U-172

Type

IXC

Ordered

23 Dec, 1939

Laid down

11 Dec, 1940

AG Weser, Bremen (werk 1012)

Launched

31 Jul, 1941

Commissioned

5 Nov, 1941

Kptlt. Carl Emmermann (Oak Leaves)

Commanders

5 Nov, 1941 - 31 Oct, 1943	Kptlt. Carl Emmermann (Knights Cross)
1 Nov, 1943 - 13 Dec, 1943	Oblt. Hermann Hoffmann

Career

6 patrols

5 Nov, 1941 - 30 Apr, 1942 4. Flottille (training)
1 May, 1942 - 13 Dec, 1943 10. Flottille (front boat)

Successes

26 ships sunk for a total of 152.080 GRT

Fate

Sunk 13 December, 1943 in the mid-Atlantic after a 27 hour fight west of the Canary Islands, in position 26.29N, 29.58W, by depth charges and Fido homing torpedoes from Avenger and Wildcat aircraft (VC-19) of the American escort carrier USS Bogue and by some 200 depth charges from the US destroyers USS George E. Badger, USS Clemson, USS Osmond Ingram and USS Du Pont. 13 dead and 46 survivors.

See the 26 ships hit by U-172 - View the 6 war patrols

Wolfpack operations

U-172 operated with the following Wolfpacks during its career:
   Eisbär (23 Aug, 1942 - 29 Aug, 1942)
   Iltis (28 Nov, 1942 - 2 Dec, 1942)
   Unverzagt (12 Mar, 1943 - 22 Mar, 1943)
   Seerauber (22 Mar, 1943 - 30 Mar, 1943)

Attacks on this boat

8 Oct, 1942
The boat was depth charged by the British corvette HMS Rock Rose but suffered only slight damage.

28 Mar, 1943
Wolfpack Seeräuber (Pirate) attacked small convoy RS 3 and during which 3 ships were sunk and 3 U-boats (of 8) seriously damaged. U-172 damaged. (Sources: Blair, vol 2, page 204)

7 Apr, 1943
The boat was attacked by 2 American USAAF B-24 Liberator bombers (Sqdn 1) dropping 12 depth charges but the boat stayed on the surface and fought it out. No damages to the boat. (Sources: Blair, vol 2, page 204)

11 Aug, 1943
While rescuing men from the just-scuttled U-604 the U-172 was attacked by an aircraft and 1 man from its crew was killed. [Maschinenobergefreiter Fritz Schiemann]

4 recorded attacks on this boat.

Men lost from the boat

11 Aug, 1943
While rescuing men from the just-scuttled U-604 the U-172 was attacked by an aircraft and 1 man from its crew was killed. [Maschinenobergefreiter Fritz Schiemann]

Related: For more info on such losses see - Men lost from U-boats -