German submarine U 95 (1940)

Design

German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-95 had a displacement of 769 tonnes (757 long tons) when at the surface and 871 tonnes (857 long tons) while submerged. She had a total length of 67.10 m (220 ft 2 in), a pressure hull length of 50.50 m (165 ft 8 in), a beam of 6.20 m (20 ft 4 in), a height of 9.60 m (31 ft 6 in), and a draught of 4.74 m (15 ft 7 in). The submarine was powered by two Germaniawerft F46 four-stroke, six-cylinder supercharged diesel engines producing a total of 2,800 to 3,200 metric horsepower (2,060 to 2,350 kW; 2,760 to 3,160 shp) for use while surfaced, two AEG GU 460/8–27 double-acting electric motors producing a total of 750 metric horsepower (550 kW; 740 shp) for use while submerged. She had two shafts and two 1.23 m (4 ft) propellers. The boat was capable of operating at depths of up to 230 metres (750 ft).

The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 17.7 knots (32.8 km/h; 20.4 mph) and a maximum submerged speed of 7.6 knots (14.1 km/h; 8.7 mph). When submerged, the boat could operate for 80 nautical miles (150 km; 92 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph); when surfaced, she could travel 8,500 nautical miles (15,700 km; 9,800 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph). U-95 was fitted with five 53.3 cm (21 in) torpedo tubes (four fitted at the bow and one at the stern), fourteen torpedoes, one 8.8 cm (3.46 in) SK C/35 naval gun, 220 rounds, and an anti-aircraft gun. The boat had a complement of between forty-four and sixty.

Service history

U-95 was a member of two wolfpacks.

1st patrol

The boat left Kiel for her first patrol on 20 November 1940. She entered the Northern Atlantic Ocean and damaged Ringhorn on the 28th with her deck gun, having missed with two torpedoes. The merchantman was hit in the funnel and near the bridge, but the action could not be brought to a successful conclusion because of weather conditions. The Germans, believing the ship would sink, left the area but the crew re-boarded her and sailed to Belfast Lough.

U-95 also damaged Conch on 2 December. This ship had already been hit by U-47 about 370 nautical miles (690 km; 430 mi) west of Bloody Foreland (Ireland). The boat fired four torpedoes, one of which struck the vessel. She was eventually sunk by U-99.

The submarine headed for her new French Atlantic base, arriving at Lorient on 6 December.

2nd patrol

U-95 continued the business of damaging ships when she attacked, but did not sink, Walotira 124 nautical miles (230 km; 143 mi) northwest of Rockall on 26 December 1940. This vessel met her end due to the actions of U-99 on the 27th.

3rd patrol

The boat left Lorient on 16 February 1941 for her third sortie. She sank Cape Nelson and Temple Moat south of Iceland on the 24th.

When Pacific went down on 2 March north of Rockall, there was only one survivor. The destruction of the neutral Murjek was even more bloody. She went to the bottom with all hands on the 5th.

U-95 returned to France, but to St. Nazaire on 19 March.

4th patrol

The boat maintained her success on her fourth patrol, sinking Taranger 150 nautical miles (280 km; 170 mi) southwest of Reykavik in Iceland on 3 May 1941.

5th patrol

For her fifth patrol, U-95 damaged Palma west southwest of Bantry Bay (Ireland) on 20 July 1941. One hit with her deck gun was reported when three rounds had struck their target.

6th patrol

U-95's only kill on her sixth foray was Trinidad. The relatively small ship was sunk with 37 rounds from the boat's deck gun due west of La Rochelle on 6 September 1941.

7th patrol and loss

The submarine successfully forced the heavily defended Strait of Gibraltar and entered the Mediterranean Sea. She was sunk by a torpedo from the Dutch submarine O 21 southwest of Almeria in Spain on 28 November 1941.

35 men died with the U-boat; there were 12 survivors.

Wolfpacks

U-95 took part in two wolfpacks, namely.