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The Type IXC U-boat U-155 - German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net
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</script> </div> <div align="center"> <h3><a href="/boats/">List of all U-boats</a></h3><h1>U-155</h1> </div> <div align="center"> <table class="table_subtle width650"><tr> <td class="width100"><h3>Type</h3></td><td class="width95" align="center" class="seperator"><h3><a href="/types/ixc.htm" class="header">IXC</a></h3></td><td> </td></tr> <tr><td>Ordered</td><td class="seperator">25 Sep 1939</td><td><br/></td></tr> <tr><td>Laid down</td><td class="seperator">1 Oct 1940</td> <td class="seperator"><a href="/technical/shipyards/ag-weser.htm">AG Weser, Bremen</a> (werk 997)</td></tr> <tr><td>Launched</td><td class="seperator">12 May 1941</td><td><br/></td></tr> <tr><td>Commissioned</td><td class="seperator">23 Aug 1941</td><td class="seperator">Kptlt. Adolf Cornelius Piening (<a href=/men/decorations/ritter.htm>Knights Cross</a>)</td></tr> <tr><td>Commanders</td> <td colspan="2" class="seperator"><table class="table-clean"><tr><td class="width85 right">23 Aug 1941</td><td> - </td><td class="width90 right">Feb, 1944</td><td> </td><td>KrvKpt. <a href="/men/piening.htm"> Adolf Cornelius Piening</a> (<a href="/men/decorations/8.html">Knights Cross</a>) </td></tr><tr><td class="width85 right">Feb, 1944</td><td> - </td><td class="width90 right">14 Aug 1944</td><td> </td><td>Oblt. <a href="/men/commanders/1036.html"> Johannes Rudolph</a></td></tr><tr><td class="width85 right">15 Aug 1944</td><td> - </td><td class="width90 right">Nov, 1944</td><td> </td><td>Ltn. <a href="/men/commanders/321.html"> Ludwig-Ferdinand von Friedeburg</a></td></tr><tr><td class="width85 right">Nov, 1944</td><td> - </td><td class="width90 right">Dec, 1944</td><td> </td><td>Oblt. <a href="/men/commanders/1036.html"> Johannes Rudolph</a></td></tr><tr><td class="width85 right">Dec, 1944</td><td> - </td><td class="width90 right">20 Apr 1945</td><td> </td><td>Kptlt. <a href="/men/commanders/1363.html"> Erwin Witte</a></td></tr><tr><td class="width85 right">21 Apr 1945</td><td> - </td><td class="width90 right">5 May 1945</td><td> </td><td>Oblt. <a href="/men/commanders/11.html"> Friedrich Altmeier</a></td></tr></table></td></tr> <tr><td>Career<br><a href="/boats/patrols/u155.html">10 patrols</a></td><td colspan="2" class="seperator"><table class="table-clean"><tr><td class="right">23 Aug 1941</td><td>-</td><td class="right">31 Jan 1942</td><td> <a href="/flotillas/4flo.htm">4. Flottille</a> (training)<br></td></tr><tr><td class="right">1 Feb 1942</td><td>-</td><td class="right">14 Aug 1944</td><td> <a href="/flotillas/10flo.htm">10. Flottille</a> (active service)<br></td></tr><tr><td class="right">15 Aug 1944</td><td>-</td><td class="right">5 May 1945</td><td> <a href="/flotillas/33flo.htm">33. Flottille</a> (active service)<br></td></tr></table></td></tr> <tr><td>Successes</td><td colspan="2" class="seperator">25 ships sunk, total tonnage 126,664 GRT<br/>1 warship sunk, total tonnage 13,785 tons<br/>1 auxiliary warship damaged, total tonnage 6,736 GRT</td></tr> <tr><td class="width100">Fate</td> <td colspan="2" class="width400 seperator"> <p><a href="/fates/surrendered.htm">Surrendered</a> on 5 May 1945 at Baring Bay near Frederica, Denmark. <p>Transferred from Wilhelmshaven to Loch Ryan, Scotland on 22 June 1945.</p> </p><p><strong>Operation Deadlight</strong> (post-war Allied operation, <a href="/fates/deadlight.htm">info</a>)<br>Sunk on 21 Dec, 1945 in position 55.35N, 07.39W</p></p> </td></tr> <tr><td>Final location</td><td colspan="3"> <style media="screen" type="text/css"> #mapFate {width:510px; height: 270px; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-top: 20px;} </style> <div id="mapFate" align="center"></div> <script type="text/javascript" charset="utf-8"> var mymap = L.map('mapFate').setView([56.33, 9.53], 4) L.tileLayer('/map-tiles/{z}/{x}/{y}.png', { attribution: 'map 漏 OpenStreetMap contributors | ship info by uboat.net', maxZoom: 10, }).addTo(mymap); var iconFate = L.icon({ iconUrl: '/media/maps/googlemarkers/orange_Marker.png', iconSize: [20, 34], iconAnchor: [10, 34], }); var marker = L.marker([55.55, 9.88], {icon: iconFate}).addTo(mymap).bindPopup('<strong>U-155</strong>. <a href=\"/fates/surrendered.htm\">Surrendered</a> on 5 May 1945 at Baring Bay near Frederica, Denmark.<p>Transferred from Wilhelmshaven to Loch Ryan, Scotland on 22 June 1945.</p>'); var iconDeadlight = L.icon({ iconUrl: '/media/maps/googlemarkers/blue_Marker.png', iconSize: [20, 34], iconAnchor: [10, 34], }); var marker = L.marker([55.58, -7.65], {icon: iconDeadlight}).addTo(mymap).bindPopup('<strong>U-155</strong>. Sunk on 21 Dec, 1945 in position 55.35N, 07.39W'); </script> <p class="caption">Blue marker shows final fate during <a href="/fates/deadlight.htm">Operation Deadlight</a>. Orange marker shows German surrender.</p> </td> </tr> </table> <!-- End of main profile table --> <p class="np"><a href="/boats/successes/u155.html">See the 27 ships hit by U-155</a> - <a href="/boats/patrols/u155.html">View the 10 war patrols</a><br></p> </div><h3>This boat is a dive site</h3><p>Innes McCartney dove on this boat in 2001 (see <a href="/history/deadlight_2001/day_9.html">his report</a>).</p> </p>Depth: 240 feet (73 meters)<br>Position (lat, long): 55.35, -7.39</p><p>See more <a href="/fates/dive/"> U-boat dive sites</a>.</p> <h3>Wolfpack operations</h3> <p>U-155 operated with the following Wolfpacks during its career: <br> <a href="/ops/wolfpacks/60.html">Westwall</a> (8 Nov 1942 - 16 Dec 1942) </p> <h3>Attacks on this boat and other events</h3> <div class="content_box"> <p><strong>19 Aug 1942</strong><br/>A man was lost overboard during an air attack off the coast of French Guyana, S. America. [Maschinengefreiter Konrad Garneier]</p> <p><strong>27 Apr 1943</strong><br/>While inbound to France the boat repelled a nighttime attack by an unidentified aircraft, reaching Lorient three days later. <cite>(Sources: Blair, vol 2, page 219)</cite></p> <p><strong>14 Jun 1943</strong><br/>Aircraft attack, aircraft shot down:Polish <a href="/allies/aircraft/mosquito.htm">Mosquito</a> HJ648 (307 Sqdn RAF/B, pilot S/L S. Szablowski)<p> 09.29 hrs, <a href="/maps/biscay.htm">Bay of Biscay</a> north of Corunna: four Mosquito aircraft (three from 307 Polish Sqdn RAF and one from 410 Sqdn RCAF) attacked a group of five outbound boats (<a href="/boats/u68.htm">U-68</a>, <a href="/boats/u155.htm">U-155</a>, <a href="/boats/u159.htm">U-159</a>, <a href="/boats/u415.htm">U-415</a> and <a href="/boats/u634.htm">U-634</a>). The leading Mosquito first strafed U-68 and then U-155, but its port engine stopped after being hit by flak and the aircraft was forced to return to base at Predannack, Cornwall, where it made a belly landing. A Mosquito piloted by F/O J. Pelka then made an attack run, but without firing, and the remaining aircraft were held off by an intense barrage of flak.Five of the crew of U-155 were wounded, two badly. The boat returned to base with U-68, whose doctor was transferred to treat the wounded on the way.</p> <cite>(Sources: Franks/Zimmerman/Ritschel)</cite></p> <p><strong>21 Nov 1943</strong><br/>U-155 was severely damaged by enemy aircraft.</p> <p><strong>23 Jun 1944</strong><br/>A <a href="/allies/aircraft/mosquito.htm">Mosquito</a> (248 Sqn RAF/P) attacked the boat. Two men were killed and seven wounded. The boat was close to port when attacked and reached <a href="/flotillas/bases/lorient.htm">Lorient</a> the same day. [Matrosenobergefreiter Karl Lohmeier, Mechanikerobergefreiter Friedrich Feller]</p> <p><strong>4 May 1945</strong><br/>Aircraft attack, aircraft shot down: British P-51 Mustang Mk.III KH578 (126 Sqn RAF/B, pilot SqnLdr Arne Austeen)<p>On 4 May 1945, U-155 was en route with <a href=/boats/u680.htm>U-680</a> and <a href=/boats/u1233.htm>U-1233</a> from Germany to Norway through the Little Belt when they were strafed by Mustang fighters of 126 Squadron which were escorting Beaufighters of the North Coates Strike Wing. The flight broke off the attack after the leading Mustang was shot down, killing the CO of the squadron.</p></p> <p>6 recorded attacks on this boat.</p> </div> <h3>General notes on this boat</h3><p> The crew of <a href="/boats/u155.htm">U-155</a> held their 25th meeting in September 1995! "Onboard" were the former Commander Oblt. Rudolph and the British pilot who bombed the boat in 1944 when she was returning to her base in <a href="/flotillas/bases/lorient.htm">Lorient</a>. <p>The first commander of <a href="/boats/u155.htm">U-155</a>, Adolf <a href="/men/piening.htm">Piening</a>, invented the so-called <a href=/maps/piening-route.htm>Piening-Route</a> as a means to travel the <a href="/maps/biscay.htm">Bay of Biscay</a>. </p><p><strong>15 Aug 1944</strong>. <a href="/boats/u155.htm">U-155</a> had the <b>youngest U-boat Commander</b> during the war, Leutnant zur See Ludwig-Ferdinand von Friedeburg. He took over the command of <a href="/boats/u155.htm">U-155</a> on 15 August 1944. He was 20 years and 3 months old at the time.</p> <h3>Schnorchel-fitted U-boat</h3><p>This boat was fitted with a Schnorchel underwater-breathing apparatus and sailed equipped with it in August 1944 but it was of course installed prior to that date. </p><p>Read more about the <a href="/technical/schnorchel.htm">Schnorchel</a> and see list of <a href="/technical/schnorchel_fitted.htm">fitted boats</a>.</p> <div align="center"> <h3>Men lost from the boat</h3></div> <p><strong>10 Mar 1942</strong><br>On the return from the US eastern seaboard, I WO Oberleutnant zur See Gert Rentrop was lost overboard.</p> <p><strong>19 Aug 1942</strong><br>A man was lost overboard during an air attack off the coast of French Guyana, S. America. [Maschinengefreiter Konrad Garneier]</p> <p><strong>14 Jun 1943</strong><br>Aircraft attack, aircraft shot down:<br/>Polish <a href="/allies/aircraft/mosquito.htm">Mosquito</a> HJ648 (307 Sqdn RAF/B, pilot S/L S. Szablowski)<p> 09.29 hrs, <a href="/maps/biscay.htm">Bay of Biscay</a> north of Corunna: four Mosquito aircraft (three from 307 Polish Sqdn RAF and one from 410 Sqdn RCAF) attacked a group of five outbound boats (<a href="/boats/u68.htm">U-68</a>, <a href="/boats/u155.htm">U-155</a>, <a href="/boats/u159.htm">U-159</a>, <a href="/boats/u415.htm">U-415</a> and <a href="/boats/u634.htm">U-634</a>). The leading Mosquito first strafed U-68 and then U-155, but its port engine stopped after being hit by flak and the aircraft was forced to return to base at Predannack, Cornwall, where it made a belly landing. A Mosquito piloted by F/O J. Pelka then made an attack run, but without firing, and the remaining aircraft were held off by an intense barrage of flak.<br/>Five of the crew of U-155 were wounded, two badly. The boat returned to base with U-68, whose doctor was transferred to treat the wounded on the way.</p></p> <p><strong>23 Jun 1944</strong><br>A <a href="/allies/aircraft/mosquito.htm">Mosquito</a> (248 Sqn RAF/P) attacked the boat. Two men were killed and seven wounded. The boat was close to port when attacked and reached <a href="/flotillas/bases/lorient.htm">Lorient</a> the same day. [Matrosenobergefreiter Karl Lohmeier, Mechanikerobergefreiter Friedrich Feller]</p> <p> <strong>Related:</strong> For more info on such losses see - <a href="/men/men_lost.htm">Men lost from U-boats</a> -</p> <h3>U-boat Emblems</h3> <p>We have 2 <strong>emblem</strong> entries for this boat. See the emblem page <a href="/special/emblems/u155.html">for this boat</a> or view emblems individually below.</p> <table><tr> <td class="width95"><a href="/special/emblems/emblem364.html"><img src="/media/boats/emblems/emblem_missing.gif" class="width80" alt="" /><br>Star with U-boat</a></td> <td class="width95"><a href="/special/emblems/emblem395.html"><img src="/media/boats/emblems/u155_schwelm.gif" class="width80" alt="" /><br>Coat of Arms of Schwelm</a></td> </tr></table><br> <div align="center"> <h3>Media links</h3> <table> <tr> <td class="width140"><p><a href="/books/item/2388"><img src="/media/books/covers/english/184832118X.jpg" alt="" /> <br>U-Boat Attack Logs</a><br>Daniel Morgan and Bruce Taylor</p><div class="left"><br> <img src="/media/images/flags/small/flag-uk_s.gif" alt="" /> <a href="/about/scripts/amazon_co_uk.php?book=184832118X&path=/boats/u155.htm">amazon.co.uk</a> <br>(拢 38.25)</div></td> <td class="width140"><p><a href="/books/item/2378"><img src="/media/books/covers/english/1904445322.jpg" alt="" /> <br>The Grey Wolves of Eriboll</a><br>David M. Hird</p></td> <td class="width140"><p><a href="/books/item/13"><img src="/media/books/covers/english/royal_navy_disarmament.jpg" alt="" /> <br>The Royal Navy and German Naval Disarmament, 1942-1947</a><br>Madsen, Chris</p><div class="left"><br> <img src="/media/images/flags/small/flag_usa-s.gif" alt="" /> <a href="/about/scripts/amazon_com.php?book=0714643734&path=/boats/u155.htm">amazon.com</a> <br>($ 58.77)</div></td> <td class="width140"><p><a href="/books/item/525"><img src="/media/books/covers/english/german_u-boat_losses.jpg" alt="" /> <br>German U-Boat Losses During World War II</a><br>Niestle, Axel</p></td> <td class="width140"><p><a href="/books/item/538"><img src="/media/books/covers/english/hitlers_uboat_war2.jpg" alt="" /> <br>Hitler's U-boat War, Vol II</a><br>Blair, Clay</p></td> <td class="width140"><p><a href="/books/item/267"><img src="/media/books/covers/english/u-boat_operations2.jpg" alt="" /> <br>U-Boat Operations of the Second World War - Vol 1</a><br>Wynn, Kenneth</p></td> <td class="width140"><p><a href="/books/item/490"><img src="/media/books/covers/english/dark_sky_deep_water.jpg" alt="" /> <br>Dark Sky, Deep Water</a><br>Franks, Norman</p></td> <td class="width140"><p><a href="/books/item/537"><img src="/media/books/covers/english/hitlers_uboat_war.jpg" alt="" /> <br>Hitler's U-boat War</a><br>Blair, Clay</p></td> <td class="width140"><p><a href="/books/item/375"><img src="/media/books/covers/english/torpedoes_in_the_gulf.jpg" alt="" /> <br>Torpedoes in the Gulf</a><br>Wiggins, Melanie</p></td></tr> </table> </div> <p><strong>There was another U-155 in World War One</strong><br>That boat was launched from its shipyard on 28 Mar 1916 and commissioned into the Imperial Navy on 19 Feb 1917. The <a href="/history/wwi/">Naval war in WWI</a> was brought to an end with the Armistice signed on 11 Nov, 1918. Read about SM <a href="/wwi/boats/?boat=155">U 155 during WWI</a>.</p> <br><br> <!--<p> <br> </p>--> <p class='center'><br/>As an Amazon Associate uboat.net earns a commission from qualifying purchases.</p> <div class="adSeperator"></div> <div id="ga_contentFooter728" align="center"> <script async src="//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js"></script> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:728px;height:90px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-1101670507446460" data-ad-slot="7580936821"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> </div><br> </div> <!-- This closes the main content DIV (text area of pages) --> <div id="footer"> <div id="footer_navcontainer"> <ul id="footer_navlist"> <li><a href="/" title="Front page">Front page</a></li> <li><a href="/about/" title="About uboat.net">About</a></li> <li><a href="/about/contact.htm" title="Contact us">Contact us</a></li> <li><a href="/special/faq.htm" title="Frequently Asked Questions">FAQ</a></li> <li><a href="/glossary.htm" title="Glossary pages">Glossary</a></li> <li><a href="/new.htm" title="What's new at uboat.net">What's new</a></li> </ul> </div> <div id="footer_copyright"> © 1995 - 2025 Guðmundur Helgason </div> </div> <!-- End of footer --> </div> <!-- End of container DIV --> </body></html>