German submarine U-203 was a German Type VIIC submarine U-boat built for Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine for service during World War II. Built as yard number 632 of Friedrich Krupp Germaniawerft AG in Kiel, she was laid down on 28 March 1940, launched on 4 January 1941 and commissioned on 18 February under Kapitänleutnant Rolf Mützelburg. U-203 carried out eleven patrols with the first flotilla and is credited with sinking 21 ships for and damaging a further three for. She was a member of eleven wolfpacks. She was sunk by British carrier-borne aircraft and a British warship southeast of Greenland on 25 April 1943.

Design

German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-203 had a displacement of 769 t when at the surface and 871 t while submerged. She had a total length of 67.10 m, a pressure hull length of 50.50 m, a beam of 6.20 m, a height of 9.60 m, and a draught of 4.74 m. The submarine was powered by two Germaniawerft F46 four-stroke, six-cylinder supercharged diesel engines producing a total of 2800 to 3200 PS for use while surfaced, two AEG GU 460/8–27 double-acting electric motors producing a total of 750 PS for use while submerged. She had two shafts and two 1.23 m propellers. The boat was capable of operating at depths of up to 230 m. The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 17.7 kn and a maximum submerged speed of 7.6 kn. When submerged, the boat could operate for 80 nmi at 4 kn; when surfaced, she could travel 8500 nmi at 10 kn. U-203 was fitted with five 53.3 cm 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 C/30 anti-aircraft gun. The boat had a complement of between forty-four and sixty.

Service history

First, second and third patrols

On 24 June 1941, nineteen days into her first patrol while en route from Kiel to St. Nazaire in France, U-203 attacked and sank the GRT British merchant ship Kinross, which was part of Convoy OB 336. Later that day, she attacked the Norwegian ship Soløy, which was with Convoy HX 133. Arriving at St. Nazaire on 29 June, the crew of U-203 stayed ashore for another eleven days before the boat made her second patrol. Seventeen days into it, she attacked Convoy OG 69 which was sailing to Gibraltar. On the 27th, U-203 sank the British merchant ship Hawkinge. The British Lapland and the Swedish Norita, also OG 69 merchant ships, were sunk the following day, adding a further and respectively to the U-boat's record. Six days into her third patrol she joined a wolfpack attack on Convoy HG 73 On 26 September she sank the British ships SS Avoceta and Lapwing and the Norwegian Varanberg, destroying another of shipping. Avoceta's sinking killed 123 people. The Convoy Commodore was aboard, but was one of the few dozen survivors.

Fourth, fifth and sixth patrols

Sixteen days into her fourth patrol, on 3 November, U-203 attacked and sank Empire Gemsbuck and Everoja, British merchant ships of Convoy SC 52. Everoja was Latvian owned and carried an Irish cargo. However, she transferred to the British registry and sailed under the Red Ensign. Twenty-one days into her fifth patrol on 15 January 1942, U-203 sank a small Portuguese ship, Catalina. Two days later, the Norwegian ship Octavian would also be sunk. It was never confirmed that the Octavian was sunk by the U-203. It was surmised, the Octavain was actually never in the area where the U-203 said it was torpedoed. The Octavian was positively identified and found on 4 July 2018 off the coast of Maryland. Four torpedoes were fired at the Canadian ship North Gaspe, which survived the attack. One torpedo detonated close to the ship, but none actually hit. U-203's sixth patrol resulted in a total loss of to the Allies and two additional ships damaged, including the British merchant ships San Delfino and Empire Thrush. Damaged were the American tanker Henry F. Sinclair, Jr. and the Panamanian flagged tanker Stanvac Melbourne.

Seventh, eighth and ninth patrols

A seventh patrol beginning 4 June 1942, resulted in of shipping destroyed. The Brazilian Pedrinhas and the British MV Putney Hill were sunk on 26 June. Two days later the American Liberty Ship Sam Houston was torpedoed and then finished off with 43 rounds from the deck gun. The British Cape Verde was sunk on 9 July and the Panamanian tanker Stanvac Palembang on 11 July bringing the tally to five victories on this successful patrol. The next 23-day sortie was unfruitful; however, the U-boat's commander, Rolf Mützelburg, died during this patrol on 11 September. Taking the opportunity to go swimming in the Atlantic southwest of the Azores, he dived from the conning tower and struck the deck with his head and shoulder when the U-boat lurched suddenly in the swell. The doctor from GS U-462, a 'Milk Cow' supply submarine, arrived the next day, but too late. Rolf Mützelburg was buried at sea on 12 September 1942 in position 36.23333°N, -31.35°W. He was replaced by Kptlt. Hermann Kottman, who served as captain for the remainder of U-203's career. Her ninth patrol, beginning 15 October 1942 and terminating 6 November, yielded two further ships sunk. The British merchantmen Hopecastle and Corinaldo (5,178 and, respectively) were sunk on 29 October and 30 October while traveling with Convoy SL-125.

Loss

U-203 undertook two more patrols, both unsuccessful. On 25 April 1943 while south of Cape Farewell, Greenland she was sunk by depth charges in position 55.08333°N, -42.41667°W. She had been attacked by Fairey Swordfish aircraft operating from the British escort carrier HMS Biter (D97) and the British destroyer HMS Pathfinder (G10). Ten men were killed, there were 38 survivors.

Wolfpacks

U-203 took part in eleven wolfpacks, namely:

Summary of raiding history

U-203 sank 21 ships and damaged three others for a total of.

Patrol log