German submarine U-410
Encyclopedia
German submarine U-410 was a Type VIIC U-boat
built for the German
Kriegsmarine
for service during World War II
operating mainly in the Mediterranean
. Her Insignia was a Sword & Shield. and did not suffer any casualties until she was sunk.
U-410 was first commanded by Kapitänleutnant Kurt Sturm during her working up / training period and on her first patrol before being commanded by Horst-Arno Fenski
for her 6 combat patrols. U-410 sank 8 merchantmen, Landing ship, Tank (LST), and a warship during the Second World War. For his successes, Fenski received the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
.
. The survivors were returned to St. Nazaire the next day. Among the survivors were 2 English men who received a special guard.
(Capt. G.D. Belben, DSO, DSC, AM, RN) was leaving Naples
to return to the Anzio
area when she was torpedoed at 40.55°N 13.25°E by U-410. A torpedo struck the British Cruiser in the aft engine room then sixteen minutes later U-410 fired another torpedo that hit Penelope in her boiler room, causing her immediate sinking. 415 of the crew, including the captain, went down with the ship. There were 206 survivors.
The remarkable point of the attack by U-410 was that the cruiser was making 26 kn (51 km/h) when hit. As far as can be ascertained, this is a unique case. In the history of submarine attacks during World War II, no other ship running at such speed was ever successfully attacked.
, supporting Operation Shingle
and roughly 40 miles South of Naples
when she was spotted by U-410, who fired two torpedos at around 02:00 hrs. Both hit the vessel on her port side, and she sank 20 minutes later.
, France, U-410 was sunk by bombs from US aircraft.
U-boat
U-boat is the anglicized version of the German word U-Boot , itself an abbreviation of Unterseeboot , and refers to military submarines operated by Germany, particularly in World War I and World War II...
built for the German
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
Kriegsmarine
Kriegsmarine
The Kriegsmarine was the name of the German Navy during the Nazi regime . It superseded the Kaiserliche Marine of World War I and the post-war Reichsmarine. The Kriegsmarine was one of three official branches of the Wehrmacht, the unified armed forces of Nazi Germany.The Kriegsmarine grew rapidly...
for service during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
operating mainly in the Mediterranean
Mediterranean Sea
The Mediterranean Sea is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean surrounded by the Mediterranean region and almost completely enclosed by land: on the north by Anatolia and Europe, on the south by North Africa, and on the east by the Levant...
. Her Insignia was a Sword & Shield. and did not suffer any casualties until she was sunk.
U-410 was first commanded by Kapitänleutnant Kurt Sturm during her working up / training period and on her first patrol before being commanded by Horst-Arno Fenski
Horst-Arno Fenski
Horst-Arno Fenski was a German U-boat commander in World War II and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross...
for her 6 combat patrols. U-410 sank 8 merchantmen, Landing ship, Tank (LST), and a warship during the Second World War. For his successes, Fenski received the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was a grade of the 1939 version of the 1813 created Iron Cross . The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was the highest award of Germany to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership during World War II...
.
Rescue of survivors from MV Rhakotis
On 2 Jan 1943 U-410 rescued 80 survivors from the German blockade-runner MV Rhakotis after she was sunk by HMS ScyllaHMS Scylla (98)
HMS Scylla was a Dido-class cruiser of the Royal Navy. She was built by Scotts Shipbuilding and Engineering Company , with the keel being laid down on 19 April 1939...
. The survivors were returned to St. Nazaire the next day. Among the survivors were 2 English men who received a special guard.
Sinking of Penelope
On 18 February 1944, HMS PenelopeHMS Penelope (97)
HMS Penelope was an Arethusa-class light cruiser of the Royal Navy. She was built by Harland & Wolff , with the keel being laid down on 30 May 1934...
(Capt. G.D. Belben, DSO, DSC, AM, RN) was leaving Naples
Naples
Naples is a city in Southern Italy, situated on the country's west coast by the Gulf of Naples. Lying between two notable volcanic regions, Mount Vesuvius and the Phlegraean Fields, it is the capital of the region of Campania and of the province of Naples...
to return to the Anzio
Anzio
Anzio is a city and comune on the coast of the Lazio region of Italy, about south of Rome.Well known for its seaside harbour setting, it is a fishing port and a departure point for ferries and hydroplanes to the Pontine Islands of Ponza, Palmarola and Ventotene...
area when she was torpedoed at 40.55°N 13.25°E by U-410. A torpedo struck the British Cruiser in the aft engine room then sixteen minutes later U-410 fired another torpedo that hit Penelope in her boiler room, causing her immediate sinking. 415 of the crew, including the captain, went down with the ship. There were 206 survivors.
The remarkable point of the attack by U-410 was that the cruiser was making 26 kn (51 km/h) when hit. As far as can be ascertained, this is a unique case. In the history of submarine attacks during World War II, no other ship running at such speed was ever successfully attacked.
Sinking of USS LST-348
On the February 20th 1944 Landing ship, Tank (LST) 348 was returning from SicilySicily
Sicily is a region of Italy, and is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Along with the surrounding minor islands, it constitutes an autonomous region of Italy, the Regione Autonoma Siciliana Sicily has a rich and unique culture, especially with regard to the arts, music, literature,...
, supporting Operation Shingle
Operation Shingle
Operation Shingle , during the Italian Campaign of World War II, was an Allied amphibious landing against Axis forces in the area of Anzio and Nettuno, Italy. The operation was commanded by Major General John P. Lucas and was intended to outflank German forces of the Winter Line and enable an...
and roughly 40 miles South of Naples
Naples
Naples is a city in Southern Italy, situated on the country's west coast by the Gulf of Naples. Lying between two notable volcanic regions, Mount Vesuvius and the Phlegraean Fields, it is the capital of the region of Campania and of the province of Naples...
when she was spotted by U-410, who fired two torpedos at around 02:00 hrs. Both hit the vessel on her port side, and she sank 20 minutes later.
Sinking
On the 11 March, 1944 while on patrol in the Mediterranean near ToulonToulon
Toulon is a town in southern France and a large military harbor on the Mediterranean coast, with a major French naval base. Located in the Provence-Alpes-Côte-d'Azur region, Toulon is the capital of the Var department in the former province of Provence....
, France, U-410 was sunk by bombs from US aircraft.