U-134

Type

VIIC

Ordered

7 Aug 1939

Laid down

6 Sep 1940

Bremer Vulkan-Vegesacker Werft, Bremen-Vegesack (werk 13)

Launched

17 May 1941

Commissioned

26 Jul 1941

Kptlt. Rudolf Schendel

Commanders

26 Jul 1941	-	2 Feb 1943		Kptlt. Rudolf Schendel
3 Feb 1943	-	27 Aug 1943		Kptlt. Hans-Günther Brosin

Career
9 patrols

26 Jul 1941	-	31 Oct 1941	5. Flottille (training)
1 Nov 1941	-	27 Aug 1943	3. Flottille (active service)

Successes

3 ships sunk, total tonnage 12,147 GRT

Fate

Sunk on 27 August 1943 in the Bay of Biscay north of Cape Ortegal, in position 44.03N, 08.05W, by depth charges from the British frigate HMS Rother. 48 dead (all hands lost). (Axel Niestlé & Eric Zimmerman, July 2004).

Loss position

See the 3 ships hit by U-134 - View the 9 war patrols

Previously recorded fate

Sunk on 24 August 1943 in the North Atlantic near Vigo, Spain in approx. position 42.07N, 09.30W by six depth charges from a British Wellington aircraft (179 Sqn RAF/J).
Notes. This attack was actually directed against U-340 inflicting no damage.

Wolfpack operations

U-134 operated with the following Wolfpacks during its career:
   Ulan (25 Dec 1941 - 19 Jan 1942)
   Umbau (4 Feb 1942 - 16 Feb 1942)
   Endrass (12 Jun 1942 - 17 Jun 1942)
   Streitaxt (20 Oct 1942 - 2 Nov 1942)
   Stürmer (11 Mar 1943 - 20 Mar 1943)
   Seeteufel (21 Mar 1943 - 30 Mar 1943)
   Meise (15 Apr 1943 - 22 Apr 1943)

Attacks on this boat and other events

8 Jul 1943
The boat was hit by between six and eight depth charges from a US Navy aircraft (Sqdn VP 201, pilot John T. Hitchcock) from Bermuda. The boat survived the attack. (Sources: Blair, vol 2, page 364)

18 Jul 1943
Aircraft attack, aircraft shot down: USN Blimp K-74 (Sqdn ZP 21)

This was the only airship shot down during WWII. For more information see this page.

19 Jul 1943
During an all-out hunt for U-134 an American Ventura aircraft (pilot John C. Lawrence) found the boat and dropped three depth charges, causing serious damage to the forward batteries. (Sources: Blair, vol 2, page 365)

21 Aug 1943
The boat was attacked by Wildcat and Avenger aircraft from the escort carrier USS Croatan, escorting convoy UGS 14 in the Atlantic west of Portugal. The boat escaped unharmed. (Sources: Blair, vol 2, page 395)

4 recorded attacks on this boat.