View source for German submarine U-41 (1939)

{{Short description|German World War II submarine}}
{{other ships|German submarine U-41}}
{{good article}}
{{Use British English|date=October 2012}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2022}}
{|{{Infobox ship begin}}
{{Infobox ship image
|Ship image=U37 Lorient 1940.jpg
|Ship image size=300px
|Ship caption=''U-37'', (an identical U-boat to ''U-41'') at [[Lorient]] in 1940
}}
{{Infobox ship career
|Ship country=[[Nazi Germany]]
|Ship flag={{shipboxflag|Nazi Germany|naval}}
|Ship name=''U-41''
|Ship ordered=21 November 1936
|Ship laid down=27 November 1937
|Ship builder=[[DeSchiMAG]] [[AG Weser]], [[Bremen]]
|Ship yard number=946
|Ship launched=28 January 1939
|Ship commissioned=22 April 1939
|Ship fate=Sunk on 5 February 1940 south of Ireland. All 49 of her crew went down with the submarine
}}
{{Infobox ship characteristics
|Hide header=
|Header caption=
|Ship class=[[Type IX submarine#Type IXA|Type IXA]] [[submarine]]
|Ship displacement=
*{{convert|1032|t|LT|abbr=on|lk=on}} surfaced
*{{convert|1153|t|LT|abbr=on}} submerged
|Ship length=
*{{convert|76.50|m|ft|abbr=on|0}} [[o/a]]
*{{convert|58.75|m|ftin|abbr=on}} [[pressure hull]]
|Ship beam=
*{{convert|6.51|m|ftin|abbr=on}} o/a
*{{convert|4.40|m|ftin|abbr=on}} pressure hull
|Ship height={{convert|9.40|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
|Ship draught={{convert|4.70|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
|Ship power=
*{{convert|4400|PS|kW bhp|abbr=on}} (diesels)
*{{convert|1000|PS|kW shp|-1|abbr=on}} (electric)
|Ship propulsion=
*2 shafts
*2 × [[diesel engine]]s
*2 × [[Motor-generator|electric motors]]
|Ship speed=
*{{convert|18.2|kn}} surfaced
*{{convert|7.7|kn}} submerged
|Ship range=
*{{convert|10500|nmi|lk=in|abbr=on}} at {{convert|10|kn}} surfaced
*{{convert|65|–|78|nmi|abbr=on}} at {{convert|4|kn}} submerged
|Ship test depth=
*{{convert|230|m|ft|abbr=on}}
|Ship complement=4 officers, 44 enlisted
|Ship armament=
*6 × [[torpedo tube]]s (4 bow, 2 stern)
*22 × {{convert|53.3|cm|in|0|abbr=on}} [[torpedo]]es
*1 × [[10.5&nbsp;cm SK C/32 naval gun]] (180 rounds)
*1 × [[3.7&nbsp;cm SK C/30|{{convert|3.7|cm|in|sp=us|abbr=on}} SK C/30]] AA gun
*1 × twin [[2 cm FlaK 30]] AA guns
|Ship notes=
}}
{{Infobox service record
|is_ship=yes
|partof=
*[[6th U-boat Flotilla]]
*22 April – 31 December 1939
*[[2nd U-boat Flotilla]]
*1 January – 5 February 1940
|codes=M 11 423
|commanders=*''[[Kptlt.]]'' Gustav-Adolf Mugler
*22 April 1939 – 5 February 1940
|operations=*3 patrols:
*1st patrol:
*19 August – 17 September 1939
*2nd patrol:
*a. 7 November – 7 December 1939
*b. 23 – 24 Jan 1940
*3rd patrol:
*27 January – 5 February 1940
|victories=
*5 merchant ships sunk <br />({{GRT|22,815}})
*1 merchant ship damaged <br />({{GRT|8,096}})
*2 merchant ships taken as prize <br />({{GRT|2,073}})
}}
|}

The '''German submarine ''U-41''''' was a [[Type IX submarine#Type IXA|Type IXA]]<ref name=Type>{{cite web
 |url=http://uboat.net/types/ix.htm
 |title=Type IXA
 |last=Helgason
 |first=Guðmundur
 |website=German U-boats of WWII – uboat.net
 |access-date=1 April 2010
}}</ref> [[U-boat]] of [[Nazi Germany]]'s ''[[Kriegsmarine]]'' that operated during [[World War II]]. She conducted three war patrols during her short career, two as part of the [[6th U-boat Flotilla]] and one as part of the [[2nd U-boat Flotilla|2nd flotilla]]. ''U-41'' also sank five enemy vessels for a total of {{GRT|22,815|disp=long}}; captured two more for a total of {{GRT|2,073|link=off}} and damaged one other of {{GRT|8,096|link=off}}.<ref name=U-41>{{Cite web
 |url=http://uboat.net/boats/u41.htm
 |title=The Type IXA boat U-41
 |last=Helgason
 |first=Guðmundur
 |website=German U-boats of WWII – uboat.net
 |access-date=17 April 2010
}}</ref>

On 5 February 1940, ''U-41'' was hit by [[depth charge]]s from the British [[A-class destroyer (1929)|A class destroyer]] {{HMS|Antelope|H36|6}} after sinking two enemy merchant vessels and was sunk off the south coast of Ireland. All 49 of her crew members were lost with the boat.

==Construction==
{{main|Type IXA submarine}}
''U-41'' was ordered by the ''Kriegsmarine'' on 21 November 1936 (as part of [[Plan Z]] and in violation of the [[Treaty of Versailles]]). She was [[Keel laying|laid down]] on 27 November 1937 by [[AG Weser]], [[Bremen]] as yard number 946. She was [[Ceremonial ship launching|launched]] on 28 January 1939 and [[Ship commissioning|commissioned]] on 22 April of that same year under the command of ''[[Oberleutnant zur See]]'' Gustav-Adolf Mugler.<ref name=U-41/>

==Design==
As one of the eight original [[Type IXA submarine|Type IX submarines]], later designated IXA, ''U-41'' had a displacement of {{convert|1032|t|LT}} when at the surface and {{convert|1153|t|LT}} while submerged.{{sfn|Gröner|1991|p=68}} The U-boat had a total length of {{convert|76.50|m|ft|abbr=on|0}}, a [[pressure hull]] length of {{convert|58.75|m|ftin|abbr=on}}, a [[beam (nautical)|beam]] of {{convert|6.51|m|ftin|abbr=on}}, a height of {{convert|9.40|m|ftin|abbr=on}}, and a [[draught (ship)|draught]] of {{convert|4.70|m|ftin|abbr=on}}. The submarine was powered by two [[MAN SE|MAN]] M 9 V 40/46 [[supercharged]] four-stroke, nine-cylinder [[diesel engine]]s producing a total of {{convert|4400|PS|kW shp|-1}} for use while surfaced, two [[Siemens-Schuckert]] 2 GU 345/34 [[Motor–generator|double-acting electric motors]] producing a total of {{convert|1000|PS|kW shp|-1}} for use while submerged. She had two shafts and two {{convert|1.92|m|ft|abbr=on|0}} [[propeller]]s. The boat was capable of operating at depths of up to {{convert|230|m}}.{{sfn|Gröner|1991|p=68}}

The submarine had a maximum surface speed of {{convert|18.2|kn}} and a maximum submerged speed of {{convert|7.7|kn}}.{{sfn|Gröner|1991|p=68}} When submerged, the boat could operate for {{convert|65|-|78|nmi}} at {{convert|4|kn}}; when surfaced, she could travel {{convert|10500|nmi}} at {{convert|10|kn}}. ''U-41'' was fitted with six {{convert|53.3|cm|in|0|abbr=on}} [[torpedo tube]]s (four fitted at the bow and two at the stern), 22 [[torpedo]]es, one [[10.5&nbsp;cm SK C/32 naval gun|{{convert|10.5|cm|in|2|abbr=on}} SK C/32 naval gun]], 180 rounds, and a [[3.7&nbsp;cm SK C/30|{{convert|3.7|cm|in|sp=us|abbr=on}} SK C/30]] as well as a [[2 cm FlaK 30|{{convert|2|cm|in|sp=us|abbr=on}} C/30]] anti-aircraft gun. The boat had a [[Ship's company|complement]] of forty-eight.{{sfn|Gröner|1991|p=68}}

==Service history==

During her service in the ''Kriegsmarine'', ''U-41'' sank five commercial ships for {{GRT|22,815|disp=long}}; damaged one commercial vessel of {{GRT|8,096|link=off}} and captured two ships totalling {{GRT|2,073|link=off}}.<ref name=Hit/>

===First patrol===
''U-41'' left Wilhelmshaven on 19 August 1939, before World War II began, with then [[Oberleutnant zur See|Oblt.]] Gustav Adolf-Mugler in command. Her first patrol involved traveling as far south as Portugal after entering the [[North Sea]] and circumnavigating the [[British Isles]]. During this patrol, two ships were captured: the Finnish ''Vega'', of 974 GRT, and the 1,099 GRT ''Suomen Poika''. ''U-41'' then returned to Wilhelmshaven, arriving on 17 September 1939.<ref name=Patrol>{{Cite web
 |url=http://uboat.net/boats/patrols/patrol_279.html
 |first=Guðmundur
 |last=Helgason
 |title=Patrol info for U-41 (First patrol)
 |website=German U-boats of WWII – uboat.net
 |access-date=1 May 2010
}}</ref>

===Second patrol===
''U-41'' left Wilhelmshaven with Mugler in command once again on 7 November 1939. On 12 November, both the 275 GRT British vessel ''Cresswell'' and the 11,019 GRT Norwegian ship ''Arne Kjøde'' were sunk by torpedoes. The 1,351 GRT British merchant vessel ''Darino'' went to the bottom on the 19th. The last enemy vessel to be sunk by ''U-41'' was the French vessel ''Les Barges II''. She displaced a total of 296 GRT and was sunk by a single torpedo on 21 November. The U-boat then returned to port on 7 December 1939.<ref name=Patrol2>{{Cite web
 |url=http://uboat.net/boats/patrols/patrol_280.html
 |first=Guðmundur
 |last=Helgason
 |title=Patrol info for U-41 (Second patrol)
 |website=German U-boats of WWII – uboat.net
 |access-date=1 May 2010
}}</ref>

===Third patrol===
''U-41'' left the port of [[Helgoland]] on 27 January 1940 with Mugler still in command. During her final patrol, one enemy ship was sunk and one was damaged; both of these attacks took place on 5 February. The first ship that was hit was the 8,096 GRT Dutch vessel ''Ceronia''. The ''Ceronia'' was damaged and the 9,874 GRT British ship ''Beaverburn'' was sunk. Nevertheless, ''U-41'' did not return to her home port, she was sunk on the same day.<ref name=Patrol3>{{Cite web
 |url=http://uboat.net/boats/patrols/patrol_282.html
 |first=Guðmundur
 |last=Helgason
 |title=Patrol info for U-41 (Third patrol)
 |website=German U-boats of WWII – uboat.net
 |access-date=1 May 2010
}}</ref>

===Fate===
Following the attacks on the Dutch ''Ceronia'' and the British ''Beaverburn'' on 5 February 1940, ''U-41'' was attacked by the British [[A-class destroyer (1929)|A class destroyer]] {{HMS|Antelope|H36|6}} with [[depth charge]]s. She was hit and sunk off the south coast of Ireland. All 49 of her crew members were lost with the boat during the attack.<ref name=U-41/><ref name=Patrol3/>{{sfn|Kemp|1999|p=63}}

==Summary of raiding history==
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="margin: 1em auto 1em auto;"
|-
! Date<ref name=Hit>{{cite web
 |url=http://uboat.net/boats/successes/u41.html
 |title=Ships hit by U-41
 |last=Helgason
 |first=Guðmundur
 |website=German U-boats of WWII – uboat.net
 |access-date=1 April 2010
}}</ref>
! Ship<ref name=Hit/>
! Nationality<ref name=Hit/>
! Tonnage<ref name=Hit/>
! Fate<ref name=Hit/>
|-
|align="right"|16 September 1939
|align="left" |[[List of shipwrecks in September 1939#16 September|''Suomen Poika'']]
|align="left" |{{flagcountry|Finland}} 
|align="right"|1,099
|align="left" |Captured as prize
|-
|align="right"|16 September 1939
|align="left" |[[List of shipwrecks in September 1939#16 September|''Vega'']]
|align="left" |{{flagcountry|Finland}}
|align="right"|974
|align="left" |Captured as prize
|-
|align="right"|12 November 1939
|align="left" |[[List of shipwrecks in November 1939#12 November|''Arne Kjøde'']]
|align="left" |{{flagcountry|Norway}}
|align="right"|11,019
|align="left" |Sunk
|-
|align="right"|12 November 1939
|align="left" |[[List of shipwrecks in November 1939#12 November|''Cresswell'']]
|align="left" |{{flagcountry|United Kingdom|civil}}
|align="right"|275
|align="left" |Sunk
|-
|align="right"|19 November 1939
|align="left" |[[List of shipwrecks in November 1939#19 November|''Darino'']]
|align="left" |{{flagcountry|United Kingdom|civil}}
|align="right"|1,351
|align="left" |Sunk
|-
|align="right"|21 November 1939
|align="left" |[[List of shipwrecks in November 1939#21 November|''Les Barges II'']]
|align="left" |{{flagcountry|France}}
|align="right"|296
|align="left" |Sunk
|-
|align="right"|5 February 1940
|align="left" |[[List of shipwrecks in February 1940#5 February|''Beaverburn'']]
|align="left" |{{flagcountry|United Kingdom|civil}}
|align="right"|9,874
|align="left" |Sunk
|-
|align="right"|5 February 1940
|align="left" |[[List of shipwrecks in February 1940#5 February|''Ceronia'']]
|align="left" |{{flagcountry|Netherlands}}
|align="right"|8,096
|align="left" |Damaged
|}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Bibliography==
{{Refbegin}}
*{{cite book | last1 = Busch | first1 = Rainer | last2 = Röll | first2 = Hans-Joachim | translator-last = Brooks | translator-first = Geoffrey | title = German U-boat commanders of World War II : a biographical dictionary | publisher = Greenhill Books, Naval Institute Press | location = London, Annapolis, Md | year = 1999 | isbn = 1-55750-186-6 }}
*{{cite book
|last1=Busch
|first1=Rainer
|last2=Röll
|first2=Hans-Joachim
|title=Deutsche U-Boot-Verluste von September 1939 bis Mai 1945
|trans-title=German U-boat losses from September 1939 to May 1945
|series=Der U-Boot-Krieg
|volume=IV
|publisher=Mittler
|location=Hamburg, Berlin, Bonn
|year=1999
|isbn=3-8132-0514-2
|language=de

}}
*{{cite book
|last1=Gröner
|first1=Erich
|last2=Jung
|first2=Dieter
|last3=Maass
|first3=Martin
|translator-last1=Thomas
|translator-first1=Keith
|translator-last2=Magowan
|translator-first2=Rachel
|year=1991
|title=U-boats and Mine Warfare Vessels
|volume=2
|series=German Warships 1815–1945
|location=London
|publisher=Conway Maritime Press
|isbn=0-85177-593-4
|ref=CITEREFGröner1991
}}
*{{cite book
|last=Kemp
|first=Paul
|title=U-Boats Destroyed – German Submarine Losses in the World Wars
|location=London
|year=1999
|publisher=Arms & Armour
|isbn=1-85409-515-3

}}
{{Refend}}

==External links==
*{{Cite web
 |url=http://uboat.net/boats/u41.htm
 |title=The Type IXA boat U-41
 |last=Helgason
 |first=Guðmundur
 |website=German U-boats of WWII – uboat.net
 |access-date=17 April 2010
}}
*{{cite web
|url=http://www.u-boot-archiv.de/dieboote/u0041.html
|title=''U 41''
|last=Hofmann
|first=Markus
|website=Deutsche U-Boote 1935–1945 – u-boot-archiv.de
|language=de
|access-date=7 December 2014
}}

{{German Type IXA submarines}}
{{German Type IX submarines}}
{{February 1940 shipwrecks}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:U0041}}
[[Category:German Type IX submarines]]
[[Category:U-boats commissioned in 1939]]
[[Category:U-boats sunk in 1940]]
[[Category:World War II submarines of Germany]]
[[Category:U-boats sunk by British warships]]
[[Category:U-boats sunk by depth charges]]
[[Category:World War II shipwrecks in the Celtic Sea]]
[[Category:1939 ships]]
[[Category:Ships built in Bremen (state)]]
[[Category:Submarines lost with all hands]]
[[Category:Maritime incidents in February 1940]]