List of all U-boats

U-12

Type

IIB

 
Ordered20 Jul 1934
Laid down20 May 1935 F. Krupp Germaniawerft AG, Kiel (werk 546)
Launched11 Sep 1935
Commissioned30 Sep 1935Oblt. Werner von Schmidt
Commanders
30 Sep 1935 - 1 Oct 1937  Kptlt. Werner von Schmidt
Dec, 1936 - 1 Oct 1937  Kptlt. Hans Pauckstadt
1 Oct 1937 - 8 Oct 1939  Kptlt. Dietrich von der Ropp
Career
2 patrols
1 Sep 1935-1 Aug 1939  3. Flottille (active service)
1 Sep 1939-8 Oct 1939  3. Flottille (active service)
SuccessesNo ships sunk or damaged
Fate

Sunk on or about 8 October 1939 in the English Channel near Dover, in approximate position 51.10N, 01.30E, by a mine. 27 dead (all hands lost).

Loss position

View the 2 war patrols

No messages were received from U-12 after it sailed from Wilhelmshaven on 23 September 1939 to operate in the English Channel. The boat was reported missing on 20 October when it failed to return and is believed to have been mined and sunk in the Dover-Calais mine barrage.

General notes on this boat

29 Oct 1939. The body of U-12's commanding officer, Kptlt. Dietrich von der Ropp, was washed ashore on the French coast near Dunkirk.

Men lost from U-boats

Unlike many other U-boats, which during their service lost men due to accidents and various other causes, U-12 did not suffer any casualties (we know of) until the time of her loss.


Media links


U-Boat Operations of the Second World War - Vol 1

Wynn, Kenneth


German U-Boat Losses During World War II

Niestle, Axel


Hitler's U-boat War

Blair, Clay

There was another U-12 in World War One
That boat was launched from its shipyard on 6 May 1910 and commissioned into the Imperial Navy on 13 Aug 1911. The Naval war in WWI was brought to an end with the Armistice signed on 11 Nov, 1918. Read about SM U 12 during WWI.




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