U-214

Type

VIID

Ordered

16 Feb 1940

Laid down

5 Oct 1940

F. Krupp Germaniawerft AG, Kiel (werk 646)

Launched

18 Sep 1941

Commissioned

1 Nov 1941

Oblt. Günther Reeder

Commanders

1 Nov 1941	-	10 May 1943	Kptlt. Günther Reeder (German Cross in Gold)
7 May 1943	-	10 May 1943	Oblt. Rupprecht Stock (German Cross in Gold)
11 May 1943	-	Jul, 1943	Oblt. Rupprecht Stock (German Cross in Gold)
29 Jul 1943	-	Jul, 1944	Kptlt. Rupprecht Stock (German Cross in Gold)
Jul, 1944	-	26 Jul 1944	Oblt. Gerhard Conrad

Career
10 patrols

1 Nov 1941	-	30 Apr 1942	5. Flottille (training)
1 May 1942	-	26 Jul 1944	9. Flottille (active service)

Successes

3 ships sunk, total tonnage 18,266 GRT
1 warship sunk, total tonnage 1,525 tons
1 ship damaged, total tonnage 6,507 GRT
1 auxiliary warship damaged, total tonnage 10,552 GRT

Fate

Sunk on 26 July 1944 in the English Channel south of Start Point, in position 49.58N, 03.30W, by depth charges from the British frigate HMS Cooke. 48 dead (all hands lost).

Loss position

See the 6 ships hit by U-214 - View the 10 war patrols

Wolfpack operations

U-214 operated with the following Wolfpacks during its career:
Blücher (14 Aug 1942 - 28 Aug 1942)
Iltis (6 Sep 1942 - 23 Sep 1942)

Attacks on this boat and other events

22 May 1942
North Sea, outbound: an aircraft dropped three bombs on the boat. Minor damage. (Sources: Ritschel)

16 Jun 1942
03.44 hrs, Bay of Biscay, outbound: an unidentified aircraft strafed the boat and dropped three depth charges in a Leigh Light attack. Further attack runs were prevented by flak, but severe damage forced the boat to return to Lorient. (Sources: Ritschel)

7 May 1943
10.14 hrs, Bay of Biscay, outbound: British Halifax bomber HR745 (RAF Sqdn 58/S, pilot W/C W.E. Oulton), attacked from out of the sun. Despite being hit by flak, it returned to drop three depth charges. The boat evaded both attacks and dived with only minor damage, but the commander, Kptlt Günther Reeder was severely wounded by gunfire (he no longer served in U-boats after this). The I WO, Oblt Rupprecht Stock took command and brought U-214 to base.

This aircraft was formerly credited with the destruction of U-663 in this attack, but U-663 sank following an attack by Australian Sunderland flying boat W/William, 10 Sqdn RAAF.

(Sources: 1989-11-01, Axel Niestle)

9 Sep 1943
15.25 hrs, 92 miles SW of Santa Maria, Azores: an American Avenger aircraft from USS Croatan piloted by Lt (jg) J.W. Steere made a radar approach from above cloud cover and dropped four depth charges. The aircraft was hit in the air intake and bomb bay by flak. One of the depth charges actually hit the bridge, bounced off and exploded about 10m (33ft) off the port side, but without damaging the boat. (Sources: Franks/Zimmerman)

11 Jun 1944
Aircraft attack, aircraft shot down:British B-24 Liberator bomber (Sqdn 224/S). The boat, on a mine-laying patrol, was damaged and returned to Brest.

5 recorded attacks on this boat.

Schnorchel-fitted U-boat

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

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

Men lost from the boat

This aircraft was formerly credited with the destruction of U-663 in this attack, but U-663 sank following an attack by Australian Sunderland flying boat W/William, 10 Sqdn RAAF.

Related: For more info on such losses see - Men lost from U-boats -