SERVICE HISTORY
U-48 was Unsurpassed in sinking allied shipping and also survived numerous attacks by convoy escorts
The Type VII-B U-48 was laid down in March 1937 at the Germaniawerft yards at Kiel, Germany, and commissioned on 22 April 1939. During its 22-month wartime career the U-48 sank or damaged 55 ships totalling 328,414 tons, a record unsurpassed in World War II.
The U-48 operated in two wolfpacks during the early months of the war and survived serious damage in numerous encounters with Allied convoy escort vessels. It spent
325 days at sea and completed its war patrols under three commanders – Kapitanleutnant Herbert Schultze, Korvettenkapitan Hans Rudolf Rösing, and Kapitanleutnant Heinrich Bleichrodt. Each commander received the Knight’s Cross, as did officers Reinhard Suhren and Erich Zürn.
The U-48 achieved its first kill on 5 September 1939, just two days after Britain and France declared war on Germany, sinking the 4,853-ton merchant vessel Royal Sceptre with its 88mm deck gun.
After sinking the 5,055-ton Winkleigh on 8 September, U-48 dispatched the 4,869-ton Firby three days later and radioed the message, “Transmit to Mr Churchill. I have sunk the
British steamer Firby. Posit 59˚40’N 13˚50’W. Save the crew if you please, German submarine.”
During its seventh war patrol
U-48 sank the 1,060-ton sloop of war HMS Dundee on 15 September 1940, which was followed on the 18 September with a tragic event of World War II. With Bleichrodt in command, the U-48 torpedoed the steamer SS City of Benares, which was participating in a programme to evacuate British children to Canada. 90 children were aboard the ship and 77 died. A total of 258 crew and passengers perished.
The U-48 concluded its last patrol on 21 June 1941 and returned to Kiel. It was subsequently transferred to the 26th Bootflotille at Pillau and then to the Third
U-boat Lehr Division to be used as a training craft. The boat was scuttled by its crew on 3 May 1945 to prevent it falling into Allied hands.