U-69
Type | VIIC | |||||||||
| Ordered | 30 May, 1938 | |||||||||
| Laid down | 11 Nov, 1939 | Germaniawerft, Kiel (werk 603) | ||||||||
| Launched | 19 Sep, 1940 | |||||||||
| Commissioned | 2 Nov, 1940 | Kptlt. Jost Metzler (Knights Cross) | ||||||||
| Commanders |
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| Career | 11 patrols | 2 Nov, 1940 - 31 Jan, 1941 7. Flottille (training) 1 Feb, 1941 - 17 Feb, 1943 7. Flottille (front boat) | ||||||||
| Successes | 16 ships sunk for a total of 67.500 GRT 1 ship damaged for a total of 4.887 GRT 1 ship a total loss for a total of 5.445 GRT | |||||||||
| Fate | Sunk on 17 Feb, 1943 in the North Atlantic east of Newfoundland in position 50.36N, 41.07W by depth charges from the British destroyer HMS Fame. 46 dead (all hands lost). | |||||||||
See the 18 ships hit by U-69 - View the 11 war patrols
Previously recorded fate (Last revised by FDS/NHB during April 1997). More on revised fates
Sunk 17 Feb, 1943 in North Atlantic, in position 50.50N, 40.50W, by British destroyer HMS Viscount.
This attack actually resulted in the sinking of U-201.
Wolfpack operations
U-69 operated with the following Wolfpacks during its career:
Falke (4 Jan, 1943 - 22 Jan, 1943)
Haudegen (22 Jan, 1943 - 15 Feb, 1943)
Attacks on this boat
22 Feb, 1941
The U-boat was attacked twice with depth-charges by a Sunderland aircraft. (Sources: Kenneth Wynn)
24 Feb, 1941
After a night attack on the convoy OB-288, the U-boat was attacked for three hours by one of the escorts with 22 depth charges, but escaped undamaged. (Sources: Kenneth Wynn)
21 Mar, 1941
The boat was depth charged for several hours by 2 convoy escorts protecting an inbound convoy from Halifax. No reported damages to the boat. (Sources: Blair, vol 1, page 259)
27 Jun, 1941
The boat, after sinking 2 ships from convoy SL-78 was briefly attacked by gunfire from its escorts in the confusion after the attack. She escaped unharmed. (Sources: Blair, vol 1, page 302)
4 recorded attacks on this boat.
Men lost from U-boats
Unlike many other U-boats, which during their service lost men due to accidents and various other causes, U-69 did not suffer any casualties (we know of) until the time of her loss.
 German U-Boat Losses During World War II Niestle, Axel Buy this title at amazon.co.uk See more sellers |
Books dealing with this subject include: German U-Boat Losses During World War II, Niestle, Axel, 1998 The Laughing Cow, Metzler, Jost, 2004 Night of the Caribou, How, Douglas, 1988 On The Triangle Run, Lamb, James B., 2000  Sehrohr südwärts, Metzler, Jost, 1943 U-69, Die lachende Kuh, Metzler, Jost, 1954 (transl.) U-Boat Operations of the Second World War - Vol 1, Wynn, Kenneth, 1998 U-Boat Operations of the Second World War - Vol 2, Wynn, Kenneth, 1998 |
There was another U-69 in World War One
That boat was launched from its shipyard on 24 Jun, 1915 and commissioned into the Imperial Navy on 4 Sep, 1915. The Naval war in WWI was brought to an end with the Armistice signed on 11 Nov, 1918. Read about the U 69 during WWI.