Supporting The Afrika Korps
The 23rd U-boat Flotilla was established in September 1941 to intercept coastal shipping sustaining Allied forces through the siege of Tobruk. U-boats patrolled the eastern Mediterranean from the 23rd flotilla base on Salamis Island in Greece. On 7 December control of the 23rd Flotilla was transferred from Kerneval to the German High Command in Italy headed by Albert Kesselring. Additional bases were established in Pula in Croatia and La Spezia in northern Italy as more U-boats were ordered to the Mediterranean until focus shifted to the western Atlantic through the Second Happy Time.
- U-371 passed Gibraltar on 21 September 1941.
- U-559 passed Gibraltar on 26 September 1941, and sank HMAS Parramatta on 27 November, the 3,059-ton Shuntien of convoy TA 5 on 23 December, and the 2,487-ton Warzawa of convoy AT 6 on 26 December.
- U-97 passed Gibraltar on 27 September 1941, sank the 1,208-ton Samos and the 758-ton Pass of Balmaha on 17 October.
- U-331 passed Gibraltar on 30 September, destroyed a 372-ton British landing craft on 10 October, and sank HMS Barham on 25 November 1941.
- U-75 passed Gibraltar on 3 October, sank two 372-ton British landing craft on 12 October, and sank the 1,587-ton Volo of convoy ME 8 before being sunk by convoy escort HMS Kipling on 28 December 1941.
- U-79 passed Gibraltar on 5 October, damaged HMS Gnat on 21 October, and was sunk on 23 December 1941 by Royal Navy destroyers.
- U-205 passed Gibraltar on 11 November 1941.
- U-81 passed Gibraltar on 12 November and sank HMS Ark Royal on 13 November 1941.
- U-433 was sunk near Gibraltar on 16 November 1941 by HMS Marigold.
- U-565 passed Gibraltar on 16 November 1941.
- U-431 passed Gibraltar on 24 November 1941 and damaged the 3,560-ton Myriel on 13 December.
- U-557 passed Gibraltar on 26 November, sank the 4,032-ton Fjord on 2 December, then sank HMS Galatea on 15 December, and was sunk on 16 December 1941 by the Italian torpedo boat Orione.
- U-562 passed Gibraltar on 27 November 1941 and sank the 4,274-ton Grelhead on 2 December.
- U-95 was torpedoed by the Dutch submarine O 21 while passing Gibraltar on 28 November 1941.
- U-652 passed Gibraltar on 29 November 1941, sank the 1,595-ton Saint Denis on 9 December, and sank the 6,557-ton Varlaam Avanesov on 19 December.
- U-372 passed Gibraltar on 8 December 1941.
- U-375 passed Gibraltar on 9 December 1941.
- U-453 passed Gibraltar on 9 December 1941 and sank the Spanish ship Badalona on 13 December.
- U-374 sank the trawler HMS Lady Shirley and the patrol yacht HMS Rosabelle while passing Gibraltar on 10 December 1941 and was torpedoed by HMS Unbeaten on 12 January 1942.
- U-568 passed Gibraltar on 10 December 1941 and sank HMS Salvia on 24 December
- U-74 passed Gibraltar on 15 December 1941.
- U-77 passed Gibraltar on 16 December 1941 and damaged HMS Kimberley on 12 January 1942.
- U-83 passed Gibraltar on 18 December 1941.
- U-573 passed Gibraltar on 18 December 1941 and sank the 5,289-ton Hellen on 21 December.
- U-451 was sunk by Fairey Swordfish from 812 Naval Air Squadron while passing Gibraltar on 21 December 1941.
- U-133 passed Gibraltar on 21 December 1941.
- U-577 passed Gibraltar on 23 December 1941 and was sunk by aircraft on 9 January 1942.
- U-73 passed Gibraltar on 14 January.
- U-561 passed Gibraltar on 15 January 1942
Read more about this topic: Mediterranean U-boat Campaign (World War II)
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