German submarine U-158 (1941)
Introduction '''German submarine ''U-158''''' was a Type IXC U-boat of Nazi Germany's ''Kriegsmarine'' built for service during World War II.Her keel was laid down on 1 November 1940 by DeSchiMAG AG Weser in Bremen as yard number 1000.She was commissioned on 25 September 1941, with ''Kapitänleutnant'' Erwin Rostin (Knights Cross) in command.
Design German Type IXC submarines were slightly larger than the original Type IXBs. ''U-158'' had a displacement of  when at the surface and  while submerged. The U-boat had a total length of , a pressure hull length of , a beam of , a height of , and a draught of . The submarine was powered by two MAN M 9 V 40/46 supercharged four-stroke, nine-cylinder diesel engines producing a total of  for use while surfaced, two Siemens-Schuckert 2 GU 345/34 double-acting electric motors producing a total of  for use while submerged. She had two shafts and two  propellers. The boat was capable of operating at depths of up to .The submarine had a maximum surface speed of  and a maximum submerged speed of . When submerged, the boat could operate for  at ; when surfaced, she could travel  at . ''U-158'' was fitted with six  torpedo tubes (four fitted at the bow and two at the stern), 22 torpedoes, one  SK C/32 naval gun, 180 rounds, and a  SK C/30 as well as a  C/30 anti-aircraft gun. The boat had a complement of forty-eight.
Service history ''U-158'' conducted only two combat patrols, sinking 17 ships totalling  and damaging two others totalling 15,264 GRT.===First patrol===''U-158'' departed the German administered island of Helgoland, (sometimes spelt 'Heligoland'), for her first patrol on 7 February 1942.Her route took her north of the British Isles, through the gap between Iceland and the Faroe Islands and into the Atlantic Ocean.Her first victim was ''Empire Celt'', sunk about  south southeast of St Johns on 24 February. The ship broke in two after being hit and the stern section was last seen on 4 March. In the same attack, the U-boat also damaged ''Diloma''. This tanker was able to proceed under her own power at reduced speed. She was repaired in Baltimore and returned to service in June 1942.The submarine then moved further down the US east coast. She sank another four ships and damaged one more. They were: ''Finnanger'' (1 March), ''Caribsea'' (11 March), ''John D. Gill'' (13 March), ''Olean'' (damaged on 15 March) and ''Ario'' (also on 15 March). ''John D. Gill'' was another tanker; her cargo did not ignite on being hit by a torpedo. Instead, the surrounding water was turned into a blazing inferno after a seaman threw a life ring overboard and its built-in carbide lamp malfunctioned. Almost half the crew died. ''Olean'' was towed to Hampton Roads, rebuilt and renamed ''Sweep'' and then returned to service.Having caused so much mayhem, the boat sailed for France, arriving at Lorient on 31 March 1942.===Second patrol===For her second foray, ''U-158'' moved into the Caribbean and the Gulf of Mexico in May 1942.On the way she sank ''Darina'' about  east southeast of Bermuda on 4 May and ''Frank B. Baird'' on the 22nd.Following the sinking of ''Knoxville City'' on 2 June, the survivors in their lifeboats declined an offer of help from ''Jamaica'' as they thought the German submarine was still nearby.The ''Hermis'', despite being hit by two torpedoes on the seventh, maintained a speed of eight knots due to the engines still running. The U-boat surfaced and shelled the ship. She was observed some twelve hours later with her stern out of the water; she eventually sank shortly afterward.
Fate ''U-158'' was sunk on 30 June 1942, west of the Bermudas, in position , by depth charges from a PBM Mariner aircraft commanded by Richard Schreder of United States Navy Squadron VP-74.None of her 54 crewmen on board survived the sinking.
Summary of raiding history DateShipNationalityTonnageFate24 February 1942''Diloma'' 8,146Damaged24 February 1942''Empire Celt'' 8,032Sunk1 March 1942''Finnager''9,551Sunk11 March 1942''Caribsea''2,609Sunk13 March 1942''John D. Gill''11,641Sunk15 March 1942''Ario''6,952Sunk15 March 1942''Olean''7,118Damaged20 May 1942''Darina''8,113Sunk22 May 1942''Frank D. Baird''1,748Sunk2 June 1942''Knoxville City''5,686Sunk4 June 1942''Nidarnes''2,647Sunk5 June 1942''Velma Lykes''2,572Sunk7 June 1942''Hermis''5,234Sunk11 June 1942''Sheherazade''13,467Sunk12 June 1942''Cities Service Toledo''8,192Sunk17 June 1942''Moira''1,560Sunk17 June 1942''San Blas''3,601Sunk23 June 1942''Major General Henry Gibbins''5,766Sunk23 June 1942''Everalda''3,950Sunk
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