German and Japanese Submarine Warfare

German Submarine Sink the SS Athenia

Sep 3, 1939

Interperated by the UK, it is considered the start of the German unrestricted submarine warfare.

FIrst German Submarine Lost to an Allied Ship

Dec 4, 1939

This was the date of the first U-boat lost to an Allied submarine. It was sunk by the HMS Salmon outside of Kristiansund in Norway.

U-boat Sinks 3 Merchant Steamships

Aug 4, 1940

On this day, German U-boat U-52 sunk three merchant steamships.

First American Submarine Sunk

Oct 31, 1941

On this day, U-552 sunk the USS Reuben James, by torpedo.

Start of a New U-boat Campaign

Jan 12, 1942

Here, the start of a new U-boat campaign is begun with the sinking of the MV Cyclops. This campaign sunk 200 merchant vessles all within a 10 mile diamter of the coast.

Passenger Ferry Sunk by a U-boat

Oct 14, 1942

On this day, in Cabot Strait, the SS Caribou passenger ferry was torpedoed down by German U-boat U-69.

Many U-boats are Sunk

Period: Jun 1, 1943 to Aug 31, 1943

In June of 1943, 17 U-boats are sunk by enemy ships. During July a total of 46 U-boats were destroyed by enemy ships. In August 20 U-boats were sunk by enemy ships. This making a grand total of 83 U-boats sunk from June to August.