German
U-Boat U93.
U-93 was built by Germania Werft at Kiel and launched 8th June
1940, commissioned into the Kriegsmarine 30th July 1940. Commanded by KL
Laus Korth she left Kiel to operate around the British Coast, She first operated
around the Roxckall area where she sank her first ship SS Hurunui on the
14th of October. which was part of the OB227 convoy. On the 17th October
she sank to further ships form convoy OB228 SS Dokka and SS Uskbridge.
in January 1941 on her third trip. she spotted the east bound
convoy SC19 on the 29th January off Rockall. U-93 sank three ships form
this convoy. SS king Robert, the tanker SS W B Walker and SS Aiketerini.
and on the 4th February she sank the SS Dione II which has fallen behind
her convoy SC20. On the 11th of February U-93 was damaged by
aerial bombing by a Whitley of 502 squadron flown by Flight Officer J A
walker.
On her fourth patrol U-93 along with other U-boats attacked
the convoy HX126. U-93 sank the Tanker MV Elusa on the night of
20th/21st of May 1941. After the German ship Belchen has been sunk
by British cruisers HMS Aurora and HMS Kenya. U-93 picked up 49
survivors and then returned to base. In August 1941 a temporary captain
OL Ralph Kapitzky joined the U-boat only to be replaced a week later by
OL Horst Elfe.
On the 7th and Final patrol. U-93 along with 5 other U-boats
left St Nazaire to operate in the Mediterranean. there orders were
changed and they were to assemble at the Azores and to become the
Seydlitz group. The six u-boats were split into operating groups
of three. U-93 along with U-71 and U-571 were to operate between the Azores
and Gibraltar. They attempted to attack convoy HG78 without
success due to the escorting British warships. The u-boats shadowed the
convoy for four days. It was while shadowing that |u-93 was located and
sunk by depth charges from the escort destroyer HMS
Hesperus. Six of the Crew were Killed and 40 of the crew
survived including the captain and were to become prisoners of
war. She was sunk 36 degrees 40 N. 15 degrees
52W
