Years of service 1924–45 Name Ernst Kals | Role Military Commander Rank Captain at sea | |
Unit BraunschweigSSS NiobeBerlinSchlesientorpedo boat Luchscruiser Kolncruiser Emdencruiser Admiral Scheercruiser LeipzigU-37 Commands held U-1302nd U-boat Flotilla Battles/wars World War IIBattle of the AtlanticBattle of the CaribbeanBombardment of CuracaoBattle of Casablanca Similar People Henry Kent Hewitt, Dwight D Eisenhower, Andrew Cunningham - 1st Visco, Francois Darlan, Lloyd Fredendall | ||
Ernst Kals (2 August 1905 – 2 November 1979) was a Kapitän zur See with the Kriegsmarine during World War II. He commanded the Type IXC U-boat U-130 on five patrols, and sank twenty ships, for a total of 145,656 tons of Allied shipping. He was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross, awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership.
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Career
Kals joined the Reichsmarine in 1924. In October 1940, after a period of service on torpedo boats and light cruisers, he transferred to the Ubootwaffe ("U-boat force"). After one patrol on U-37 under the command of Nicolai Clausen as commander in training, he took command of U-130 in June 1941. He was awarded the Knight's Cross in September 1941.
In April 1942, Kals, in U-130, bombarded the Allied petroleum tank farm on Curaçao, in the Netherlands Antilles. He went on to sink a total of 20 ships on five patrols, for a total of 145,656 tons of Allied shipping. In five minutes he sank three United States troopships, the Edward Rutledge, Hugh L. Scott and Tasker H. Bliss.
In January 1943 Kals became commander of the 2nd U-boat Flotilla, based in Lorient, France. Promoted to Kapitän zur See in September 1944, he remained in this position until the end of the war.
Later life
Kals was held in French captivity from May 1945 to January 1948. He died at Emden in 1979 at the age of 74.
Ships attacked
As commander of U-130 Ernst Kals reportedly sank 17 merchant ships for a total of 111,249 gross register tons (GRT), three auxiliary warships for a total of 34,407 GRT and damaged one further ship of 6,986 GRT.