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The Submarine Campaign
The German Naval High Command was anxious that the Japanese should send submarines to operate off the east coast of Africa and, at the beginning of April 1942, the Japanese promised to do so. Towards the middle of that year, they launched a submarine offensive in the western Indian Ocean. The Raiding Force under the command of Rear Admiral Ishizaki Noburu consisted of 5 submarines of the 8th Submarine Flotilla (SubRon 8): I-16, I-18 & I-20 each with a midget submarine attached to it & I-10 and I-30 each equipped with an aeroplane. The submarines were supported by 2 armed Merchant Cruisers (Aikoka Maru & Hokoka Maru). These Japanese vessels operated between Durban and the northern end of the Mozambique Channel.
From June 5th, 1942 to July 8th, 1942, the submarines sank 21 Allied Merchant ships, while another merchantman was sunk by one of the Japanese Merchant Cruisers. The total tonnage of the 21 ships which were sunk within 1852 km of the Unions shores was 94508 tons, 10,7% of the Allied tonnage that went down within 1000 sea-miles of the coast of the Union. Most of the ships were sunk in the Mozambique Channel and the nearest sinking to the South African coast occurred on July 6th, 1942, when the Brtish Passenger/Cargo Steamer SS “Mundra” was sunk by the Japanese submarine I-18 off St. Lucia Bay, Natal with 1 Officer & 93 Indian ratings lost. Despite many sorties, aircraft of the SAAF and the RAF made no contact with the Japanese vessels.
Japanese submarine I-18
The Japanese Task Force tried to intervene during the Allied invasion of Madagascar when submarines of SubRon 8: I-10, I-16 & I-20 arrived on May 29th, 1942. I-10’s reconnaissance plane spotted the British Revenge-Class Battleship HMS “Ramillies”at anchor in Diego Suarez harbor but the plane was spotted and HMS “Ramillies” changed her berth. On the night of May 30th / 31st, 1942, I-20 & I-16 launched two midget submarines, one of which managed to enter the harbor and fired two torpedoes while under depth charge attack from two Corvettes. One torpedo seriously damaged the HMS “Ramillies”, while the second sank the 6993 ton Oil Tanker British Loyalty. HMS “Ramillies” was later repaired in Durban and Plymouth.
There were also a few incidents that it was believed that the Japanese reconnoitred the Natal coastline and flew over Durban by aircraft carried by the Japanese submarines. In no way prepared for this, the city and its harbour were illuminated and provided perfect targets. On May 20th, 1942, an unidentified aircraft was challenged by the Fire Commander of Durban Fortress Air Defences. It supplied the wrong code and disappeared out over the sea. Not a single gun or searchlight went into action. When, on June 24th, 1942, the anti-aircraft guns at Durban did go into action against an aircraft, it was found to be a South African aircraft, which was searching for an enemy intruder. On May 29th – 31st, 1942, shortly before that incident and perhaps even during and just after the midget submarine attack against Allied shipping off Diego Suarez, Japanese aircraft from the “I” Class submarines reconnoitred that area.
When the Japanese submarine force first made its appearance off the southern African coast in May 1942, the submarine war in the region had already been raging since October 28th, 1941, when a German Type IXC U-boat (U-68) had sunk the SS “Hazelside”. After the withdrawal of the Japanese vessels, submarine warfare continued in the seas around South Africa, with the Canadian Merchant Steamship SS “Point Pleasant Park” being the last ship to be sunk 587 miles north-west of Table Bay on February 23rd, 1945 while sailing independently on a voyage from St. John, New Brunswick to Cape Town by a German Type IXC U-boat (U-510). No fewer than 156 Allied ships were sunk within 1000 nautical miles (1852 km) of the Unions coast.
Of these vessels, the Japanese Task Force accounted for 21,82 or 13,5%. However, in terms of the number of ships sunk within the 1000 mile limit, 1942 was the worst year for Allied shipping along the South African coasts. In that year, 81 merchant ships (with a gross tonnage of 455756) were lost and, in June, when the Japanese submarines were most active, 15 ships (70914 tons) were sunk, the third highest figure of shipping losses for any month during the war.
The Allied forces were only able to sink 3 German submarines within 1000 sea miles of the South African coast:
The first U-Boat claimed was a German Type IXD2 U-Boat (U-179) of 12. Flottille Commanded by Fregattenkapitän E. Sobe. U-179 departed Kiel on September 8th, 1942. U-179 was to join the Eisbär group to patrol the southern waters around Cape Town. At 16:07 on October 8th, 1942, the unescorted British Steam Merchant “City of Athens” was hit on the starboard side by one torpedo from U-179 while steaming on a non-evasive course about 60 miles west-northwest of Cape Town. After the ship sank, the survivors recovered a cat from wreckage and the stores from three rafts that floated free and then headed towards Cape Town, the five boats being towed by the motor boat in a high swell at about two to three knots. At dusk they were sighted by the A-Class Destroyer HMS “Active” commanded by Lt. Comdr. M.W. Tomkinson en route to Penang which took them all aboard until 22:00 hours. At 23:28 she obtained a radar contact bearing 150° at 2500 yards.
Fregattenkapitän Ernst Sobe
Shortly after, an asdic contact right ahead at a range of 1600 yards was obtained and a large U-Boat sighted on the surface, inclination 20° right. The U-Boat appeared to be stopped, presumably charging her batteries. Speed was increased to 25 knots and course altered slightly to starboard to bring the U-Boat broader on the beam. At 800 yards the target was illuminated by searchlights and fire was opened by B gun, with no hits being scored. U-179 crash dived when the range was 500 yards. The A-Class Destroyer HMS “Active” altered towards and steadied on a course about 5° ahead of U-179’s conning tower. U-179 passed down the port side at close range on a converging course and was attacked with a 10-charge pattern fired by eye, set to 50 and 150 feet. The charges were reported to have burst all round U-179, with the swirl and bubbles caused by its diving still being clearly visible. The depth-charge party reported that U-179 was blown to the surface as a result of the attack and then disappeared. A large patch of oil came to the surface which by dawn was some 3-miles in length and ½ a mile wide.
The A-Class Destroyer HMS “Active” remained in the vicinity until daylight without gaining contact again or finding further proof for the destruction of U-179 and then left to land the survivors at Cape Town on October 9th, 1942. U-179 was sunk in position 33.28S, 17.05E, with all hands lost (61 German Sailors).
A-Class Destroyer HMS “Active” (H14)
The second U-Boat claimed was a German Type IXD2 U-Boat (U-197) of 12. Flottille Commanded by Korvettenkapitän R. Bartels. U-197 departed Kiel on April 3rd, 1943. On August 17th, 1943, Korvettenkapitän W. Lüth of U-181 took in a signal from Korvettenkapitän R. Bartels to arrange meetings of the U-Boat Captains, for routine reasons and to pass on some secret matter labeled “Bellatrix” (Newly issued Cipher key). On April 19th, 1943, after some delay, Korvettenkapitän W. Lüth met Korvettenkapitän R. Bartels 100 miles south of Cape Ste Marie and recorded that Korvettenkapitän R. Bartels wished to stay in that region, where Korvettenkapitän W. Lüth himself had sighted 7 ships. On August 20th, 1943, Korvettenkapitän W. Lüth was meeting Korvettenkapitän E.F. Kentrat of U-196, 600 miles from Durban and 300 miles south of Madagascar. Korvettenkapitän W. Lüth transmitted “Bellatrix” and various operational instructions as heavy seas prevented personal contact. As the visual communications were proceeding, at 13:45, on August 20th, 1943, U-181 & U-196 picked-up a signal from U-197: “Aircraft attacked with stick of bombs. Ability to submerge restricted. KQ 87” The aircraft that attacked was PBY Catalina C of No. 259 Squadron, RAF flown by Flight-Lt. O. Barnett which was sent out to patrol the area of an intercepted message made by Korvettenkapitän W. Lüth on August 19th, 1943.
Korvettenkapitän Robert Bartels
The message was intercepted by a monitoring station in South Africa at 19:10 of August 19th, 1943, and informed combined HQ of a U-Boat, 250 miles from Cape Ste Marie, and a PBY Catalina was ordered to perform a square search. Two further PBY Catalinas from St. Lucia were ordered to carry out supplementary searches and land at Tulear in south-western Madagascar. During the morning of August 20th, 1943, PBY Catalina C after patrolling emerged from the cloud at 13:10 and sighted a U-Boat about 300 miles south-west of Cape Ste Marie. The U-Boat was either surprised or intended to fight it out on the surface as the PBY Catalina made a diving turn to port, and approached U-197 at an angle to her track and on an opposite course. At the last moment U-197 turned in the direction of the aircraft, and was straddled by 6 depth-charges dropped at 50 feet. During the dive the front and port blister guns of PBY Catalina C scored hits on the deck and conning tower. U-197 replied with MG & Cannon fire which did no damage. After the explosions had subsided, the U-197 remained on the surface for half an hour, with a list to port which became increasingly evident but submerged at 13:45, leaving oil streaks on the surface.
Flight-Lt. O. Barnett dropped smoke & flare floats and waited for yet another PBY Catalina which had been ordered to take off from St. Lucia on receipt of his first report. At 14:23 oil streaks were again visible, and five minutes later U-197 broke surface. Her AA guns were manned, her 3.7 opened fire and FlaK continued on every approach of aircraft, the quality of the aim definitely deteriorating.
Meanwhile Korvettenkapitän R. Bartels signaled news of his plight. At 14:09 U-181 & U-196 picked-up a signal from U-197: “Aircraft attacked with stick of bombs. Am unable to submerge. KQ 52”. Korvettenkapitän W. Lüth & E.F. Kentrat carried on while waiting for more signals. As U-197 was continuously circled by the PBY Catalina, at 15:46 another signal was picked up “Aircraft attacked with stick of bombs. Am unable to submerge and on southerly course. KQ 8252”. Korvettenkapitän W. Lüth now saw that U197 was 120 miles to his north and decided that it would be dark in an 1 ½ hours, and that they would not reach U-197 by then. After the message sent at 15:46 Korvettenkapitän R. Bartels continued distress calls for nearly an hour, but the end came before his comrades could have done anything.
PBY Catalina C of No. 259 Squadron, RAF was now joined at 17:05 by PBY Catalina N of No. 265 Squadron, RAF flown by Flying Officer C.E. Robin and now continuously circled U-197. PBY Catalina N made two runs with its guns which forced the crew below. On the third run at 17:30, U-197 misjudged the planes approach and turned parallel to it, and was straddled by 6 depth charges dropped from 75-feet. Debris flew into the air, and U-197 disappeared leaving a large patch of oil on the surface. The 2 PBY Catalina’s remained for ½ - 1 hour but saw nothing more. Korvettenkapitän W. Lüth & E.F. Kentrat went searching for U-197 with Korvettenkapitän W. Lüth moving on an intercept course with U-197 and searched the southern area of the indicated area of U-197 but gave up the search on August 24th, 1943 and returned home. Korvettenkapitän E.F. Kentrat went as far north as searching the indicated area of U-197 but gave the search up on the same day. U-197 was sunk in position 28.40S, 42.36E, with all hands lost (67 German Sailors).
The third U-Boat claimed was an ex Italian submarine Alpino Bagnolini (UIT-22, similar in measurements to the German type IXC & German crewed) of 12. Flottille Commanded by Oberleutnant zur See der Reserve K. Wunderlich. UIT-22 departed Bordeaux on January 26th, 1944, and at 10:22 on March 11th, 1944 a PBY Catalina D of No. 262 Squadron, SAAF, flown by Flight-Lt. F.T. Roddick saw a U-Boat and set a course to attack from astern. It was about 600 miles south of Cape Point with the weather being fair and the sea moderate. The U-Boat made no attempt to dive, and opened fire when the Catalina was about 4-miles away. PBY Catalina D raked her with gunfire and dropped 5 depth-charges whose explosions enveloped the U-Boat in water and foam.
Oberleutnant zur See der Reserve Karl Wunderlich
UIT-22 listing heavily submerged after twelve minutes, leaving a large patch of oil, ahead of which more oil came to the surface. Six minutes later UIT-22 surfaced briefly, but was driven down by a strafing attack. PBY Catalina D was damaged by MG fire, but remained in the area until 2 more PBY Catalinas of No. 262 Squadron, SAAF, took over. At 11:32, UIT-22 surfaced for the last time, close to the oil patch, and was promptly straddled by 6 depth-charges from PBY Catalina P flown by Flight-Lt. E.S.S. Nash and riddled by MG fire from PBY Catalina A flown by Flight-Lt. A.H. Surridge, and a vast patch of oil and flotsam marked UIT-22’s end. A Destroyer and the A/S Trawlers searched the area on the evening of March 11th, 1944, while PBY Catalinas & Lockheed Venturas kept up patrols until March 14th, 1944. UIT-22 was sunk in position 41.28S, 17.40E, with all hands lost (43 German Sailors).
As the defensive measures of the SAAF and its allies improved, the Axis powers were forced to transfer the weight of their attack further east, even far beyond Madagascar. With this island under Allied control, the Japanese submarines, with a few exceptions, never again ventured near Africa’s coasts, in any case not in great numbers, although they continued to operate further east in the Indian Ocean. All in all, at least 36 enemy submarines operated within 1000 sea miles of South Africa’s coast during the war. Of these, at least 5 were Japanese. German and Italian submarines sank 116 vessels in the area, at an average rate of less than four per submarine. On the other hand, the five Japanese boats sank twenty ships, an average of exactly four per boat.
The German Naval High Command was anxious that the Japanese should send submarines to operate off the east coast of Africa and, at the beginning of April 1942, the Japanese promised to do so. Towards the middle of that year, they launched a submarine offensive in the western Indian Ocean. The Raiding Force under the command of Rear Admiral Ishizaki Noburu consisted of 5 submarines of the 8th Submarine Flotilla (SubRon 8): I-16, I-18 & I-20 each with a midget submarine attached to it & I-10 and I-30 each equipped with an aeroplane. The submarines were supported by 2 armed Merchant Cruisers (Aikoka Maru & Hokoka Maru). These Japanese vessels operated between Durban and the northern end of the Mozambique Channel.
From June 5th, 1942 to July 8th, 1942, the submarines sank 21 Allied Merchant ships, while another merchantman was sunk by one of the Japanese Merchant Cruisers. The total tonnage of the 21 ships which were sunk within 1852 km of the Unions shores was 94508 tons, 10,7% of the Allied tonnage that went down within 1000 sea-miles of the coast of the Union. Most of the ships were sunk in the Mozambique Channel and the nearest sinking to the South African coast occurred on July 6th, 1942, when the Brtish Passenger/Cargo Steamer SS “Mundra” was sunk by the Japanese submarine I-18 off St. Lucia Bay, Natal with 1 Officer & 93 Indian ratings lost. Despite many sorties, aircraft of the SAAF and the RAF made no contact with the Japanese vessels.
Japanese submarine I-18
The Japanese Task Force tried to intervene during the Allied invasion of Madagascar when submarines of SubRon 8: I-10, I-16 & I-20 arrived on May 29th, 1942. I-10’s reconnaissance plane spotted the British Revenge-Class Battleship HMS “Ramillies”at anchor in Diego Suarez harbor but the plane was spotted and HMS “Ramillies” changed her berth. On the night of May 30th / 31st, 1942, I-20 & I-16 launched two midget submarines, one of which managed to enter the harbor and fired two torpedoes while under depth charge attack from two Corvettes. One torpedo seriously damaged the HMS “Ramillies”, while the second sank the 6993 ton Oil Tanker British Loyalty. HMS “Ramillies” was later repaired in Durban and Plymouth.
There were also a few incidents that it was believed that the Japanese reconnoitred the Natal coastline and flew over Durban by aircraft carried by the Japanese submarines. In no way prepared for this, the city and its harbour were illuminated and provided perfect targets. On May 20th, 1942, an unidentified aircraft was challenged by the Fire Commander of Durban Fortress Air Defences. It supplied the wrong code and disappeared out over the sea. Not a single gun or searchlight went into action. When, on June 24th, 1942, the anti-aircraft guns at Durban did go into action against an aircraft, it was found to be a South African aircraft, which was searching for an enemy intruder. On May 29th – 31st, 1942, shortly before that incident and perhaps even during and just after the midget submarine attack against Allied shipping off Diego Suarez, Japanese aircraft from the “I” Class submarines reconnoitred that area.
When the Japanese submarine force first made its appearance off the southern African coast in May 1942, the submarine war in the region had already been raging since October 28th, 1941, when a German Type IXC U-boat (U-68) had sunk the SS “Hazelside”. After the withdrawal of the Japanese vessels, submarine warfare continued in the seas around South Africa, with the Canadian Merchant Steamship SS “Point Pleasant Park” being the last ship to be sunk 587 miles north-west of Table Bay on February 23rd, 1945 while sailing independently on a voyage from St. John, New Brunswick to Cape Town by a German Type IXC U-boat (U-510). No fewer than 156 Allied ships were sunk within 1000 nautical miles (1852 km) of the Unions coast.
Of these vessels, the Japanese Task Force accounted for 21,82 or 13,5%. However, in terms of the number of ships sunk within the 1000 mile limit, 1942 was the worst year for Allied shipping along the South African coasts. In that year, 81 merchant ships (with a gross tonnage of 455756) were lost and, in June, when the Japanese submarines were most active, 15 ships (70914 tons) were sunk, the third highest figure of shipping losses for any month during the war.
The Allied forces were only able to sink 3 German submarines within 1000 sea miles of the South African coast:
The first U-Boat claimed was a German Type IXD2 U-Boat (U-179) of 12. Flottille Commanded by Fregattenkapitän E. Sobe. U-179 departed Kiel on September 8th, 1942. U-179 was to join the Eisbär group to patrol the southern waters around Cape Town. At 16:07 on October 8th, 1942, the unescorted British Steam Merchant “City of Athens” was hit on the starboard side by one torpedo from U-179 while steaming on a non-evasive course about 60 miles west-northwest of Cape Town. After the ship sank, the survivors recovered a cat from wreckage and the stores from three rafts that floated free and then headed towards Cape Town, the five boats being towed by the motor boat in a high swell at about two to three knots. At dusk they were sighted by the A-Class Destroyer HMS “Active” commanded by Lt. Comdr. M.W. Tomkinson en route to Penang which took them all aboard until 22:00 hours. At 23:28 she obtained a radar contact bearing 150° at 2500 yards.
Fregattenkapitän Ernst Sobe
Shortly after, an asdic contact right ahead at a range of 1600 yards was obtained and a large U-Boat sighted on the surface, inclination 20° right. The U-Boat appeared to be stopped, presumably charging her batteries. Speed was increased to 25 knots and course altered slightly to starboard to bring the U-Boat broader on the beam. At 800 yards the target was illuminated by searchlights and fire was opened by B gun, with no hits being scored. U-179 crash dived when the range was 500 yards. The A-Class Destroyer HMS “Active” altered towards and steadied on a course about 5° ahead of U-179’s conning tower. U-179 passed down the port side at close range on a converging course and was attacked with a 10-charge pattern fired by eye, set to 50 and 150 feet. The charges were reported to have burst all round U-179, with the swirl and bubbles caused by its diving still being clearly visible. The depth-charge party reported that U-179 was blown to the surface as a result of the attack and then disappeared. A large patch of oil came to the surface which by dawn was some 3-miles in length and ½ a mile wide.
The A-Class Destroyer HMS “Active” remained in the vicinity until daylight without gaining contact again or finding further proof for the destruction of U-179 and then left to land the survivors at Cape Town on October 9th, 1942. U-179 was sunk in position 33.28S, 17.05E, with all hands lost (61 German Sailors).
A-Class Destroyer HMS “Active” (H14)
The second U-Boat claimed was a German Type IXD2 U-Boat (U-197) of 12. Flottille Commanded by Korvettenkapitän R. Bartels. U-197 departed Kiel on April 3rd, 1943. On August 17th, 1943, Korvettenkapitän W. Lüth of U-181 took in a signal from Korvettenkapitän R. Bartels to arrange meetings of the U-Boat Captains, for routine reasons and to pass on some secret matter labeled “Bellatrix” (Newly issued Cipher key). On April 19th, 1943, after some delay, Korvettenkapitän W. Lüth met Korvettenkapitän R. Bartels 100 miles south of Cape Ste Marie and recorded that Korvettenkapitän R. Bartels wished to stay in that region, where Korvettenkapitän W. Lüth himself had sighted 7 ships. On August 20th, 1943, Korvettenkapitän W. Lüth was meeting Korvettenkapitän E.F. Kentrat of U-196, 600 miles from Durban and 300 miles south of Madagascar. Korvettenkapitän W. Lüth transmitted “Bellatrix” and various operational instructions as heavy seas prevented personal contact. As the visual communications were proceeding, at 13:45, on August 20th, 1943, U-181 & U-196 picked-up a signal from U-197: “Aircraft attacked with stick of bombs. Ability to submerge restricted. KQ 87” The aircraft that attacked was PBY Catalina C of No. 259 Squadron, RAF flown by Flight-Lt. O. Barnett which was sent out to patrol the area of an intercepted message made by Korvettenkapitän W. Lüth on August 19th, 1943.
Korvettenkapitän Robert Bartels
The message was intercepted by a monitoring station in South Africa at 19:10 of August 19th, 1943, and informed combined HQ of a U-Boat, 250 miles from Cape Ste Marie, and a PBY Catalina was ordered to perform a square search. Two further PBY Catalinas from St. Lucia were ordered to carry out supplementary searches and land at Tulear in south-western Madagascar. During the morning of August 20th, 1943, PBY Catalina C after patrolling emerged from the cloud at 13:10 and sighted a U-Boat about 300 miles south-west of Cape Ste Marie. The U-Boat was either surprised or intended to fight it out on the surface as the PBY Catalina made a diving turn to port, and approached U-197 at an angle to her track and on an opposite course. At the last moment U-197 turned in the direction of the aircraft, and was straddled by 6 depth-charges dropped at 50 feet. During the dive the front and port blister guns of PBY Catalina C scored hits on the deck and conning tower. U-197 replied with MG & Cannon fire which did no damage. After the explosions had subsided, the U-197 remained on the surface for half an hour, with a list to port which became increasingly evident but submerged at 13:45, leaving oil streaks on the surface.
Flight-Lt. O. Barnett dropped smoke & flare floats and waited for yet another PBY Catalina which had been ordered to take off from St. Lucia on receipt of his first report. At 14:23 oil streaks were again visible, and five minutes later U-197 broke surface. Her AA guns were manned, her 3.7 opened fire and FlaK continued on every approach of aircraft, the quality of the aim definitely deteriorating.
Meanwhile Korvettenkapitän R. Bartels signaled news of his plight. At 14:09 U-181 & U-196 picked-up a signal from U-197: “Aircraft attacked with stick of bombs. Am unable to submerge. KQ 52”. Korvettenkapitän W. Lüth & E.F. Kentrat carried on while waiting for more signals. As U-197 was continuously circled by the PBY Catalina, at 15:46 another signal was picked up “Aircraft attacked with stick of bombs. Am unable to submerge and on southerly course. KQ 8252”. Korvettenkapitän W. Lüth now saw that U197 was 120 miles to his north and decided that it would be dark in an 1 ½ hours, and that they would not reach U-197 by then. After the message sent at 15:46 Korvettenkapitän R. Bartels continued distress calls for nearly an hour, but the end came before his comrades could have done anything.
PBY Catalina C of No. 259 Squadron, RAF was now joined at 17:05 by PBY Catalina N of No. 265 Squadron, RAF flown by Flying Officer C.E. Robin and now continuously circled U-197. PBY Catalina N made two runs with its guns which forced the crew below. On the third run at 17:30, U-197 misjudged the planes approach and turned parallel to it, and was straddled by 6 depth charges dropped from 75-feet. Debris flew into the air, and U-197 disappeared leaving a large patch of oil on the surface. The 2 PBY Catalina’s remained for ½ - 1 hour but saw nothing more. Korvettenkapitän W. Lüth & E.F. Kentrat went searching for U-197 with Korvettenkapitän W. Lüth moving on an intercept course with U-197 and searched the southern area of the indicated area of U-197 but gave up the search on August 24th, 1943 and returned home. Korvettenkapitän E.F. Kentrat went as far north as searching the indicated area of U-197 but gave the search up on the same day. U-197 was sunk in position 28.40S, 42.36E, with all hands lost (67 German Sailors).
The third U-Boat claimed was an ex Italian submarine Alpino Bagnolini (UIT-22, similar in measurements to the German type IXC & German crewed) of 12. Flottille Commanded by Oberleutnant zur See der Reserve K. Wunderlich. UIT-22 departed Bordeaux on January 26th, 1944, and at 10:22 on March 11th, 1944 a PBY Catalina D of No. 262 Squadron, SAAF, flown by Flight-Lt. F.T. Roddick saw a U-Boat and set a course to attack from astern. It was about 600 miles south of Cape Point with the weather being fair and the sea moderate. The U-Boat made no attempt to dive, and opened fire when the Catalina was about 4-miles away. PBY Catalina D raked her with gunfire and dropped 5 depth-charges whose explosions enveloped the U-Boat in water and foam.
Oberleutnant zur See der Reserve Karl Wunderlich
UIT-22 listing heavily submerged after twelve minutes, leaving a large patch of oil, ahead of which more oil came to the surface. Six minutes later UIT-22 surfaced briefly, but was driven down by a strafing attack. PBY Catalina D was damaged by MG fire, but remained in the area until 2 more PBY Catalinas of No. 262 Squadron, SAAF, took over. At 11:32, UIT-22 surfaced for the last time, close to the oil patch, and was promptly straddled by 6 depth-charges from PBY Catalina P flown by Flight-Lt. E.S.S. Nash and riddled by MG fire from PBY Catalina A flown by Flight-Lt. A.H. Surridge, and a vast patch of oil and flotsam marked UIT-22’s end. A Destroyer and the A/S Trawlers searched the area on the evening of March 11th, 1944, while PBY Catalinas & Lockheed Venturas kept up patrols until March 14th, 1944. UIT-22 was sunk in position 41.28S, 17.40E, with all hands lost (43 German Sailors).
As the defensive measures of the SAAF and its allies improved, the Axis powers were forced to transfer the weight of their attack further east, even far beyond Madagascar. With this island under Allied control, the Japanese submarines, with a few exceptions, never again ventured near Africa’s coasts, in any case not in great numbers, although they continued to operate further east in the Indian Ocean. All in all, at least 36 enemy submarines operated within 1000 sea miles of South Africa’s coast during the war. Of these, at least 5 were Japanese. German and Italian submarines sank 116 vessels in the area, at an average rate of less than four per submarine. On the other hand, the five Japanese boats sank twenty ships, an average of exactly four per boat.
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