U-206

Type

VIIC

Ordered

16 Oct 1939

Laid down

17 Jun 1940

F. Krupp Germaniawerft AG, Kiel (werk 635)

Launched

4 Apr 1941

Commissioned

17 May 1941

Oblt. Herbert Opitz

Commanders

17 May 1941

30 Nov 1941

Kptlt. Herbert Opitz

Career
3 patrols

17 May 1941	-	1 Jun 1941	3. Flottille (training)
1 Jun 1941	-	30 Nov 1941	3. Flottille (active service)

Successes

2 ships sunk, total tonnage 3,283 GRT
1 warship sunk, total tonnage 925 tons

Fate

Missing since 29 November 1941 in the Bay of Biscay. Possibly sunk on or about 30 November south-west of St. Nazaire, in approx. position 47.05N, 02.40W, by an air-laid mine in the British minefield Beech. 46 dead (all hands lost). (FDS/NHB, August 1991).

Loss position

See the 3 ships hit by U-206 - View the 3 war patrols

U-206 left St. Nazaire together with U-71 (Flachsenberg) en route to the Mediterranean and was last seen before submerging for deep dive trials after being released by the escorting Sperrbrecher in position 47.09N, 02.35W at 1800 hrs on 29 November 1941. The boat was reported missing after repeatedly failing to report its position on 4 December 1941. It is possible that U-206 was lost in the British minefield Beech, an area off St. Nazaire where aircraft of the RAF Bomber Command regularly laid ground mines since August 1940.

Previously recorded fate

Sunk 30 Nov, 1941 in the Bay of Biscay west of Nantes, France, in position 46.55N, 07.16W, by depth charges from a British Whitley aircraft (Sqdn 502/B). (Postwar assessment)
Notes. This attack was in fact against U-71 which escaped undamaged.

Wolfpack operations

U-206 operated with the following Wolfpacks during its career:
   Grönland (10 Aug 1941 - 23 Aug 1941)
   Kurfürst (23 Aug 1941 - 2 Sep 1941)
   Seewolf (2 Sep 1941 - 7 Sep 1941)
   Breslau (2 Oct 1941 - 23 Oct 1941)

Men lost from U-boats

Unlike many other U-boats, which during their service lost men due to accidents and various other causes, U-206 did not suffer any casualties (we know of) until the time of her loss.