Type | VIIB | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Ordered | 21 Nov 1936 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Laid down | 24 Feb 1937 | F. Krupp Germaniawerft AG, Kiel (werk 581) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Launched | 10 Sep 1938 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Commissioned | 2 Nov 1938 | Kptlt. Herbert Sohler | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Commanders |
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Career 13 patrols |
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Successes | 20 ships sunk, total tonnage 85,792 GRT 2 auxiliary warships sunk, total tonnage 35,284 GRT 4 ships damaged, total tonnage 25,491 GRT 1 ship a total loss, total tonnage 2,080 GRT | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Fate |
Decommissioned at Neustadt in October 1943 and used as instructional boat. Scuttled on 5 May 1945 at Flensburg in Kupfermühlen Bay, in position 54.50N, 09.29E. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Final location |
Wolfpack operations
U-46 operated with the following Wolfpacks during its career:
Rösing (12 Jun 1940 - 15 Jun 1940)
West (19 May 1941 - 6 Jun 1941)
Attacks on this boat and other events
13 Apr 1940
During the Battle of Narvik, Norway, the boat was depth charged and severely damaged by British destroyers escorting the Elizabeth Class battleship HMS Warspite. (Sources: Blair, vol 1, page 152)
3 Aug 1940
The British submarine HMS Triad (Cdr. E.R.J. Oddie, DSO, RN), returning from patrol, encountered the outbound U-46 (Endrass) off Fedjeosen, north of Bergen. Triad surfaced at 22.30 hrs after failing to achieve a torpedo attack position and engaged U-46 with her 4 inch gun. Endrass decided not to respond and dived. Triad also dived and tried to track U-46, but both boats lost contact. HMS Triad was lost in action six weeks later.
25 Oct 1940
Three Hudson bombers from RAF Squadron 228 attacked U-46. One man wounded who died the following day. [Matrosengefreiter Plaep]
8 Jun 1941
After torpedoing the British tanker Ensis, U-46 was rammed by her victim. The conning tower and periscope were damaged, forcing a return to base. (Sources: Blair, vol 1, page 306)
4 recorded attacks on this boat.
General notes on this boat
3 Apr 1941. On 3 April, 1941 U-46 had to return to base due to serious problems with the torpedo tube bow caps.
Men lost from the boat
27 Sep 1940
The boat lost two men during an unintentional dive.[Oberbootsmaat Heinrich Schenk, Matrosenobergefreiter Wilhelm Reh]
25 Oct 1940
Three Hudson bombers from RAF Squadron 228 attacked U-46. One man wounded who died the following day. [Matrosengefreiter Plaep]
Related: For more info on such losses see - Men lost from U-boats -
U-boat Emblems
We have 4 emblem entries for this boat. See the emblem page for this boat or view emblems individually below.
The Snorting Bull - U-47 |
Skull and Crossbones |
Mickey Mouse using Umbrella against Bombs |
Gent with inverted umbrella |
Media links
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There was another U-46 in World War One
That boat was launched from its shipyard on 18 May 1915 and commissioned into the Imperial Navy on 17 Dec 1915. The Naval war in WWI was brought to an end with the Armistice signed on 11 Nov, 1918. Read about SM U 46 during WWI.
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