# German submarine U-158 (1941)

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 1,120 tonnes (1,100 long tons) when at the surface and 1,232 tonnes (1,213 long tons) while submerged. The U-boat had a total length of 76.76 m (251 ft 10 in), a pressure hull length of 58.75 m (192 ft 9 in), a beam of 6.76 m (22 ft 2 in), a height of 9.60 m (31 ft 6 in), and a draught of 4.70 m (15 ft 5 in). The submarine was powered by two MAN M 9 V 40/46 supercharged four-stroke, nine-cylinder diesel engines producing a total of 4,400 metric horsepower (3,240 kW; 4,340 shp) for use while surfaced, two Siemens-Schuckert 2 GU 345/34 double-acting electric motors producing a total of 1,000 metric horsepower (740 kW; 990 shp) for use while submerged. She had two shafts and two 1.92 m (6 ft) propellers. The boat was capable of operating at depths of up to 230 metres (750 ft).
The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 18.3 knots (33.9 km/h; 21.1 mph) and a maximum submerged speed of 7.3 knots (13.5 km/h; 8.4 mph). When submerged, the boat could operate for 63 nautical miles (117 km; 72 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph); when surfaced, she could travel 13,450 nautical miles (24,910 km; 15,480 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph). U-158 was fitted with six 53.3 cm (21 in) torpedo tubes (four fitted at the bow and two at the stern), 22 torpedoes, one 10.5 cm (4.13 in) SK C/32 naval gun, 180 rounds, and a 3.7 cm (1.5 in) SK C/30 as well as a 2 cm (0.79 in) 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 101,321 gross register tons (GRT) 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 420 nmi (780 km; 480 mi) 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 500 nmi (930 km; 580 mi) 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 32°50′N 67°28′W﻿ / ﻿32.833°N 67.467°W﻿ / 32.833; -67.467, 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

| Date | Ship | Nationality | Tonnage | Fate |
| 24 February 1942 | Diloma | United Kingdom | 8,146 | Damaged |
| 24 February 1942 | Empire Celt | United Kingdom | 8,032 | Sunk |
| 1 March 1942 | Finnager | Norway | 9,551 | Sunk |
| 11 March 1942 | Caribsea | United States | 2,609 | Sunk |
| 13 March 1942 | John D. Gill | United States | 11,641 | Sunk |
| 15 March 1942 | Ario | United States | 6,952 | Sunk |
| 15 March 1942 | Olean | United States | 7,118 | Damaged |
| 20 May 1942 | Darina | United Kingdom | 8,113 | Sunk |
| 22 May 1942 | Frank D. Baird | Canada | 1,748 | Sunk |
| 2 June 1942 | Knoxville City | United States | 5,686 | Sunk |
| 4 June 1942 | Nidarnes | Norway | 2,647 | Sunk |
| 5 June 1942 | Velma Lykes | United States | 2,572 | Sunk |
| 7 June 1942 | Hermis | Panama | 5,234 | Sunk |
| 11 June 1942 | Sheherazade | Panama | 13,467 | Sunk |
| 12 June 1942 | Cities Service Toledo | United States | 8,192 | Sunk |
| 17 June 1942 | Moira | Norway | 1,560 | Sunk |
| 17 June 1942 | San Blas | Panama | 3,601 | Sunk |
| 23 June 1942 | Major General Henry Gibbins | United States Navy | 5,766 | Sunk |
| 23 June 1942 | Everalda | Latvia | 3,950 | Sunk |