Ernst Kals

Kapitän zur See (Crew 24)

Successes
17 ships sunk, total tonnage 111,249 GRT
3 auxiliary warships sunk, total tonnage 34,407 GRT
1 ship damaged, total tonnage 6,986 GRT

Born	2 Aug 1905		Glauchau, Saxony
Died	2 Nov 1979	(74)	Emden, Germany

Kapitän zur See Ernst Kals

Ranks

19 Jun 1925		Seekadett
1 Apr 1926		Fähnrich zur See
1 May 1928		Oberfähnrich zur See
1 Oct 1928		Leutnant zur See
1 Jul 1930		Oberleutnant zur See
1 Apr 1935		Kapitänleutnant
1 Aug 1939		Korvettenkapitän
1 Jun 1943		Fregattenkapitän
1 Sep 1944		Kapitän zur See

Decorations

18 Dec 1939		Iron Cross 2nd Class
18 Dec 1941		Iron Cross 1st Class
18 Dec 1941		U-boat War Badge 1939
1 Sep 1942		Knights Cross
30 Jan 1944		War Merit Cross 2nd Class with Swords

U-boat Commands

U-boat	From	To
U-130	11 Jun 1941	1 Jan 1943	5 patrols (286 days)

Ernst Kals began his 18-year career in the German Navy in 1924. After a few years on torpedo boats and light cruisers he transferred to the U-boat arm in October 1940. After one patrol in U-37, in June 1941 he commissioned U-130.

He was one of the first five commanders to operate off the US east coast in Operation Drumbeat, and on the next patrol Kals operated in the Caribbean, where he shelled the oil depot at Bullenbay (Curacao) with the deck gun.

Korvkpt. Kals receiving congratulations
after receiving his Knights Cross.

His greatest success was achieved on 12 November 1942, when he attacked heavily guarded transport ships in the Fedala roads off Morocco. In five minutes he sank three large transport vessels with a total of 34,507 tons.

In January 1943 he became commander of the 2nd Flotilla at Lorient, and later Chief of Staff Lorient Naval Command.

Ernst Kals was was held in French captivity from May 1945 to January 1948.

Sources

Busch, R. and Röll, H-J. (1998). German U-boat commanders of World War II.
Niestlé, A. (1998). German U-boat losses during World War II.
Rohwer, J. (1998). Axis Submarine Successes of World War Two.

Patrol info for Ernst Kals

	U-boat	Departure		Arrival
1.	U-130	1 Dec 1941	Kiel	16 Dec 1941	Lorient	Patrol 1,	16 days
2.	U-130	27 Dec 1941	Lorient	25 Feb 1942	Lorient	Patrol 2,	61 days
3.	U-130	24 Mar 1942	Lorient	6 Jun 1942	Lorient	Patrol 3,	75 days
4.	U-130	4 Jul 1942	Lorient	12 Sep 1942	Lorient	Patrol 4,	71 days
5.	U-130	29 Oct 1942	Lorient	30 Dec 1942	Lorient	Patrol 5,	63 days
5 patrols, 286 days at sea

Ships hit by Ernst Kals

Date	U-boat	Name of ship	Tons		Convoy
10 Dec 1941	U-130	Star of Luxor	5,298	ag	SC-57
10 Dec 1941	U-130	Kirnwood	3,829	br	SC-57
10 Dec 1941	U-130	Kurdistan	5,844	br	SC-57

13 Jan 1942	U-130	Frisco	1,582	nw
13 Jan 1942	U-130	Friar Rock	5,427	pa	SC-64
21 Jan 1942	U-130	Alexandra Høegh	8,248	nw
25 Jan 1942	U-130	Varanger	9,305	nw
27 Jan 1942	U-130	Francis E. Powell	7,096	am
27 Jan 1942	U-130	Halo (d.)	6,986	am
11 Apr 1942	U-130	Grenanger	5,393	nw
12 Apr 1942	U-130	Esso Boston	7,699	am
25 Jul 1942	U-130	Tankexpress	10,095	nw
27 Jul 1942	U-130	Elmwood	7,167	br
30 Jul 1942	U-130	Danmark	8,391	br
9 Aug 1942	U-130	Malmanger	7,078	nw	E-5
11 Aug 1942	U-130	Mirlo	7,455	nw	E-6
25 Aug 1942	U-130	Viking Star	6,445	br
26 Aug 1942	U-130	Beechwood	4,897	br
12 Nov 1942	U-130	USS Edward Rutledge (AP 52)	9,360	am	UGF-1
12 Nov 1942	U-130	USS Hugh L. Scott (AP 43)	12,479	am	UGF-1
12 Nov 1942	U-130	USS Tasker H. Bliss (AP 42)	12,568	am	UGF-1
			152,642
20 ships sunk (145,656 tons) and 1 ship damaged (6,986 tons). Legend We have a picture of this vessel. (d.) means the ship was damaged.