U-131

Type

IXC

Ordered

7 Aug, 1939

Laid down

1 Sep, 1940

AG Weser, Bremen (werk 994)

Launched

1 Apr, 1941

Commissioned

1 Jul, 1941

Korvkpt. Arend Baumann

Commanders

1 Jul, 1941 - 17 Dec, 1941

KrvKpt. Arend Baumann

Career

1 patrol

1 Jul, 1941 - 1 Nov, 1941 4. Flottille (training)
1 Nov, 1941 - 17 Dec, 1941 2. Flottille (front boat)

Successes

1 ship sunk for a total of 4.016 GRT

Fate

Sunk 17 Dec, 1941 north-east of Madeira, Portugal, in position 34.12N, 13.35W, by depth charges and gunfire from the British escort destroyers HMS Exmoor and HMS Blankney, the British destroyer HMS Stanley, the British corvette HMS Pentstemon and the British sloop HMS Stork* and by gunfire from a Martlet aircraft** (802 Sqdn FAA) of the British escort carrier HMS Audacity. 47 survivors taken prisoner. 47 survivors (No casualties).

See the 1 ships hit by U-131 - View the 1 war patrol

Attacks on this boat

17 Dec, 1941
Aircraft attack, aircraft shot down:British Martlet (802 Sqdn FAA, pilot SubLt George R.P. Fletcher, RNVR)

The sinking of U-131At 09.25 hours, the boat was spotted and forced to dive by a Martlet aircraft of HMS Audacity while shadowing the convoy HG-76. Walker on HMS Stork immediately raced to the contact together with four other escorts. After about one hour, HMS Stanley made contact and HMS Pentstemon carried out several depth charges attack on the boat, which was badly damaged and forced to surface due to chlorine gas from the batteries at 12.47 hours. Unable to dive again, Baumann then tried to escape at full speed on the surface. After 20 minutes, a Martlet aircraft strafed the boat, but was hit by AA fire during the attack run and crashed into the sea, killing the pilot. In the meantime the escorts began shelling U-131 from a distance of about 7 nautical miles and scored several hits when closing in. The boat fired at HMS Blankney without scoring a hit and was eventually scuttled by the crew at 13.30 hours.

This was the first aircraft shot down by a U-boat in the war.

1 recorded attacks on this boat.

General notes on this boat

* Commander of HMS Stork was the famous Lieutenant Commander F. J. (Johnnie) Walker .

** Just minutes before being sunk U-131 shot down a British Martlet aircraft.

Men lost from U-boats

Unlike many other U-boats, which during their service lost men due to accidents and various other causes, U-131 did not suffer any casualties (we know of) until the time of her loss.