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German submarine U-371

{{Short description|German type VII C World War II submarine}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2022}}

{{Infobox ship begin}}

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{{Infobox ship career

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|Ship country=Nazi Germany

|Ship flag={{shipboxflag|Nazi Germany|naval}}

|Ship name=U-371

|Ship ordered=23 September 1939

|Ship builder=Howaldtswerke, Kiel

|Ship yard number=2

|Ship laid down=17 November 1939

|Ship launched=27 January 1941

|Ship commissioned=15 March 1941

|Ship homeport=

|Ship motto=

|Ship nickname=

|Ship honours=

|Ship fate=Sunk on 4 May 1944{{sfn|Kemp|1997|p=187}}

|Ship notes=

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{{Infobox ship characteristics

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|Header caption=

|Ship class=Type VIIC submarine

|Ship displacement=

  • {{convert|769|t|LT|0|lk=on}} surfaced
  • {{convert|871|t|LT|0|abbr=on}} submerged

|Ship length=

  • {{convert|67.10|m|ftin|abbr=on}} o/a
  • {{convert|50.50|m|ftin|abbr=on}} pressure hull

|Ship beam=

  • {{convert|6.20|m|ftin|abbr=on}} o/a
  • {{convert|4.70|m|ftin|abbr=on}} pressure hull

|Ship height={{convert|9.60|m|ftin|abbr=on}}

|Ship draught={{convert|4.74|m|ftin|abbr=on}}

|Ship power=

  • {{convert|2800|–|3200|PS|kW bhp|abbr=on}} (diesels)
  • {{convert|750|PS|kW shp|abbr=on}} (electric)

|Ship propulsion=

|Ship speed=

  • {{convert|17.7|kn}} surfaced
  • {{convert|7.6|kn}} submerged

|Ship range=

  • {{convert|8500|nmi|abbr=on|lk=on}} at {{convert|10|kn}} surfaced
  • {{convert|80|nmi|abbr=on}} at {{convert|4|kn}} submerged

|Ship test depth=

  • {{convert|230|m|ft|abbr=on}}
  • Crush depth: {{convert|250|–|295|m|ft|abbr=on}}

|Ship complement=4 officers, 40–56 enlisted

|Ship sensors=

|Ship EW=

|Ship armament=

|Ship notes=

}}

{{Infobox service record

|is_ship=yes

|label=Service record{{Cite web |url=http://uboat.net/boats/u371.htm |title=The Type VIIC U-boat U-371 |last=Helgason |first=Guðmundur |website=German U-boats of WWII – uboat.net |access-date=7 June 2010 |archive-date=12 June 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100612190102/http://uboat.net/boats/u371.htm |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |url=http://uboat.net/boats/patrols/u371.html |title=War Patrols by German U-boat U-371 |last=Helgason |first=Guðmundur |website=German U-boats of WWII – uboat.net |access-date=7 June 2010 |archive-date=6 July 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080706182210/http://uboat.net/boats/patrols/u371.html |url-status=live }}

|partof=

|codes=M 40 472

|commanders=

  • Kptlt. Heinrich Driver
  • 15 March 1941 – 5 April 1942
  • Oblt.z.S. Karl-Otto Weber
  • 26 March – 6 April 1942
  • Kptlt. Heinz-Joachim Neumann (acting)
  • 6 April – 24 May 1942
  • Kptlt. Waldemar Mehl
  • 25 May 1942 – 4 April 1944
  • Oblt.z.S. Horst-Arno Fenski
  • 5 April – 4 May 1944

|operations=*19 patrols:

  • 1st patrol:
  • 5 June – 1 July 1941
  • 2nd patrol:
  • 23 July – 19 August 1941
  • 3rd patrol:
  • 16 September – 24 October 1941
  • 4th patrol:
  • 4 December 1941 – 10 January 1942
  • 5th patrol:
  • 4 – 25 March 1942
  • 6th patrol:
  • a. 21 April – 9 May 1942
  • b. 1 – 7 July 1942
  • 7th patrol:
  • a. 5 – 18 September 1942
  • b. 12 – 16 October 1942
  • 8th patrol:
  • 1 – 4 December 1942
  • 9th patrol:
  • 7 December 1942 – 10 January 1943
  • 10th patrol:
  • 14 February – 3 March 1943
  • 11th patrol:
  • 7 April – 11 May 1943
  • 12th patrol:
  • 3 – 12 July 1943
  • 13th patrol:
  • 22 July – 11 August 1943
  • 14th patrol:
  • 21 August – 3 September 1943
  • 15th patrol:
  • 7 – 28 October 1943
  • 16th patrol:
  • 15 – 23 November 1943
  • 17th patrol:
  • 22 January – 13 February 1944
  • 18th patrol:
  • 4 – 25 March 1944
  • 19th patrol:
  • 23 April – 4 May 1944

|victories=

  • 8 merchant ships sunk
    ({{GRT|51,401}})
  • 2 warships sunk
    (2,286 tons)
  • 1 auxiliary warship sunk
    ({{GRT|545}})
  • 2 merchant ships total loss
    ({{GRT|13,341}})
  • 4 merchant ships damaged
    ({{GRT|28,072}})
  • 2 warships damaged
    (2,500 tons)

}}

German submarine U-371 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. The submarine was laid down on 17 November 1939 in Kiel, launched on 27 January 1941, and commissioned on 15 March under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Heinrich Driver. After training, U-371 was ready for front-line service with the 1st U-boat Flotilla from 1 July 1941.

Operating mostly in the Mediterranean Sea, in 19 patrols between June 1941 and May 1944 the U-boat sank 11 ships totalling 51,946 GRT and 2,286 tons, including the American destroyer {{USS|Bristol|DD-453|6}}, and damaged six more totalling 28,072 GRT and 2,500 tons.

U-371 was sunk at 04:09 local time on 4 May 1944 in the Mediterranean north of Jijel, in position {{coord|37|49|N|05|39|E|dim:200000|display=inline,title}} by a force of American, French and British destroyers. Three men were killed, with 49 survivors.

Design

File:SRH009-p58.jpg

German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-371 had a displacement of {{convert|769|t|LT}} when at the surface and {{convert|871|t|LT}} while submerged.{{sfn|Gröner|1991|pp=43–46}} She had a total length of {{convert|67.10|m|ftin|abbr=on}}, a pressure hull length of {{convert|50.50|m|ftin|abbr=on}}, a beam of {{convert|6.20|m|ftin|abbr=on}}, a height of {{convert|9.60|m|ftin|abbr=on}}, and a draught of {{convert|4.74|m|ftin|abbr=on}}. The submarine was powered by two Germaniawerft F46 four-stroke, six-cylinder supercharged diesel engines producing a total of {{convert|2800 to 3200|PS|kW shp|-1}} for use while surfaced, two AEG GU 460/8–27 double-acting electric motors producing a total of {{convert|750|PS|kW shp}} for use while submerged. She had two shafts and two {{convert|1.23|m|ft|abbr=on|0}} propellers. The boat was capable of operating at depths of up to {{convert|230|m}}.{{sfn|Gröner|1991|pp=43–46}}

The submarine had a maximum surface speed of {{convert|17.7|kn}} and a maximum submerged speed of {{convert|7.6|kn}}.{{sfn|Gröner|1991|pp=43–46}} When submerged, the boat could operate for {{convert|80|nmi}} at {{convert|4|kn}}; when surfaced, she could travel {{convert|8500|nmi}} at {{convert|10|kn}}. U-371 was fitted with five {{convert|53.3|cm|in|0|abbr=on}} torpedo tubes (four fitted at the bow and one at the stern), fourteen torpedoes, one 8.8 cm SK C/35 naval gun, 220 rounds, and a 2 cm FlaK 30 anti-aircraft gun. The boat had a complement of between forty-four and sixty.{{sfn|Gröner|1991|pp=43–46}}

Service history

U-371 was ordered by the Kriegsmarine on 23 September 1939. She was laid down about two months later at the Howaldtswerke yard in Kiel, on 17 November. Just over a year and two months later, U-371 was launched on 27 January 1941. She was formally commissioned later that year on 15 March.

=First patrol=

U-371 left Kiel on 5 June 1941, under the command of Kapitänleutnant Heinrich Driver, and sailed out into the north Atlantic. She sank two merchant ships; the British 6,373 GRT Silverpalm on 12 June and the Norwegian 4,765 GRT Vigrid on 24 June, position 54.30N- 41.30W whilst on a voyage from New Orleans, LA, USA via Bermuda to Belfast, Northern Ireland and Manchester, England with 6,000 t general cargo including 1.000 t spelter, 600 t

copper and 752 t iron and steel. 47 persons on board. 21 crew, one gunner and 4 passengers died. before U -371 arriving at Brest in France on 1 July.{{Cite web |url=http://uboat.net/boats/patrols/patrol_3388.html |title=First patrol of U-371 (5 Jun to 1 Jul 1941) |last=Helgason |first=Guðmundur |website=German U-boats of WWII – uboat.net |access-date=7 June 2010 |archive-date=6 September 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080906144352/http://uboat.net/boats/patrols/patrol_3388.html |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |url=https://skipshistorie.net/Tramp%20og%20linje/Tekster/LTK00119230200000%20TITANIA.htm |title=1923 MS TITANIA (LTK001192302) |website=skipshistorie.net |language=nl |access-date=4 October 2019 |archive-date=11 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190911152529/http://skipshistorie.net/Tramp%20og%20linje/Tekster/LTK00119230200000%20TITANIA.htm |url-status=live }}

=Second patrol=

The U-boat sailed from Brest on 23 July 1941 to patrol between the coast of Portugal and the Azores. Early on 30 July she sank two more merchant ships south-east of the Azores, both from Convoy OS-1; the British 6,935 GRT Shahristan, and the Dutch 7,049 GRT Sitoebondo. She returned to Brest on 19 August.{{Cite web |url=http://uboat.net/boats/patrols/patrol_3389.html |title=2nd patrol of U-371 (23 Jul to 19 Aug 1941) |last=Helgason |first=Guðmundur |website=German U-boats of WWII – uboat.net |access-date=7 June 2010 |archive-date=5 September 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080905045914/http://www.uboat.net/boats/patrols/patrol_3389.html |url-status=live }}

=Third patrol=

U-371 departed from Brest on 16 September 1941, sailing south, and then through the Strait of Gibraltar into the Mediterranean Sea. After patrolling the coast of Egypt, the U-boat arrived at Salamis in Greece on 24 October, having had no successes,{{Cite web |url=http://uboat.net/boats/patrols/patrol_3390.html |title=3rd patrol of U-371 (16 Sep to 24 Oct 1941) |last=Helgason |first=Guðmundur |website=German U-boats of WWII – uboat.net |access-date=7 June 2010}} officially transferring to the 23rd U-boat Flotilla on 1 November.

=Fourth and fifth patrols=

U-371 carried out two more patrols along the coast of Egypt and in the Eastern Mediterranean from December 1941 to January 1942 and again in March 1942, but sank no ships.{{Cite web |url=http://uboat.net/boats/patrols/patrol_3391.html |title=4th patrol of U-371 (4 Dec 1941 to 10 Jan 1942) |last=Helgason |first=Guðmundur |website=German U-boats of WWII – uboat.net |access-date=7 June 2010 |archive-date=29 August 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080829190559/http://uboat.net/boats/patrols/patrol_3391.html |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |url=http://uboat.net/boats/patrols/patrol_3392.html |title=5th patrol of U-371 (4 to 25 Mar 1942) |last=Helgason |first=Guðmundur |website=German U-boats of WWII – uboat.net |access-date=7 June 2010 |archive-date=7 October 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081007161910/http://uboat.net/boats/patrols/patrol_3392.html |url-status=live }}

=6th patrol=

Now part of the 29th U-boat Flotilla, U-371 left Salamis again on 21 April 1942 under the temporary command of Kapitänleutnant Heinz-Joachim Neumann, and headed south to the coast of Egypt. However, on 7 May the U-boat was depth charged by two submarine chasers and was so badly damaged that she had to return to base. She arrived back at Salamis on 9 May.{{Cite web |url=http://uboat.net/boats/patrols/patrol_3393.html |title=6th patrol of U-371 (21 Apr to 9 May 1942) |last=Helgason |first=Guðmundur |website=German U-boats of WWII – uboat.net |access-date=7 June 2010 |archive-date=8 September 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080908083557/http://uboat.net/boats/patrols/patrol_3393.html |url-status=live }}

=7th patrol=

Command of U-371 was now assumed by Kapitänleutnant Waldemar Mehl, who took the U-boat from Salamis to Pola, Venezia Giulia, in early July, not sailing on a combat patrol until 5 September when he took the U-boat along the length of the Adriatic Sea, and through the eastern Mediterranean to the coast of British Palestine and French Syria, arriving back at Salamis on 18 September,{{Cite web |url=http://uboat.net/boats/patrols/patrol_3395.html |title=7th patrol of U-371 (5 to 18 Sep 1942) |last=Helgason |first=Guðmundur |website=German U-boats of WWII – uboat.net |access-date=7 June 2010 |archive-date=7 September 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080907045724/http://uboat.net/boats/patrols/patrol_3395.html |url-status=live }} and returning to Pola in mid-October.

=Eighth and ninth patrols=

The U-boat left Pola and sailed to Messina in Sicily on 1 to 4 December 1942,{{Cite web |url=http://uboat.net/boats/patrols/patrol_3397.html |title=8th patrol of U-371 (1 to 4 Dec 1942) |last=Helgason |first=Guðmundur |website=German U-boats of WWII – uboat.net |access-date=7 June 2010 |archive-date=26 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220926065103/https://uboat.net/boats/patrols/patrol_3397.html |url-status=live }} leaving on 7 December to attack the Allied shipping off the coast of French Algeria after "Operation Torch", the invasion of North Africa. There, on 7 January 1943, she attacked Convoy MKS-5, sinking the British naval trawler {{HMS|Jura|T169|6}}, and later the same day damaged the 7,159 GRT British troopship Ville de Strasbourg.{{Cite web |url=http://uboat.net/boats/patrols/patrol_3398.html |title=9th patrol of U-371 (7 Dec 1942 to 10 Jan 1943) |last=Helgason |first=Guðmundur |website=German U-boats of WWII – uboat.net |access-date=7 June 2010 |archive-date=7 October 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081007163217/http://www.uboat.net/boats/patrols/patrol_3398.html |url-status=live }} The U-boat then sailed to La Spezia in north-western Italy, arriving on 10 January 1943.

=10th patrol=

The Algerian coast now became U-371{{'}}s hunting ground, and she left La Spezia on 14 February 1943 to return there to sink the unescorted 2,089 GRT British merchant ship Fintra on 23 February, and to damage the 7,176 GRT American liberty ship Daniel Carroll from Convoy TE-16, before returning to La Spezia on 3 March.{{Cite web |url=http://uboat.net/boats/patrols/patrol_3399.html |title=10th patrol of U-371 (14 Feb to 3 Mar 1943) |last=Helgason |first=Guðmundur |website=German U-boats of WWII – uboat.net |access-date=7 June 2010 |archive-date=6 September 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080906141855/http://uboat.net/boats/patrols/patrol_3399.html |url-status=live }}

=11th patrol=

U-371 departed La Spezia again on 7 April 1943, once more heading to the Algerian coast, where she sank the 1,162 GRT Dutch merchant ship Merope on 27 April, before heading to her new home port of Toulon in southern France on 11 May 1943.{{Cite web |url=http://uboat.net/boats/patrols/patrol_3400.html |title=11th patrol of U-371 (7 Apr to 11 May 1943) |last=Helgason |first=Guðmundur |website=German U-boats of WWII – uboat.net |access-date=7 June 2010 |archive-date=5 September 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080905045727/http://www.uboat.net/boats/patrols/patrol_3400.html |url-status=live }}

=12th patrol=

After leaving Toulon on 3 July 1943, on the tenth, U-371 attacked Convoy ET-22A, damaging two American ships; the 6,561 GRT tanker Gulfprince and the 7,176 GRT liberty ship Matthew Maury, returning to Toulon on the 12th.{{Cite web |url=http://uboat.net/boats/patrols/patrol_3401.html |title=12th patrol of U-371 (3 to 12 Jul 1943) |last=Helgason |first=Guðmundur |website=German U-boats of WWII – uboat.net |access-date=7 June 2010 |archive-date=15 October 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081015133533/http://uboat.net/boats/patrols/patrol_3401.html |url-status=live }}

=13th and 14th patrol=

U-371{{'}}s next patrol lasted from 22 July until 11 August 1943, during which she sank the 6,004 GRT British merchant ship Contractor, part of Convoy GTX-5.{{Cite web |url=http://uboat.net/boats/patrols/patrol_3402.html |title=13th patrol of U-371 (22 Jul to 11 Aug 1943) |last=Helgason |first=Guðmundur |website=German U-boats of WWII – uboat.net |access-date=7 June 2010 |archive-date=7 September 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080907210612/http://uboat.net/boats/patrols/patrol_3402.html |url-status=live }} U-371 patrolled again from 21 August to 3 September 1943, but made no successful attacks.{{Cite web |url=http://uboat.net/boats/patrols/patrol_3403.html |title=14th patrol of U-371 (21 Aug to 3 Sep 1943) |last=Helgason |first=Guðmundur |website=German U-boats of WWII – uboat.net |access-date=7 June 2010 |archive-date=11 October 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081011160644/http://www.uboat.net/boats/patrols/patrol_3403.html |url-status=live }}

=15th patrol=

Leaving Toulon on 7 October 1943, U-371 once more haunted the Algerian coast, sinking the British minesweeper {{HMS|Hythe|J194|6}} on 11 October, the American destroyer {{USS|Bristol|DD-453|6}} on the 13th, and on the 15th torpedoed the American liberty ship James Russell Lowell, damaging her so badly that she was declared a total loss. The U-boat returned to base on 28 October.{{Cite web |url=http://uboat.net/boats/patrols/patrol_3404.html |title=15th patrol of U-371 (7 to 28 October 1943) |last=Helgason |first=Guðmundur |website=German U-boats of WWII – uboat.net |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080908005549/http://www.uboat.net/boats/patrols/patrol_3404.html |archive-date=8 September 2008 |access-date=7 June 2010}}

=16th and 17th patrols=

The U-boat's next patrol was short, lasting from 15 to 23 November 1943, and was unsuccessful.{{Cite web |url=http://uboat.net/boats/patrols/patrol_3405.html |title=16th patrol of U-371 (15 to 23 November 1943) |last=Helgason |first=Guðmundur |website=German U-boats of WWII – uboat.net |access-date=7 June 2010 |archive-date=15 October 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081015210456/http://www.uboat.net/boats/patrols/patrol_3405.html |url-status=live }} Her 17th patrol began on 22 January 1944, and took her to the western coast of Italy after the launching of "Operation Shingle", the Allied landings at Anzio. She made no successful attacks and returned to Toulon on 13 February.{{Cite web |url=http://uboat.net/boats/patrols/patrol_3406.html |title=17th patrol of U-371 (22 Jan to 13 February 1944) |last=Helgason |first=Guðmundur |website=German U-boats of WWII – uboat.net |access-date=7 June 2010 |archive-date=28 August 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080828024420/http://uboat.net/boats/patrols/patrol_3406.html |url-status=live }}

=18th patrol=

U-371 departed Toulon on 4 March 1944 and returned to the Algerian coast. On the 17th she attacked Convoy SNF-17, sinking the 17,024 GRT Dutch troopship Dempo, and badly damaging the 6,165 GRT American C2 cargo ship Maiden Creek, which later broke in two after being beached. The U-boat returned to Toulon on 25 March.{{Cite web |url=http://uboat.net/boats/patrols/patrol_3407.html |title=18th patrol of U-371 (4 to 25 March 1944) |last=Helgason |first=Guðmundur |website=German U-boats of WWII – uboat.net |access-date=7 June 2010 |archive-date=15 October 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081015191851/http://uboat.net/boats/patrols/patrol_3407.html |url-status=live }} Three days later, U-371{{'}}s commander, Waldemar Mehl, received the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross, before leaving the U-boat to serve on the staff of FdU Mittelmeer ("U-boat Command Mediterranean").{{Cite web |url=http://uboat.net/men/mehl.htm |title=Korvettenkapitän Waldemar Mehl |last=Helgason |first=Guðmundur |website=German U-boats of WWII – uboat.net |access-date=7 June 2010 |archive-date=8 June 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100608131741/http://www.uboat.net/men/mehl.htm |url-status=live }} On 5 April command of U-371 passed to Oberleutnant zur See Horst-Arno Fenski, former commander of {{GS|U-410||2}}.{{Cite web |url=http://uboat.net/men/fenski.htm |title=Oberleutnant zur See Horst-Arno Fenski |last=Helgason |first=Guðmundur |website=German U-boats of WWII – uboat.net |access-date=7 June 2010 |archive-date=26 November 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101126183115/http://uboat.net/men/fenski.htm |url-status=live }}

=19th patrol=

Under Fenski's command, U-371 left Toulon for the final time at about 19:00 on 23 April 1944, and headed back to the coast of Algeria, patrolling from 10 to 15 miles offshore.{{Cite web |url=http://www.uboatarchive.net/U-371INT.htm |title=U-boat Archive : REPORT ON THE INTERROGATION OF SURVIVORS FROM U-371 |website=uboatarchive.net |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110609121948/http://www.uboatarchive.net/U-371INT.htm |archive-date=9 June 2011 |access-date=7 June 2010}}

On 28 April U-371 received a report of a large convoy and set course to intercept it. On the night of 2 May the U-boat planned to surface in order to top up her batteries by running on her diesel engines, as she expected to contact the convoy within a few hours. Unfortunately on doing so, she found herself almost in the middle of the convoy, and immediately crash-dived to about {{Convert|100|m}}. After an hour the U-boat surfaced again and headed toward the convoy, but was soon detected by the American destroyer escort {{USS|Menges|DE-320|6}}. As the US ship closed to {{Convert|3000|m|yd|abbr=on}} U-371 fired a T-5 acoustic torpedo from her stern tube, and immediately dived. The Menges was hit; the aft third of the vessel was destroyed, killing 31 men and wounding 25. However she remained afloat and was towed to Bougie in Algeria and later repaired and returned to service.

=Fate=

U-371 found herself being relentlessly hunted by the American destroyer escorts {{USS|Pride|DE-323|6}} and {{USS|Joseph E. Campbell|DE-70|6}}, the Free French Sénégalais and L'Alcyon, and the British {{HMS|Blankney|L30|6}}.

When U-371 first attempted to surface after crippling the Menges, depth charges forced her back down, while putting out all the lights, damaging the hydroplanes, and rupturing the trim tanks. The U-boat levelled off at about {{Convert|200|–|215|m}}, leaking badly. The depth charge attacks continued at about 30-minute intervals, with increasing accuracy, and the U-boat sustained further damage.

At around 06:00 on 3 May, U-371 attempted to evade ASDIC (sonar) detection by lying on the sea floor. This would also conserve battery power, which was becoming dangerously low. She lay on the sea-bed at around {{Convert|240|m}} for the rest of the day, hoping that the attackers would give up the hunt. Late that night though, the surface vessels could still be heard, and with the air quality in the boat rapidly deteriorating, the emergency lighting system out, and with U-371 having taken on about 15 tons of water, the U-boat's commander decided that their only hope was to surface and attempt to escape in the darkness.

Blowing her ballast tanks only attracted the attention of the attackers, which began dropping depth charges again, and the U-boat was still stuck. The crew had to run from one end of the U-boat to the other while the engines ran at full power in order to break the grip of the mud before the U-boat finally began to surface. All torpedo tubes were loaded and readied for firing, and all guns were manned when U-371, with her batteries practically exhausted, surfaced and ran for safety.

After fifteen minutes the enemy was seen coming up astern, immediately opening fire and scoring several hits. The U-boat returned fire, but the situation was clearly hopeless and most of her crew jumped overboard. As a last show of defiance the U-boat fired a T-5 acoustic torpedo from her stern tube, and managed to hit the Sénégalais, causing some damage.

By this time, around 04:00 on 4 May 1944, only the commander Horst-Arno Fenski, the Engineering Officer and a control room petty officer remained aboard. The latter two remained below to flood the tanks, which caused U-371 to sink so rapidly that they were unable to escape and both drowned.

=Wolfpacks=

U-371 took part in two wolfpacks, namely:

  • Kurfürst (17 – 20 June 1941)
  • Goeben (16 – 24 September 1941)

Summary of raiding history

class="wikitable sortable"
width="120px"|Date

! width="140px"|Ship Name

! width="200px"|Nationality

! width="25px" |TonnageMerchant ship tonnages are in gross register tons. Military vessels are listed by tons displacement.

! width="50px" |Fate{{cite web

|url=http://uboat.net/boats/successes/u371.html

|title=Ships hit by U-371

|last=Helgason

|first=Guðmundur

|website=German U-boats of WWII – uboat.net

|access-date=23 January 2014

|archive-date=18 July 2008

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080718100107/http://www.uboat.net/boats/successes/u371.html

|url-status=live

}}

align="right"|12 June 1941

|align="left" |Silverpalm

|align="left" |{{flag|United Kingdom|civil}}

|align="right"|6,373

|align="left" |Sunk

align="right"|24 June 1941

|align="left" |Vigrid

|align="left" |{{flag|Norway}}

|align="right"|4,765

|align="left" |Sunk

align="right"|30 July 1941

|align="left" |Shahristan

|align="left" |{{flag|United Kingdom|civil}}

|align="right"|6,935

|align="left" |Sunk

align="right"|30 July 1941

|align="left" |Sitoebondo

|align="left" |{{flag|Netherlands}}

|align="right"|7,049

|align="left" |Sunk

align="right"|7 January 1943

|align="left" |HMT Jura

|align="left" |{{navy|United Kingdom}}

|align="right"|545

|align="left" |Sunk

align="right"|7 January 1943

|align="left" |Ville de Strasbourg

|align="left" |{{flag|United Kingdom|civil}}

|align="right"|7,159

|align="left" |Damaged

align="right"|23 February 1943

|align="left" |Fintra

|align="left" |{{flag|United Kingdom|civil}}

|align="right"|2,089

|align="left" |Sunk

align="right"|28 February 1943

|align="left" |Daniel Carroll

|align="left" |{{flag|United States|1912}}

|align="right"|7,176

|align="left" |Damaged

align="right"|27 April 1943

|align="left" |Merope

|align="left" |{{flag|Netherlands}}

|align="right"|1,162

|align="left" |Sunk

align="right"|10 July 1943

|align="left" |Gulfprince

|align="left" |{{flag|United States|1912}}

|align="right"|6,561

|align="left" |Damaged

align="right"|10 July 1943

|align="left" |Matthew Maury

|align="left" |{{flag|United States|1912}}

|align="right"|7,176

|align="left" |Damaged

align="right"|7 August 1943

|align="left" |Contractor

|align="left" |{{flag|United Kingdom|civil}}

|align="right"|6,004

|align="left" |Sunk

align="right"|11 October 1943

|align="left" |{{HMS|Hythe|J194|6}}

|align="left" |{{navy|United Kingdom}}

|align="right"|656

|align="left" |Sunk

align="right"|13 October 1943

|align="left" |{{USS|Bristol|DD-453|6}}

|align="left" |{{navy|United States|1912}}

|align="right"|1,630

|align="left" |Sunk

align="right"|15 October 1943

|align="left" |James Russell Lowel

|align="left" |{{flag|United States|1912}}

|align="right"|7,176

|align="left" |Total loss

align="right"|17 March 1944

|align="left" |Dempo

|align="left" |{{flag|Netherlands}}

|align="right"|17,024

|align="left" |Sunk

align="right"|17 March 1944

|align="left" |Maiden Creek

|align="left" |{{flag|United States|1912}}

|align="right"|6,165

|align="left" |Total loss

align="right"|3 May 1944

|align="left" |{{USS|Menges|DE-320|6}}

|align="left" |{{navy|United States|1912}}

|align="right"|1,200

|align="left" |Damaged

align="right"|4 May 1944

|align="left" |FFL Sénégalais

|align="left" |{{navy|Free France}}

|align="right"|1,300

|align="left" |Damaged

References

=Notes=

{{Reflist|group=Note}}

=Citations=

{{Reflist}}

Bibliography

{{Refbegin}}

  • {{Cite book |last1=Busch |first1=Rainer |title=German U-boat commanders of World War II : a biographical dictionary |last2=Röll |first2=Hans-Joachim |publisher=Greenhill Books, Naval Institute Press |year=1999 |isbn=1-55750-186-6 |location=London, Annapolis, Md |translator-last=Brooks |translator-first=Geoffrey }}
  • {{Cite book |last1=Busch |first1=Rainer |title=Deutsche U-Boot-Verluste von September 1939 bis Mai 1945 |last2=Röll |first2=Hans-Joachim |series=Der U-Boot-Krieg |publisher=Mittler |year=1999 |isbn=3-8132-0514-2 |volume=IV |location=Hamburg, Berlin, Bonn |language=German |trans-title=German U-boat losses from September 1939 to May 1945 }}
  • {{Cite book |last1=Gröner |first1=Erich |title=U-boats and Mine Warfare Vessels |last2=Jung |first2=Dieter |last3=Maass |first3=Martin |series=German Warships 1815–1945 |publisher=Conway Maritime Press |year=1991 |isbn=0-85177-593-4 |volume=2 |location=London |translator-last=Thomas |translator-first=Keith |ref=CITEREFGröner1991 |translator-last2=Magowan |translator-first2=Rachel}}
  • {{Cite book |last=Kemp |first=Paul |title=U-Boats Destroyed – German Submarine Losses in the World Wars |publisher=Arms & Armour |year=1997 |isbn=1-85409-515-3}}

{{Refend}}

External links

  • [https://web.archive.org/web/20100710065946/http://www.uboatarchive.net/U-371.htm U-boat Archive : U-371]
  • {{Cite web |url=http://uboat.net/boats/u371.html |title=The Type VIIC boat U-371 |last=Helgason |first=Guðmundur |website=German U-boats of WWII – uboat.net |access-date=27 December 2014}}

{{German Type VII submarines}}

{{May 1944 shipwrecks}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:U0371}}

Category:World War II submarines of Germany

Category:German Type VIIC submarines

Category:U-boats commissioned in 1941

Category:U-boats sunk in 1944

Category:U-boats sunk by British warships

Category:U-boats sunk by US warships

Category:U-boats sunk by French warships

Category:U-boats sunk by depth charges

Category:World War II shipwrecks in the Mediterranean Sea

Category:1941 ships

Category:Ships built in Kiel

Category:Maritime incidents in May 1944