U-130

Type

IXC

Ordered

7 Aug 1939

Laid down

20 Aug 1940

AG Weser, Bremen (werk 993)

Launched

14 Mar 1941

Commissioned

11 Jun 1941

Korvkpt. Ernst Kals (Knights Cross)

Commanders

11 Jun 1941	-	1 Jan 1943		KrvKpt. Ernst Kals (Knights Cross)
7 Feb 1943	-	12 Mar 1943		Oblt. Siegfried Keller

Career
6 patrols

11 Jun 1941	-	31 Aug 1941	4. Flottille (training)
1 Sep 1941	-	30 Nov 1941	2. Flottille (training)
1 Dec 1941	-	12 Mar 1943	2. Flottille (active service)

Successes

21 ships sunk, total tonnage 127,608 GRT
3 auxiliary warships sunk, total tonnage 34,407 GRT
1 ship damaged, total tonnage 6,986 GRT

Fate

Sunk at 0010 CET on 13 March 1943 by depth charges from the USS Hobby in position 37°12N, 40°32W. 53 dead (all hands lost). (Axel Niestlé, 2024).

Loss position

See the 25 ships hit by U-130 - View the 6 war patrols

Previously recorded fate

Sunk on 12 March 1943 in the North Atlantic west of the Azores, in position 37.10N, 40.21W, by depth charges from the US destroyer USS Champlin.
That attack was against U-515 causing no damage. (Axel Niestlé)

Wolfpack operations

U-130 operated with the following Wolfpacks during its career:
   Schlagetot (9 Nov 1942 - 21 Nov 1942)
   Westwall (21 Nov 1942 - 16 Dec 1942)
   Unverzagt (12 Mar 1943 - 12 Mar 1943)

Attacks on this boat and other events

12 Jan 1942
16.28 hrs, Cabot Strait, between Nova Scotia and Newfoundland, Canada: the surfaced boat was attacked by a Canadian aircraft dropping two 250lb depth charges. Luckily for U-130, the green aircrew botched the attack and the boat escaped unharmed. (Sources: KTB U-130)

18 Jan 1942
Following an unsuccessful nighttime attack on a fast merchantman off Nova Scotia, the boat was nearly lost when surprised on the surface by two Canadian "destroyers" at about 01.20 hrs. One of them tried to ram, and passed only 10 metres astern of U-130, which immediately crash-dived. Iced-up diesel air intake valves caused 8 tons of water to enter the boat, which hit the bottom at a depth of 48 metres (157 ft). Luckily the warships dropped no depth charges, perhaps due to their equipment also being frozen. The Germans managed to pump the water out and the boat later headed southwards into warmer seas. (Sources: KTB U-130)

2 recorded attacks on this boat.

Men lost from U-boats

Unlike many other U-boats, which during their service lost men due to accidents and various other causes, U-130 did not suffer any casualties (we know of) until the time of her loss.