Born | 4 Jan 1903 | Münster | |
Died | 9 Sep 1980 | (77) |
Ranks
Decorations |
U-boat Commands
U-boat | From | To | |
---|---|---|---|
U-174 | 26 Nov 1941 | 8 Mar 1943 | 2 patrols (134 days) |
Ulrich Thilo joined the German Navy (Reichsmarine) in 1922. From Nov 1938 to Nov 1939 he served as Commander of Torpedo School Flotilla, then he became an adviser to German Navy high command (OKM) until March 1941. Entering U-boat training in April he finished in October 1941.
FregKpt. Ulrich Thilo went through U-boat familiarization (Baubelehrung) from Oct to Nov 1941 when he was given command of his boat, the new U-174 at Bremen on 26 Nov 1941. For the next 8 months the boat and crew was worked up and finally left for their first patrol on 30 July 1942 from Kiel.
When he left for patrol on Thilo was 39 years old, among the oldest Commanders to go out on patrol. He brought the boat back after 39 days. His 95-day second patrol to Brazilian waters from Oct 1942 to Jan 1943 was very successful with 5 ships sunk for almost 31,000 GRT.
He left the boat on 8 March 1943 and worked in several staff positions regarding torpedo schools until Dec 1944. He ended the was as Commander of Naval Transport Gdynia and Swinemünde.
Sources
Busch, R. and Röll, H-J. (1998). German U-boat commanders of World War II.
Patrol info for Ulrich Thilo
U-boat | Departure | Arrival | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | U-174 | 30 Jul 1942 | Kiel | 6 Sep 1942 | Lorient | Patrol 1, | 39 days | |
2. | U-174 | 7 Oct 1942 | Lorient | 9 Jan 1943 | Lorient | Patrol 2, | 95 days | |
2 patrols, 134 days at sea |
Ships hit by Ulrich Thilo
Date | U-boat | Name of ship | Tons | Nat. | Convoy | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
31 Oct 1942 | U-174 | Marylyn | 4,555 | br | ||||
1 Nov 1942 | U-174 | Elmdale | 4,872 | br | TRIN-20 | |||
2 Nov 1942 | U-174 | Zaandam | 10,909 | nl | ||||
2 Dec 1942 | U-174 | Besholt | 4,977 | nw | ||||
15 Dec 1942 | U-174 | Alcoa Rambler | 5,500 | am | ||||
30,813 | ||||||||
5 ships sunk (30,813 tons). Legend |
Media links
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