Monsun Gruppe - First Wave of Monsun Gruppe U-boats

First Wave of Monsun Gruppe U-boats

With the base established, twelve submarines were assigned to the "Monsun Gruppe" and directed to proceed to Penang, patrolling along allied trade routes for the duration of their voyage. The group name reflected an intent; that the opening of the Indian Ocean U-boat campaign should coincide with the Monsoon season. The Italian armistice with the allies became effective as the operation proceeded. The Italian submarine Ammiraglio Cagni surrendered at Durban, South Africa rather than continuing to Penang. The converted Italian cargo submarines were taken over by the German Navy (Kriegsmarine) and renumbered with UIT prefixes.

• U-200 sailed on 11 June 1943 and was sunk off Iceland by a PBY Catalina on 24 June.
• U-514 sailed on 3 July 1943 and was sunk by a B-24 Liberator of the RAFs 224 Squadron in the Bay of Biscay on 8 July.
• U-506 sailed on 6 July 1943 and was sunk by an American 1st A/S Squadron B-24 Liberator in the Bay of Biscay on 12 July.
• U-509 sailed on 3 July 1943 and was sunk by aircraft from USS Santee on 15 July.
• U-516 sailed on 8 July 1943 but returned to France on 23 August after transferring its fuel to other boats, enabling them to continue when their tanker was sunk.
• U-847 sailed on 29 July 1943 but was damaged by ice in the Denmark Strait and was diverted to fuel other boats in the North Atlantic before being sunk by aircraft from USS Card on 27 August.
• Ammiraglio Cagni sailed in combat configuration in early July 1943 but surrendered after the Italian armistice became effective on 8 September 1943.
• U-533 sailed on 6 July 1943 and was sunk by a Bristol Blenheim of 244 Squadron RAF, in the Gulf of Aden on 16 October.
• U-183 sailed on 3 July and reached Penang 27 October 1943, and was sunk two years later in the Java Sea by USS Besugo (SS-321).
• U-188 sailed on 30 June 1943 and sank the 7,200-ton American Liberty ship Cornelia P. Spencer before reaching Penang on 31 October.
• U-532 sailed on 3 July 1943 and sank one Norwegian, one Indian and two British freighters before reaching Penang on 31 October.
• U-168 sailed on 3 July 1943 and sank the 2,200-ton British freighter Haiching before reaching Penang on 11 November.

A second wave of Monsun Gruppe U-boats was dispatched from Europe to make up for losses in transit.

• U-219 sailed on a minelaying mission on 22 October 1943 but returned to France on 1 January 1944 after being diverted to fuel other boats in the North Atlantic.
• U-848 sailed on 18 September 1943 and sank the 4,600-ton British freighter Baron Semple before being sunk by US navy PB4Y Liberators in the South Atlantic on 5 November.
• U-849 sailed on 2 October 1943 and was sunk by a USN PB4Y Liberator in the South Atlantic on 25 November.
• U-850 sailed on 18 November 1943 and was sunk by aircraft from USS Bogue on 20 December.
• U-510 sailed on 3 November 1943 and sank the 7,400-ton British tanker San Alvaro, the 9,200-ton American freighter E.G.Seubert, and three more freighters before reaching Penang on 5 May 1944.