U-221
Type | VIIC | |||||||||
| Ordered | 15 Aug 1940 | |||||||||
| Laid down | 16 Jun 1941 | F. Krupp Germaniawerft AG, Kiel (werk 651) | ||||||||
| Launched | 14 Mar 1942 | |||||||||
| Commissioned | 9 May 1942 | Oblt. Hans-Hartwig Trojer | ||||||||
| Commanders |
| |||||||||
| Career 5 patrols |
| |||||||||
| Successes | 11 ships sunk for a total of 69,589 GRT 10 warships sunk for a total of 759 tons (lost aboard transport ships) 1 ship damaged for a total of 7,197 GRT | |||||||||
| Fate | Sunk 27 Sept, 1943 south-west of Ireland, in approximate position 47.00N, 18.00W, by depth charges from a British Handley Page Halifax aircraft (Sqdn 58/B). 50 dead (all hands lost). | |||||||||
Wolfpack operations
U-221 operated with the following Wolfpacks during its career:
Pfeil (12 Sep 1942 - 22 Sep 1942)
Blitz (22 Sep 1942 - 26 Sep 1942)
Tiger (26 Sep 1942 - 30 Sep 1942)
Wotan (5 Oct 1942 - 18 Oct 1942)
Draufgänger (29 Nov 1942 - 9 Dec 1942)
Neuland (8 Mar 1943 - 13 Mar 1943)
Dränger (14 Mar 1943 - 20 Mar 1943)
Drossel (11 May 1943 - 15 May 1943)
Oder (17 May 1943 - 19 May 1943)
Mosel (19 May 1943 - 24 May 1943)
Trutz (1 Jun 1943 - 16 Jun 1943)
Trutz 3 (16 Jun 1943 - 29 Jun 1943)
Attacks on this boat
11 Mar 1943
In convoy action against HX 228 having just sunk 2 ships and damages another its escorts attacked the boat with 6 depth charges causing serious damage. The boat aborted this action to make repairs at sea. (Sources: Blair, vol 2, page 255)
27 Sep 1943
The sinking of U-221
Aircraft attack, aircraft shot down:British Halifax HR982 (58 Sqdn RAF/B, pilot F/O E.L. Hartley)
At 17.13 hours, the boat was attacked at low level by the Halifax southwest of Ireland, straddled with 8 depth charges and was seen to sink by the stern. The aircraft had been hit by AA fire and a fire in the starboard wing forced the pilot to ditch the Halifax about 3 miles from the attack position. Two gunners were lost, but the remaining six crewmen survived and were rescued after 11 days by HMS Mahratta.
(Sources: Franks/Zimmerman)2 recorded attacks on this boat.
General notes on this boat
21 Mar 1943. On 21 March, 1943 a captured crew member from the motor merchant Jamaica jumped overboard during an excercise alarm in the North Atlantic, either trying to escape or to commit suicide.
Men lost from the boat
21 Mar 1943
A captured seaman from the motor merchant ´Jamaica´, which was sunk two weeks earlier, jumped overboard.
Related: For more info on such losses see - Men lost from U-boats -
Buy this title at amazon.com See more sellers |
Books dealing with this subject include:
|
