Selected Book
The Lost Ships of Guadalcanal
Exploring the Ghost Fleet of the South Pacific
Ballard, Robert D.
Allied Warships
Check out our new extensive section on all the Allied Warships during WWII in all theatres of the war.Over 21,000 ships
Frontflottille (Combat Flotilla)
Bases
| 10.42 - 08.44 | Bordeaux (France) |
Flotilla Commanders
| 10.42 - 08.44 | Fregkpt. Klaus Scholtz. (Oak Leaves) |
U-boat Types
Assigned U-boats
U-117, U-118, U-119, U-177, U-178, U-179, U-180, U-181,
U-182, U-195, U-196, U-197, U-198, U-199, U-200, U-219,
U-220, U-233, U-459, U-460, U-461, U-462, U-463, U-487,
U-488, U-489, U-490, U-847, U-848, U-849, U-850, U-851,
U-852, U-859, U-860, U-861, U-862, U-863, U-871, U-1059,
U-1061, U-1062, UIT-22, UIT-23, UIT-24 and UIT-25
46 U-boats assigned to this flotilla during its service.
History
The 12th Flotilla was founded on 15 Oct, 1942 under the command of Korvkpt. Klaus Scholz. The first German U-boat in Bordeaux was U-178 on 9 Jan, 1943. To the Flotilla were attached most of the long-range boats, which operated in the south Atlantic and the Indian Ocean. During August 1944 most of the boats left the base for Flensburg. The last two boats to leave Bordeaux were U-534 and U-857 on 25 August, 1944.
The flotilla's history ended in August 1944 by disbanding. The remaining men (some 220) under Fregkpt. Scholtz attempted to march on land back to Germany, but found themselves on 11 Sept, 1944 in US-captivity.