U-212

Type

VIIC

Ordered

16 Oct 1939

Laid down

17 May 1941

F. Krupp Germaniawerft AG, Kiel (werk 641)

Launched

11 Mar 1942

Commissioned

25 Apr 1942

Oblt. Helmut Vogler

Commanders

25 Apr 1942

21 Jul 1944

Kptlt. Helmut Vogler

Career
12 patrols

25 Apr 1942	-	30 Sep 1942	8. Flottille (training)
1 Oct 1942	-	31 May 1943	11. Flottille (active service)
1 Jun 1943	-	31 Oct 1943	13. Flottille (active service)
1 Nov 1943	-	21 Jul 1944	3. Flottille (active service)

Successes

1 ship sunk, total tonnage 80 GRT

Fate

Sunk on 21 July 1944 in the English Channel south of Brighton, in position 50.27N, 00.13W, by depth charges from the British frigates HMS Curzon and HMS Ekins. 49 dead (all hands lost).

Loss position

See the 1 ships hit by U-212 - View the 12 war patrols

Wolfpack operations

U-212 operated with the following Wolfpacks during its career:
   Boreas (22 Nov 1942 - 9 Dec 1942)
   Eisbär (27 Mar 1943 - 5 Apr 1943)
   Siegfried (25 Oct 1943 - 27 Oct 1943)
   Siegfried 1 (27 Oct 1943 - 30 Oct 1943)
   Körner (30 Oct 1943 - 2 Nov 1943)
   Tirpitz 1 (2 Nov 1943 - 8 Nov 1943)
   Eisenhart 4 (9 Nov 1943 - 15 Nov 1943)
   Schill 3 (18 Nov 1943 - 22 Nov 1943)
   Rügen (15 Jan 1944 - 26 Jan 1944)
   Hinein (26 Jan 1944 - 3 Feb 1944)
   Igel 1 (3 Feb 1944 - 17 Feb 1944)
   Hai 1 (17 Feb 1944 - 22 Feb 1944)
   Preussen (22 Feb 1944 - 4 Mar 1944)

Attacks on this boat and other events

14 Jan 1944
21.30 hrs, Bay of Biscay, outbound: a British B-24 Liberator (224 Sqn RAF/F) strafed the boat in a Leigh Light attack, also dropping four depth charges. The depth charges fell wide and caused no damage, but the 37mm AA gun malfunctioned after the first shot, and the barrel of a 20mm AA gun burst when fighting off a second strafing attack. (Sources: Ritschel)

25 Feb 1944
The boat met U-549 (Krankenhagen) north of the Azores to hand over Naxos and Borkum radar detection devices. At 19.53 hrs they were attacked by an unidentified Catalina flying boat and while U-549 dived, U-212 fought off a first attack and then dived herself. The boats suffered no damage and the transfer was completed shortly afterwards. (Sources: Ritschel)

8 Mar 1944
21.57 hrs, NW of Corunna, inbound: a British B-24 Liberator (547 Sqn RAF/R) strafed the boat and dropped three depth charges. The Germans repulsed the attack with AA fire and then dived, escaping undamaged. (Sources: Ritschel)

7 Jun 1944
While en route to attack the D-Day invasion fleet, the boat was attacked by two British Mosquito aircraft (248 Sqn RAF/O&L, pilots Douglas J. Turner and A.J.L. Bonnett) firing 6pdr (57mm) Tsetse cannons. The boat returned to base for repairs.

4 recorded attacks on this boat.

Schnorchel-fitted U-boat

This boat was fitted with a Schnorchel underwater-breathing apparatus in March 1944.

Read more about the Schnorchel and see list of fitted boats.

Men lost from U-boats

Unlike many other U-boats, which during their service lost men due to accidents and various other causes, U-212 did not suffer any casualties (we know of) until the time of her loss.