List of all U-boats

U-40

Type

IX

 
Ordered29 Jul 1936
Laid down1 Jul 1937 AG Weser, Bremen (werk 945)
Launched9 Nov 1938
Commissioned11 Feb 1939Kptlt. Werner von Schmidt
Commanders
11 Feb 1939 - 20 Sep 1939  Kptlt. Werner von Schmidt
21 Sep 1939 - 13 Oct 1939  Kptlt. Wolfgang Barten
Career
2 patrols
11 Feb 1939-31 Aug 1939  6. Flottille (active service)
1 Sep 1939-13 Oct 1939  6. Flottille (active service)
SuccessesNo ships sunk or damaged
Fate

Sunk on 13 October 1939 in the English Channel east of Dover, in position 51.07,5N, 01.48E, by a mine in the British minefield C3. 45 dead and 3 survivors.

Loss position

View the 2 war patrols

Her wreck might have been located by divers in 1994 in position 50.22,08N, 01.44,17E.

Men lost from U-boats

Unlike many other U-boats, which during their service lost men due to accidents and various other causes, U-40 did not suffer any casualties (we know of) until the time of her loss.

U-boat Emblems

We have 2 emblem entries for this boat. See the emblem page for this boat or view emblems individually below.


Skull and Crossbones

Umbrella in a Circle

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-40 in World War One
That boat was launched from its shipyard on 22 Oct 1914 and commissioned into the Imperial Navy on 14 Feb 1915. The Naval war in WWI was brought to an end with the Armistice signed on 11 Nov, 1918. Read about SM U 40 during WWI.




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