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1942
U-boats that made it into the Mediterranean
During 1942 18 U-boats were sent towards the Straits of Gibraltar in an attempt to enter the Mediterranean. 16 of those managed to complete their passage while 2 failed to do so and turned away.
At the end of 1942 Germany had successfully put 42 U-boats into the Mediterranean. On Jan 1, 1942 there were 21 U-boats available for operations and 16 new boats came through Gibraltar that year.
However, losses in 1942 were 14 boats (133, 259, 301, 331, 371, 372, 374, 559, 568, 573, 595, 605, 652 and U-660) so the operational strength at the end of 1942 was not increased and stayed at 23 boats. Damages and maintenance then further reduced that number somewhat.
| U-boat | Date of entry | Notes | Date of loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| U-73 | 14 Jan 1942 | 16 Dec 1943 | |
| U-561 | 15 Jan 1942 | 12 Jul 1943 | |
| U-572 | 15 Jan 1942 | Failed to make the passage during Jan 15-20, aborted. | |
| U-458 | 9 Oct 1942 | Wolfgroup "Tümmler" | 22 Aug 1943 |
| U-605 | 9 Oct 1942 | Wolfgroup "Tümmler" | 14 Nov 1942 |
| U-660 | 10 Oct 1942 | Wolfgroup "Tümmler" | 12 Nov 1942 |
| U-593 | 11 Oct 1942 | Wolfgroup "Tümmler" | 13 Dec 1943 |
| U-595 | 7 Nov 1942 | 14 Nov 1942 | |
| U-617 | 8 Nov 1942 | 12 Sep 1943 | |
| U-755 | 8 Nov 1942 | 28 May 1943 | |
| U-596 | 9 Nov 1942 | 24 Sep 1944 | |
| U-259 | 10 Nov 1942 | 15 Nov 1942 | |
| U-407 | 10 Nov 1942 | 19 Sep 1944 | |
| U-380 | 11 Nov 1942 | 11 Mar 1944 | |
| U-443 | 5 Dec 1942 | 23 Feb 1943 | |
| U-602 | 8 Dec 1942 | 19 Apr 1943 | |
| U-258 | 8 Dec 1942 | Failed to make the passage during Dec 8-10, aborted. | |
| U-301 | 9 Dec 1942 | 21 Jan 1943 |
U-boats lost in the Mediterranean in 1942
U-74. Type VIIB. Launched on 31 Aug 1940 and commissioned on 31 Oct 1940.
Sunk 2 May, 1942 in the Mediterranean east-southeast of Cartagena, Spain, in position 37.16N, 00.01E, by depth charges from the British destroyers HMS Wishart and HMS Wrestler.
-Arrival in Mediterrananean: 16 Dec 1941. Days in the Mediterranean: 137.U-133. Type VIIC. Launched on 28 Apr 1941 and commissioned on 5 Jul 1941.
Sunk 14 March, 1942 in Mediterranean outside Salamis (Saronic Gulf), Greece, in position 37.50N, 23.35E by a mine.
-Arrival in Mediterrananean: 23 Dec 1941. Days in the Mediterranean: 81.U-259. Type VIIC. Launched on 30 Dec 1941 and commissioned on 18 Feb 1942.
Sunk 15 Nov, 1942 in the Mediterranean north of Algiers, in position 37.20N, 03.05E, by depth charges from British Hudson aircraft (Sqdn. 500/S).
-Arrival in Mediterrananean: 10 Nov 1942. Days in the Mediterranean: 5.U-331. Type VIIC. Launched on 20 Dec 1940 and commissioned on 31 Mar 1941.
Sunk on Nov 17, 1942 in the Mediterranean north of Algiers in position 37.05N, 02.27E after she had been badly damaged by a Hudson aircraft she signaled surrender to a seaplane but was attacked by a torpedo-equipped aircraft Albacore from the British aircraft carrier HMS Formidable (Squadrons 500 and 820).
-Arrival in Mediterrananean: 29 Sep 1941. Days in the Mediterranean: 414.U-372. Type VIIC. Launched on 8 Mar 1941 and commissioned on 19 Apr 1941.
Sunk 4 Aug, 1942 in the Mediterranean south-west of Haifa, in position 32.28N, 34.37E, by depth charges from the British destroyers HMS Sikh and HMS Zulu and the escort destroyers HMS Croome and HMS Tetcott and by depth charges from a British Wellington aircraft (221 Sqdn.).
-Arrival in Mediterrananean: 9 Dec 1941. Days in the Mediterranean: 238.U-374. Type VIIC. Launched on 10 May 1941 and commissioned on 21 Jun 1941.
Sunk 12 Jan, 1942 in the western Mediterranean east of Cape Spartivento, in position 37.50N, 16.00E, by torpedoes from the British submarine HMS Unbeaten.
-Arrival in Mediterrananean: 11 Dec 1941. Days in the Mediterranean: 32.U-559. Type VIIC. Launched on 8 Jan 1941 and commissioned on 27 Feb 1941.
Sunk 30 Oct, 1942 in the Mediterranean north-east of Port Said, in position 32.30N, 33.00E, by depth charges from the British destroyers HMS Pakenham, HMS Petard and HMS Hero and the British escort destroyers HMS Dulverton and HMS Hurworth, and a British Short Sunderland aircraft from RAF 47 Sqn.
-Arrival in Mediterrananean: 26 Sep 1941. Days in the Mediterranean: 399.U-568. Type VIIC. Launched on 6 Mar 1941 and commissioned on 1 May 1941.
Sunk 29 May, 1942 in the Mediterranean north-east of Tobruk, in position 32.42N, 24.53E, by depth charges from the British destroyer HMS Hero and the British escort destroyers HMS Eridge and HMS Hurworth.
-Arrival in Mediterrananean: 10 Dec 1941. Days in the Mediterranean: 170.U-573. Type VIIC. Launched on 17 Apr 1941 and commissioned on 5 Jun 1941.
On 1 May, 1942, badly damaged by depth charges from a British Hudson aircraft (Sqdn. 233/M) in the Mediterranean north-west of Tenes in approx. position 37.00N, 01.00E.Interned at Cartagena, Spain on 2 May 1942. Sold to Spain on 2 Aug, 1942. Became the Spanish submarine G 7. In service until May 1970.
-Arrival in Mediterrananean: 20 Dec 1941. Days in the Mediterranean: 133.U-577. Type VIIC. Launched on 15 May 1941 and commissioned on 3 Jul 1941.
Sunk 15 Jan, 1942 in the Mediterranean north-west of Mersa Matruh, in position 32.40N, 25.48E, by depth charges from a British Swordfish aircraft (Sqdn. 815/G).
-Arrival in Mediterrananean: 23 Dec 1941. Days in the Mediterranean: 23.U-595. Type VIIC. Launched on 17 Sep 1941 and commissioned on 6 Nov 1941.
Sunk 14 Nov, 1942 in the Mediterranean north-east of Oran, in position 36.38N, 00.30E, by depth charges from 2 British Hudson aircraft (Sqdn. 608/C and D).
-Arrival in Mediterrananean: 7 Nov 1942. Days in the Mediterranean: 7.U-605. Type VIIC. Launched on 27 Nov 1941 and commissioned on 15 Jan 1942.
Sunk 14 Nov, 1942 in the Mediterranean near Algiers, in position 36.20N, 01.01W, by depth charges from a British Hudson aircraft (Sqdn 233/B).
-Arrival in Mediterrananean: 9 Oct 1942. Days in the Mediterranean: 36.U-652. Type VIIC. Launched on 7 Feb 1941 and commissioned on 3 Apr 1941.
Badly damaged by depth charges from a British Swordfish aircraft and scuttled on 2 June, 1942 in the Mediterranean in the Gulf of Solum, in position 31.55N, 25.11E, by torpedoes from U-81.
-Arrival in Mediterrananean: 28 Nov 1941. Days in the Mediterranean: 186.U-660. Type VIIC. Launched on 17 Nov 1941 and commissioned on 8 Jan 1942.
Scuttled on 12 Nov, 1942 in the Mediterranean near Oran, in position 36.07N, 01.00W, after sustaining damage by depth charges from the British corvettes HMS Lotus and HMS Starwort.
-Arrival in Mediterrananean: 10 Oct 1942. Days in the Mediterranean: 33.14 U-boats lost in the Mediterranean in 1942.