German submarine U-41 (1939)

U-37, (an identical U-boat to U-41) at Lorient in 1940
History
Nazi Germany
NameU-41
Ordered21 November 1936
BuilderDeSchiMAG AG Weser, Bremen
Yard number946
Laid down27 November 1937
Launched28 January 1939
Commissioned22 April 1939
FateSunk on 5 February 1940 south of Ireland. All 49 of her crew went down with the submarine
General characteristics
Class and typeType IXA submarine
Displacement
  • 1,032 t (1,016 long tons) surfaced
  • 1,153 t (1,135 long tons) submerged
Length
Beam
  • 6.51 m (21 ft 4 in) o/a
  • 4.40 m (14 ft 5 in) pressure hull
Height9.40 m (30 ft 10 in)
Draught4.70 m (15 ft 5 in)
Installed power
  • 4,400 PS (3,200 kW; 4,300 bhp) (diesels)
  • 1,000 PS (740 kW; 990 shp) (electric)
Propulsion
Speed
  • 18.2 knots (33.7 km/h; 20.9 mph) surfaced
  • 7.7 knots (14.3 km/h; 8.9 mph) submerged
Range
  • 10,500 nmi (19,400 km; 12,100 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) surfaced
  • 65–78 nmi (120–144 km; 75–90 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph) submerged
Test depth230 m (750 ft)
Complement4 officers, 44 enlisted
Armament
Service record
Part of:
Identification codes: M 11 423
Commanders:
  • Kptlt. Gustav-Adolf Mugler
  • 22 April 1939 – 5 February 1940
Operations:
  • 3 patrols:
  • 1st patrol:
  • 19 August – 17 September 1939
  • 2nd patrol:
  • a. 7 November – 7 December 1939
  • b. 23 – 24 Jan 1940
  • 3rd patrol:
  • 27 January – 5 February 1940
Victories:
  • 5 merchant ships sunk
    (22,815 GRT)
  • 1 merchant ship damaged
    (8,096 GRT)
  • 2 merchant ships taken as prize
    (2,073 GRT)

The German submarine U-41 was a Type IXA[1] U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine that operated during World War II. She conducted three war patrols during her short career, two as part of the 6th U-boat Flotilla and one as part of the 2nd flotilla. U-41 also sank five enemy vessels for a total of 22,815 gross register tons (GRT); captured two more for a total of 2,073 GRT and damaged one other of 8,096 GRT.[2]

On 5 February 1940, U-41 was hit by depth charges from the British A class destroyer HMS Antelope after sinking two enemy merchant vessels and was sunk off the south coast of Ireland. All 49 of her crew members were lost with the boat.

  1. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Type IXA". German U-boats of WWII – uboat.net. Retrieved 1 April 2010.
  2. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type IXA boat U-41". German U-boats of WWII – uboat.net. Retrieved 17 April 2010.