List of all U-boats

U-139

Type

IID

 
Ordered25 Sep 1939
Laid down20 Nov 1939 Deutsche Werke AG, Kiel (werk 268)
Launched28 Jun 1940
Commissioned24 Jul 1940Kptlt. Robert Bartels
Commanders
24 Jul 1940 - 20 Dec 1940  Oblt. Robert Bartels (German Cross in Gold)
21 Dec 1940 - 5 Oct 1941  Oblt. Horst Elfe
6 Oct 1941 - 17 May 1942  Oblt. Heinz-Konrad Fenn
18 May 1942 - 30 Jun 1942  Oblt. Albert Lauzemis (German Cross in Gold)
1 Jul 1942 - 30 Sep 1942  Kptlt. Helmut Sommer (German Cross in Gold)
1 Oct 1942 - 6 Sep 1943  Oblt. Richard Böttcher
7 Sep 1943 - 27 Dec 1943  Oblt. Hubertus Korndörfer
28 Dec 1943 - 3 Jul 1944  Oblt. Günther Lube
4 Jul 1944 - 5 May 1945  Oblt. Walter Kimmelmann
Career
2 patrols
24 Jul 1940-3 Oct 1940  1. Flottille (training)
4 Oct 1940-30 Apr 1941  21. Flottille (school boat)
1 May 1941-21 Jun 1941  22. Flottille (school boat)
22 Jun 1941-31 Jul 1941  22. Flottille (active service)
1 Aug 1941-5 May 1945  22. Flottille (school boat)
SuccessesNo ships sunk or damaged
Fate

Scuttled on 5 May 1945 at Wilhelmshaven, western entrance to Raederschleuse. Wreck broken up.

Final location

View the 2 war patrols

Men lost from U-boats

Unlike many other U-boats, which during their service lost men due to accidents and various other causes, U-139 did not suffer any casualties (we know of) until the time of her loss.


Media links


U-Boat Operations of the Second World War - Vol 1
Wynn, Kenneth


German U-Boat Losses During World War II
Niestle, Axel


Hitler's U-boat War
Blair, Clay

There was another U-139 in World War One
That boat was launched from its shipyard on 3 Dec 1917 and commissioned into the Imperial Navy on 18 May 1918. The Naval war in WWI was brought to an end with the Armistice signed on 11 Nov, 1918. Read about SM U 139 during WWI.




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