Victor Oehrn


Victor Otto Oehrn was a Fregattenkapitän with the Kriegsmarine during World War II. He commanded the U-boats and, sinking twenty-four ships on four patrols, for a total of 104,846 tons of Allied shipping, to stand 28th on the list of highest scoring U-Boat aces of World War II.

Career

Oehrn joined the Reichsmarine in 1927, serving aboard the light cruisers and, before being one of the first officers to transfer to the newly formed U-boat arm in July 1935. He was appointed to command of in January 1936, and patrolled in Spanish waters during the Civil War in July–September 1936. In August 1939 he joined the staff of BdU as an Admiralstabsoffizier.
In May 1940 Oehrn took command of, in order to restore trust in the G7e/T2 torpedo, which had performed abysmally, often detonating prematurely or not at all. In four patrols he sank 23 merchant ships for a total of, damaged another of, and sank the British sloop, before returning to the staff in August.
From November 1941 Oehrn served on the Mediterranean U-boat staff, but during a mission to North Africa in July 1942, he was severely wounded and captured. After recovering at a British Military Hospital in Alexandria, Oehrn was sent to POW Camp 306 on the Suez Canal. He returned to Germany in October 1943 after being released in a prisoner exchange. Oehrn spent the remainder of the war serving on the staff in a number of posts.

Summary of career

Ships attacked

As commander of Victor is credited with the sinking of 23 ships for a total of, further damaging a ship of and sinking one warship,, of.

DateName of shipFlagTonnageFate
19 May 1940Erik Frisell5,006Sunk
22 May 1940Dunster Grange9,494Damaged
24 May 1940Kyma3,994Sunk
27 May 1940Sheaf Mead5,008Sunk
27 May 1940Uruguay3,425Sunk
28 May 1940Brazza10,387Sunk
28 May 1940Julien177Sunk
28 May 1940Maria Rosé2,477Sunk
29 May 1940Telena7,406Sunk
1 June 1940Ioanna950Sunk
3 June 1940Snabb2,317Sunk
8 August 1940Upwey Grange9,130Sunk
23 August 1940Keret1,718Sunk
23 August 1940Severn Leigh5,242Sunk
24 August 1940Brookwood5,100Sunk
24 August 1940HMS Penzance1,025Sunk
25 August 1940Blairmore4,141Sunk
25 August 1940Yewcrest3,409Sunk
27 August 1940Theodoros T3,409Sunk
27 September 1940Georges Mabro2,555Sunk
28 September 1940Corrientes6,863Sunk
30 September 1940Heminge2,499Sunk
30 September 1940Samala5,390Sunk
6 October 1940British General6,989Sunk
13 October 1940Stangrant5,804Sunk

Awards