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German submarine U-31 (1936)
Career War Ensign of Germany 1938-1945
Name: U-31
Ordered: 1 April 1935
Builder: AG Weser, Bremen
Cost: 4,189,000 Reichsmark
Yard number: 912
Laid down: 1 March 1936
Launched: 25 September 1936
Commissioned: 28 December 1936
Fate: Sunk, 11 March 1940, raised, sunk again 2 November 1940
General characteristics
Type: Type VIIA submarine
Displacement: 626 tonnes (616 long tons) ↑
745 t (733 long tons) ↓
Length: 64.5 m (211 ft 7 in) o/a
44.5 m (146 ft 0 in) pressure hull
Beam: 5.85 m (19 ft 2 in) o/a
4.7 m (15 ft 5 in) pressure hull
Draft: 4.4 m (14 ft 5 in)
Propulsion: 2 × MAN 6-cylinder 4-stroke M6V 40/46 diesel engines totalling 2,100–2,310 bhp (1,570–1,720 kW). Max rpm: 470-485
2 × Brown, Boveri & Cie GG UB 720/8 electric motors, totalling 750 shp (560 kW). Max rpm: 322
Speed: 17 knots (20 mph; 31 km/h) ↑
8 knots (9.2 mph; 15 km/h) ↓
Range: 6,200 nmi (11,500 km) at 10 kn (19 km/h) ↑
73 nmi (135 km) at 4 kn (7.4 km/h) ↓
Test depth: 220 m (720 ft)
Crush depth: 230–250 m (750–820 ft)
Complement: 42–46 officers and ratings
Armament: • 5 × 53.3 cm (21 in) torpedo tubes (four bow, one stern)
• 11 × torpedoes or 22 TMA mines or 33 TMB mines
• 1 × 8.8 cm SK C/35 naval gun (220 rounds)
• 1 × C30 20 mm AA
Service record[1][2]
Part of: 2nd U-boat Flotilla
(28 December 1936–2 November 1940)
Identification codes: M 28 961
Commanders: Kptlt. Rolf Dau
(28 December 1936–8 November 1938)
Kptlt. Johannes Habekost
(8 November 1938–11 March 1940)
Wilfried Prellberg
(8 July 1940–2 November 1940)
Operations: Seven:
1st patrol:
27 August–2 September 1939
2nd patrol:
9 September–2 October 1939
3rd patrol:
21–31 October 1939
4th patrol:
19 November–11 December 1939
5th patrol:
15 January–4 February 1940
6th patrol:
16 September–8 October 1940
7th patrol:
19 October–2 November 1940
Victories: 11 commercial ships sunk (27,751 GRT)
two auxiliary warships sunk (160 GRT)
one warship damaged (33,950 GRT)

German submarine U-31 was a Type VIIA U-boat of the Nazi German Kriegsmarine during World War II. She was laid down on 1 March 1936 as Werk 912, launched on 25 September and commissioned on 28 December 1936.[1]

Service history[]

During her career U-31 was involved in seven war patrols, and attacked the first convoy of World War II, OB-4 on 16 September 1939, sinking the British steamer SS Aviemore.[3]

In U-31's entire career she sank 11 ships, totalling 27,751 gross register tons (GRT), and one auxiliary warship of 160 GRT. A mine laid by U-31 damaged the British battleship HMS Nelson of 33,950 tons.[1]

On 11 March 1940 U-31 was sunk in the Jade estuary by bombs from a British Blenheim bomber with the loss of all 58 crew. The U-boat was raised later that month, repaired and returned to service in July.[1][4]

U-31 was sunk again on 2 November 1940, north-west of Ireland, by depth charges from the British destroyer HMS Antelope, which picked up 44 survivors (or 43, sources vary), from the crew of 46.[1][5]

Summary of raiding history[]

Date Name of Ship Nationality Tonnage Fate[6]
16 September 1939 Aviemore Flag of the United Kingdom United Kingdom 4,060 Sunk
24 September 1939 Hazelside Flag of the United Kingdom United Kingdom 4,646 Sunk
1 December 1939 Arcturus Flag of Norway Norway 1,277 Sunk
3 December 1939 Ove Taft Flag of Denmark Denmark 2,135 Sunk
4 December 1939 HMS Nelson Flag of the United Kingdom United Kingdom 33,950 Damaged (mine)
4 December 1939 Primula Flag of Norway Norway 1,024 Sunk
6 December 1939 Agu Flag of Estonia Estonia 1,575 Sunk
6 December 1939 Vinga Flag of Sweden Sweden 1,974 Sunk
23 December 1939 HMS Glen Albyn Flag of the United Kingdom United Kingdom 82 Sunk (mine)
23 December 1939 HMS Promotive Flag of the United Kingdom United Kingdom 78 Sunk (mine)
22 September 1940 Union Jack Flag of the Faroe Islands Faroe Islands 81 Sunk
27 September 1940 Vestvard Flag of Norway Norway 4,319 Sunk
29 October 1940 Matina Flag of the United Kingdom United Kingdom 5,389 Sunk

See also[]

References[]

Notes
Bibliography

External links[]


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