

Kapitän zur See (Crew 24)


Successes
17 ships sunk for a total of 111.249 GRT
3 auxiliary warships sunk for a total of 34.407 GRT
1 ship damaged for a total of 6.986 GRT

Born  2 Aug, 1905Glauschau, Saxony
Died  2 Nov, 1979Emden


Kapitän zur See Ernst Kals wearing his Knights Cross.

Ranks

1 Apr, 1925Seekadett
1 Apr, 1926Fähnrich zur See
1 May, 1928Oberfähnrich zur See
1 Oct, 1928Leutnant zur See
1 Jul, 1930Oberleutnant zur See
1 Apr, 1935Kapitänleutnant
1 Aug, 1939Korvettenkapitän
1 Jun, 1943Fregattenkapitän
1 Sep, 1944Kapitän zur See

Decorations

18 Dec, 1939Iron Cross 2nd Class
18 Dec, 1941Iron Cross 1st Class
18 Dec, 1941U-boat War Badge 1939
1 Sep, 1942Knights Cross

U-boat Commands

U-13011 Jun, 1941 - 1 Jan, 1943  5 patrols (286 days) 

Personal information

Ernst Kals began his 18-year career in the German Navy in 1924. After a few years on torpedo boats and light cruisers he transferred to the U-boat arm in October 1940. After one patrol on U-37, in June 1941 he commissioned U-130.

With this boat he was one of the first five commanders who operated off the US east coast during Operation Drumbeat. On his next patrol Kals operated in the Caribbean Sea, where he attacked the oil depot at Bullenbay (Curacao) with gunfire. In September 1941 he was awarded the Knights Cross.



Korvkpt. Ernst Kals got a 'warm' welcome
after receiving his Knights Cross.

But his greatest success was achieved on 12 November 1942, when he attacked the heavily guarded transport ships on the Fedala roads in Morocco. In five minutes he sank three large transport vessels for a total of 34,507 tons.

In January 1943 he became commander of the 2nd Flotilla based in Lorient, France where he remained to the end of the war. From May 1945 to January 1948 Kapitän zur See Ernst Kals was held in French captivity.


Patrol info


 U-boatDeparture Arrival  
1. U-130 1 Dec, 1941  Kiel 16 Dec, 1941  Lorient Patrol,16 days
2. U-130 27 Dec, 1941  Lorient 25 Feb, 1942  Lorient Patrol,61 days
3. U-130 24 Mar, 1942  Lorient 6 Jun, 1942  Lorient Patrol,75 days
4. U-130 4 Jul, 1942  Lorient 12 Sep, 1942  Lorient Patrol,71 days
5. U-130 29 Oct, 1942  Lorient 30 Dec, 1942  Lorient Patrol,63 days

5 patrols, 286 days at sea

Ships hit by Ernst Kals


Date BoatName of shipTonsNat.ConvoyFate *
10 Dec, 1941 U-130Kirnwood3.829 br SC-57 
10 Dec, 1941 U-130Kurdistan5.844 br SC-57 
10 Dec, 1941 U-130Star of Luxor5.298 ag SC-57 
 
13 Jan, 1942 U-130Friar Rock5.427 pa 
13 Jan, 1942 U-130Frisco1.582 nw 
21 Jan, 1942 U-130Alexandra Høegh8.248 nw 
25 Jan, 1942 U-130Varanger9.305 nw 
27 Jan, 1942 U-130Francis E. Powell7.096 am 
27 Jan, 1942 U-130Halo6.986 am damaged
11 Apr, 1942 U-130Grenanger5.393 nw 
12 Apr, 1942 U-130Esso Boston7.699 am 
25 Jul, 1942 U-130Tankexpress10.095 nw 
27 Jul, 1942 U-130Elmwood7.167 br 
30 Jul, 1942 U-130Danmark8.391 br 
9 Aug, 1942 U-130Malmanger7.078 nw 
11 Aug, 1942 U-130Mirlo7.455 nw 
25 Aug, 1942 U-130Viking Star6.445 br 
26 Aug, 1942 U-130Beechwood4.897 br 
12 Nov, 1942 U-130USS Edward Rutledge (AP 52)9.360 am UGF-1 
12 Nov, 1942 U-130USS Hugh L. Scott (AP 43)12.479 am UGF-1 
12 Nov, 1942 U-130USS Tasker H. Bliss (AP 42)12.568 am UGF-1 
 152.642

* Unless otherwise noted the ships listed here were sunk.


Decorations and ranks information is in many cases not complete. If you can help on any of those missing that would be great.

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