German submarine U-119 (1942)

History
Nazi Germany
Name:	U-119
Ordered:	7 August 1939
Builder:	Germaniawerft, Kiel
Yard number:	624
Laid down:	15 May 1940
Launched:	6 January 1942
Commissioned:	2 April 1942
Fate:	Sunk on 24 June 1943 by a British warship
General characteristics
Class and type:	Submarine minelayer
Displacement:	1,763 tonnes (1,735 long tons) surfaced 2,177 tonnes (2,143 long tons) submerged
Length:	89.80 m (294 ft 7 in) o/a 70.90 m (232 ft 7 in) pressure hull
Beam:	9.20 m (30 ft 2 in) o/a 4.75 m (15 ft 7 in) pressure hull
Height:	10.20 m (33 ft 6 in)
Draught:	4.71 m (15 ft 5 in)
Propulsion:	2 × supercharged GW F 46 a 9 pu 9 cylinder, four-stroke diesel engines, 4,800 PS (4,700 bhp; 3,500 kW) 2 × AEG GU 720/8-287 electric motors, 1,100 PS (1,100 shp; 810 kW)
Range:	18,450 nautical miles (34,170 km; 21,230 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) surfaced 93 nmi (172 km; 107 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph) submerged
Test depth:	Calculated crush depth: 220 m (720 ft)
Complement:	5 officers, 47 enlisted
Armament:	2 × 53.3 cm (21 in) stern torpedo tubes 15 × torpedoes 66 × SMA mines 1 × 10.5 cm (4.1 in) deck gun (200 rounds)
Service record
Part of:	2nd U-boat Flotilla (26 July 1941 – 31 January 1942) 1st U-boat Flotilla (1 February 1942 – 6 October 1942)
Commanders:	Kptlt. Alois Zech (2 April 1942 – 16 April 1942) Kptlt. Horst-Tessen von Kameke (1 February 1943 – 24 June 1943)
Operations:	1st patrol: 6 February – 1 April 1943 2nd patrol: (25 May – 24 June 1943)
Victories:	Two commercial ships sunk (2,937 GRT) One commercial ship damaged - 7,176 GRT

German submarine U-119 was a Type XB minelaying U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. She was laid down at the Germaniawerft in Kiel on 15 May 1940 as yard number 624. She was launched on 6 January 1942 and commissioned under Kapitänleutnant Alois Zech on 2 April 1942, he was replaced by Kptlt. Horst-Tessen von Kameke on 1 February 1943, who remained in command until her loss.

U-119's service career began with the 4th U-boat Flotilla on 2 April 1942 where she underwent training. She was declared operational on 1 February 1943 when she moved over to the 12th flotilla.

The boat made a short run from Kiel to Frederikshaven in Denmark and back between 4 August 1942 and the 10th.

Her first patrol commenced with her departure from Kiel on 6 February 1943. She crossed the North Sea and skirted the northern coast of Iceland, arriving at Bordeaux in occupied France on 1 April.

U-119 was unsuccessfully attacked on 29 April 1943 by a Short Sunderland flying boat of 461 Squadron RAAF (Royal Australian Air Force). The boat sustained no damage but one man was killed.

She sank Halma on 3 June east of Halifax, Nova Scotia and damaged John A. Poor on 27 July. Both ships were attacked with mines laid by U-119 on 1 June.

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