“German submarine U-99 (1940)”的意思、由来-开放百科全书

German submarine U-99 was a Type VIIB U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. She was laid down on 31 March 1939 at the Friedrich Krupp Germaniawerft in Kiel as yard number 593. She was launched on 12 March 1940 under the command of Korvettenkapitän Otto Kretschmer and was assigned to the 7th U-boat Flotilla based in Kiel and later in St Nazaire.

U-99 was one of the most successful German U-boats in the war, sinking 38 ships for a total tonnage of {{GRT|244,658|disp=long}} of Allied shipping in eight patrols. She damaged five more ships and took one vessel as a prize.

Design

German Type VIIB submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIA submarines. U-99 had a displacement of {{convert|753|t|LT}} when at the surface and {{convert|857|t|LT}} while submerged.{{sfn|Gröner|1991|pp=43–44}} She had a total length of {{convert|66.50|m|ftin|abbr=on}}, a pressure hull length of {{convert|48.80|m|ftin|abbr=on}}, a beam of {{convert|6.20|m|ftin|abbr=on}}, a height of {{convert|9.50|m|ftin|abbr=on}}, and a draught of {{convert|4.74|m|ftin|abbr=on}}. The submarine was powered by two Germaniawerft F46 four-stroke, six-cylinder supercharged diesel engines producing a total of {{convert|2800 to 3200|PS|kW shp|-1}} for use while surfaced, two BBC GG UB 720/8 double-acting electric motors producing a total of {{convert|750|PS|kW shp}} for use while submerged. She had two shafts and two {{convert|1.23|m|ft|abbr=on|0}} propellers. The boat was capable of operating at depths of up to {{convert|230|m}}.{{sfn|Gröner|1991|pp=43–44}}

The submarine had a maximum surface speed of {{convert|17.9|kn}} and a maximum submerged speed of {{convert|8|kn}}.{{sfn|Gröner|1991|pp=43–44}} When submerged, the boat could operate for {{convert|90|nmi}} at {{convert|4|kn}}; when surfaced, she could travel {{convert|8700|nmi}} at {{convert|10|kn}}. U-99 was fitted with five {{convert|53.3|cm|in|0|abbr=on}} torpedo tubes (four fitted at the bow and one at the stern), fourteen torpedoes, one {{convert|8.8|cm|in|2|abbr=on}} SK C/35 naval gun, 220 rounds, and one {{convert|2|cm|in|abbr=on}} anti-aircraft gun The boat had a complement of between forty-four and sixty.{{sfn|Gröner|1991|pp=43–44}}

Service history

From April to June 1940, the crew of U-99 were under training, based at Kiel and St. Nazaire.

1st patrol

On 18 June, U-99 departed Kiel for operations in the North Sea west of Norway. She was attacked by an Arado Ar-196 seaplane from the German battleship {{ship|German battleship|Scharnhorst||2}}, having been mistaken for a British submarine. Two days later, U-99 was attacked by two aircraft; minor damage was inflicted.^[1] She returned to Kiel on 25 June.

2nd patrol

U-99 departed Wilhelmshaven on 27 June to patrol southwest of Ireland. On 29 June, she was attacked by British aircraft. A crash dive was carried out with the result that the boat hit the seabed, causing some damage which was able to be repaired.^[1] During this patrol, U-99 sank six ships. A seventh was captured.(The Estonian Steam Merchantman SS Merisaar, 2,348-ton, carrying a load of Timber inroute from New Orleans, to Cork, Ireland.)^[2] An attack on the {{GRT|5,360|link=off}} {{SS|Manistee||2}} was called off on 7 July, when the armed merchant ship fired upon the U-boat.^[3] On 8 July, over 100 depth charges were dropped by the escorts of Convoy HX 53, but U-99 escaped undamaged.^[1] The patrol ended on 21 July.

3rd patrol

On 25 July, U-99 departed Lorient for the North Atlantic. Four ships were sunk and three others damaged. On the 31st, the escorts of Convoy OB 191 dropped 20 depth charges on the boat without effect. Later that evening, a flying boat also attacked her, again without causing any damage.^[1] The patrol ended on 5 August.

4th patrol

5th patrol

On 13 October, U-99 departed Lorient to patrol the North West Approaches. Six ships from Convoy SC 7 were sunk and another was damaged. The patrol ended on 22 October.

6th patrol

U-99 departed Lorient for the North West Approaches on 30 October 1940; four ships were sunk. The patrol ended on 8 November.

7th patrol

On 27 November, U-99 departed Lorient for the North Atlantic. Four ships were sunk. The patrol ended on 12 December.

8th patrol

U-99 departed Lorient on 22 February 1941 to patrol in the North Atlantic; eight ships were sunk. U-99 was attacked herself, with severe damage inflicted. Kretschmer surrendered and scuttled the submarine with the loss of three lives.

Fate

On 17 March 1941, U-99 had just fired the last of her torpedoes and sunk Korshamn when the Watch Officer spotted a destroyer, south-east of Iceland in approximate position {{coord|61|N|12|W|scale:20000000|display=inline, title}}. He immediately ordered a dive, contrary to Kretschmer's standing orders,{{sfn|Fairbank White|2006|p=79}} but once the boat was under it was quickly fixed on ASDIC and attacked by {{HMS|Walker|D27|6}} and {{HMS|Vanoc|H33|2}}. U-99 was driven deep by the attack but was nonetheless severely damaged. Kretschmer had no choice but to surface; immediately a barrage of fire greeted the boat. Kretschmer sent a message to Donald Macintyre, Walker{{'}}s captain, "CAPTAIN TO CAPTAIN. I AM SUNKING [sic] PLEASE RESCUE MY CREW."{{sfn|Fairbank White|2006|p=81}} He then ordered that the boat should be scuttled. Forty crew, including Kretschmer, were rescued to become POWs. Three crewmen – the engineering-officer and two ratings – lost their lives.^[11] The engineering officer re-entered the sinking U-boat and perished while opening the galley hatch, to hasten the boat's sinking and prevent the British from boarding it.^[12]

Macintyre took Kretschmer's binoculars as a souvenir.{{sfn|Fairbank White|2006|p=82–83}}

Wolfpack operations

See also

References

Notes

1. ^¹²³⁴{{cite web |url=http://uboat.net/boats/u99.htm |title=The Type IVVB boat U-99 |last=Helgason |first=Guðmundur |website=German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net |accessdate=17 November 2009}}
2. ^{{cite web |url=http://uboat.net/allies/merchants/ships/420.html |title=Merisaar |last=Helgason |first=Guðmundur |website=German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net |accessdate=17 November 2009}}
3. ^{{cite web |url=http://uboat.net/allies/merchants/775.html |title=HMS Manistee (F104) |last=Helgason |first=Guðmundur |website=German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net |accessdate=17 November 2009}}
4. ^Merchant ship tonnages are in gross register tons. Military vessels are listed by tons displacement.
5. ^Merchant ship tonnages are in gross register tons. Military vessels are listed by tons displacement.
6. ^Merchant ship tonnages are in gross register tons. Military vessels are listed by tons displacement.
7. ^Merchant ship tonnages are in gross register tons. Military vessels are listed by tons displacement.
8. ^Merchant ship tonnages are in gross register tons. Military vessels are listed by tons displacement.
9. ^Merchant ship tonnages are in gross register tons. Military vessels are listed by tons displacement.
10. ^Merchant ship tonnages are in gross register tons. Military vessels are listed by tons displacement.
11. ^{{Cite book |url=http://www.uboatarchive.net/U-99A/U-99INT.htm |title=C.B. 04051 (20) "U 99" Interrogation of Survivors |date=April 1941 | page=7|publisher=Naval Intelligence Division, Admiralty}}
12. ^{{Cite book |url=http://www.uboatarchive.net/U-99A/U-99INT.htm |title=C.B. 04051 (20) "U 99" Interrogation of Survivors |date=April 1941 | page=14 |publisher=Naval Intelligence Division, Admiralty}}