U-122
Type | IXB | |||
| Ordered | 15 Dec, 1937 | |||
| Laid down | 5 Mar, 1939 | AG Weser, Bremen (werk 954) | ||
| Launched | 20 Dec, 1939 | |||
| Commissioned | 30 Mar, 1940 | Korvkpt. Hans-Günther Looff | ||
| Commanders |
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| Career | 2 patrols | 30 Mar, 1940 - 31 May, 1940 2. Flottille (training) 1 Jun, 1940 - 22 Jun, 1940 2. Flottille (front boat) | ||
| Successes | 1 ship sunk for a total of 5.911 GRT | |||
| Fate | Missing since 22 June, 1940 between the North Sea and the Bay of Biscay. 49 dead (all hands lost). | |||
See the 1 ships hit by U-122 - View the 2 war patrols
According to research done by FDS/NHB in December 1985 there is a possibility that this boat was lost due to underwater collision with the vessel San Filipe on June 22 in position 50.47N, 08.48W or by depth charges from the corvette HMS Arabis on June 23 in position 49.21N, 08.47W. But neither case can be proven to indicate U-122 or another U-boat attack, but they are a possibility nonetheless.
General notes on this boat
On her first patrol in May, 1940 U-122 transported some material to Trondheim (Norway) during the Norwegian campaign: one 8,8 cm Flak (anti-aircraft gun) with ammunition, some bombs, 90 cbm (some 750 barrels) fuel for aircraft and some motor oil.
On May 23, 1940 this boat encountered an enemy submarine in the North Atlantic, but neither boat attacked.
Men lost from U-boats
Unlike many other U-boats, which during their service lost men due to accidents and various other causes, U-122 did not suffer any casualties (we know of) until the time of her loss.
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Books dealing with this subject include: German U-Boat Losses During World War II, Niestle, Axel, 1998 To Kill The Leopard, Taylor, Theodore, 1993 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 |
There was another U-122 in World War One
That boat was launched from its shipyard on 9 Dec, 1917 and commissioned into the Imperial Navy on 4 May, 1918. The Naval war in WWI was brought to an end with the Armistice signed on 11 Nov, 1918. Read about the U 122 during WWI.
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Related page: U-boats Missing in Action. |