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

9 May 1942

27 Sep 1943

Kptlt. Hans-Hartwig Trojer (Knights Cross)

Career
5 patrols

9 May 1942	-	31 Aug 1942	5. Flottille (training)
1 Sep 1942	-	27 Sep 1943	7. Flottille (active service)

Successes

11 ships sunk, total tonnage 69,589 GRT
10 warships sunk, total tonnage 759 tons (lost aboard transport ships)
1 ship damaged, total tonnage 7,197 GRT

Fate

Sunk on 27 September 1943 in the North Atlantic south-west of Ireland, in approx. position 47.00N, 18.00W, by depth charges from a British Halifax aircraft (58 Sqn RAF/B). 50 dead (all hands lost).

Loss position

See the 22 ships hit by U-221 - View the 5 war patrols

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 and other events

11 Mar 1943
After U-221 sank two ships and damaged another from convoy HX 228, the escorts attacked, dropping six depth charges which caused serious damage. The boat was forced to break off the 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 Sqn RAF/B, pilot F/O E.L. Hartley) 17.13 hrs, south-west of Ireland: U-221 was attacked from low level by the Halifax, straddled by eight depth charges, and was seen to sink by the stern. The aircraft was hit by flak, and a fire in the starboard wing forced the pilot to ditch about three miles away. Two gunners were lost, but the remaining six aircrew survived and were rescued after 11 days by HMS Mahratta.

(Sources: Franks/Zimmerman)

2 recorded attacks on this boat.

General notes on this boat

8 Dec 1942. U-221 accidentally rammed U-254 (Gilardone) while the boats were on convoy operations in the North Atlantic. U-254 went down immediately with all but four of her crew (41 dead, including the Commander). U-221 herself was seriously damaged and unable to dive. Trojer abandoned the patrol and made for St. Nazaire, France, reaching base on 23 Dec. He was later absolved of any blame for the accident

21 Mar 1943. On 21 March, 1943 one of the crew captured from the motor merchant Jamaica jumped overboard during an alarm excercise in the North Atlantic, either trying to escape or to commit suicide.