German submarine U-108 (1940)

U-108 in Germany, winter 1940-1941, the man in white cap is korvetten-captain Klaus Scholtz
History
Nazi Germany
NameU-108
Ordered24 May 1938
BuilderDeSchiMAG AG Weser, Bremen
Yard number971
Laid down27 December 1938
Launched15 July 1940
Commissioned22 October 1940
HomeportLorient, France
FateSunk, 11 April 1944[1]
General characteristics
Class and typeType IXB U-boat
Displacement
  • 1,051 t (1,034 long tons) surfaced
  • 1,178 t (1,159 long tons) submerged
Length
Beam
  • 6.76 m (22 ft 2 in) o/a
  • 4.40 m (14 ft 5 in) pressure hull
Height9.60 m (31 ft 6 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
  • 7.3 knots (13.5 km/h; 8.4 mph) submerged
Range
  • 12,000 nmi (22,000 km; 14,000 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) surfaced
  • 64 nmi (119 km; 74 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph) submerged
Test depth230 m (750 ft)
Complement48 to 56 officers and ratings
Armament
Service record
Part of:
Identification codes: M 27 968
Commanders:
  • K.Kapt. Klaus Scholtz
  • 22 October 1940 – 14 October 1942
  • Oblt.z.S. Erich Hilsenitz
  • October 1942 (in representation)
  • K.Kapt. Ralf-Reimar Wolfram
  • 15 October 1942 – 16 October 1943
  • Oblt.z.S. Matthias Brünig
  • 17 October 1943 – 11 April 1944
Operations:
  • 11 patrols:
  • 1st patrol:
  • 15 February – 12 March 1941
  • 2nd patrol:
  • 3 April – 2 May 1941
  • 3rd patrol:
  • 25 May – 7 July 1941
  • 4th patrol:
  • 19 August – 21 October 1941
  • 5th patrol:
  • 9 – 25 December 1941
  • 6th patrol:
  • 8 January – 4 March 1942
  • 7th patrol:
  • 30 March – 1 June 1942
  • 8th patrol:
  • 13 July – 10 September 1942
  • 9th patrol:
  • 25 October – 26 November 1942
  • 10th patrol:
  • 20 January – 24 February 1943
  • 11th patrol:
  • 1 April – 16 May 1943
Victories:
  • 25 merchant ships sunk
    (118,722 GRT)
  • 1 auxiliary warship sunk
    (16,644 GRT)

German submarine U-108 was a Type IXB U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine that operated during World War II. She was laid down at DeSchiMAG AG Weser in Bremen as yard number 971 on 27 December 1938, launched on 15 July 1940 and commissioned on 22 October under Korvettenkapitän Klaus Scholtz.

Her service career began with training as part of the 2nd U-boat Flotilla; she went on to operations, first with the second flotilla, then with the 8th U-boat Flotilla.

  1. ^ Kemp 1997, p. 183.