Type | IIB | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Ordered | 2 Feb 1935 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Laid down | 1 Aug 1935 | F. Krupp Germaniawerft AG, Kiel (werk 550) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Launched | 14 Jan 1936 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Commissioned | 1 Feb 1936 | Kptlt. Hans Eckermann | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Commanders |
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Career 16 patrols |
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Successes | 13 ships sunk, total tonnage 30,067 GRT 1 ship damaged, total tonnage 1,846 GRT 2 ships a total loss, total tonnage 8,446 GRT | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Fate |
Scuttled at 2130hrs on 10 September 1944 in the Black Sea north of Karasu, Turkey, in position 41.10N, 30.47E. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Loss position |
This boat is a dive site
7 Feb 2008. The 3 boats, U-19, U-20 and U-23, scuttled in September 1944 off the Turkish coast have been located. They are reported to be in excellent condition.
27 Dec 2009. The U-20 was dived on and photographed by Mr. Taner Aksoy. See our U 20 in the Black Sea gallery.
Position (lat, long): 41.10, 30.47See more U-boat dive sites.
Attacks on this boat and other events
26 Jun 1943
U-20 attempted to torpedo a Soviet submarine chaser in the Black Sea off Tuapse, but the target went on the offensive, dropping eight depth charges. The boat was then kept submerged by aircraft for four hours and subsequently forced to return to base by mechanical failures. (Sources: Ritschel)
1 recorded attack on this boat.
General notes on this boat
27 Dec 2009. The boat was dived on and photographed by Mr. Taner Aksoy. See our U 20 in the Black Sea gallery.
Men lost from U-boats
Unlike many other U-boats, which during their service lost men due to accidents and various other causes, U-20 did not suffer any casualties (we know of) until the time of her loss.
U-boat Emblems
We have 4 emblem entries for this boat. See the emblem page for this boat or view emblems individually below.
The Olympic Rings - Crew 36 |
Alligator/crocodile and Umbrella |
Boot |
Boy with Staff and Goose |
Media links
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There was another U-20 in World War One
That boat was launched from its shipyard on 18 Dec 1912 and commissioned into the Imperial Navy on 5 Aug 1913. The Naval war in WWI was brought to an end with the Armistice signed on 11 Nov, 1918. Read about SM U 20 during WWI.
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