German Type IXC submarines were slightly larger than the original
Type IXBs. U-128 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.[2] 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).[2]
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).[2] 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-128 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.[2]
The boat was a training vessel in the second flotilla until 30 November 1941 based in
Wilhelmshaven. She was then based in
Lorient.
During her six completed war patrols, U-128 sank 12 ships, for a total of 83,639 tons. On 1 March 1943 command was transferred to Kptlt. Hermann Steinert, who commanded her until her loss a few months later.
Fate
On 17 May 1943, while operating in the South Atlantic near
Pernambuco, two
Mariner flying boats, PBM 74-P5 and PBM-74-P6 of the
US Navy Patrol Squadron
VP-74, made U-128 surface with
depth charges. Two US Navy destroyers (
USS Jouett and
Moffett) also hit her with 5-inch gunfire. The crew opened the submarine's
seacocks as they abandoned ship, scuttling the submarine. The final toll was seven dead but there were 47 survivors.
^Helgason, Guðmundur.
"Ships hit by U-128". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 30 November 2009.
Bibliography
Busch, Rainer; Röll, Hans-Joachim (1999). German U-boat commanders of World War II : a biographical dictionary. Translated by Brooks, Geoffrey. London, Annapolis, Md: Greenhill Books, Naval Institute Press.
ISBN1-55750-186-6.
Busch, Rainer; Röll, Hans-Joachim (1999). Deutsche U-Boot-Verluste von September 1939 bis Mai 1945 [German U-boat losses from September 1939 to May 1945]. Der U-Boot-Krieg (in German). Vol. IV. Hamburg, Berlin, Bonn: Mittler.
ISBN3-8132-0514-2.
Gröner, Erich; Jung, Dieter; Maass, Martin (1991). U-boats and Mine Warfare Vessels. German Warships 1815–1945. Vol. 2. Translated by Thomas, Keith; Magowan, Rachel. London: Conway Maritime Press.
ISBN0-85177-593-4.
External links
Hofmann, Markus.
"U 128". Deutsche U-Boote 1935-1945 - u-boot-archiv.de (in German). Retrieved 7 December 2014.
Helgason, Guðmundur.
"The Type IXC boat U-128". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 7 December 2014.