Wolfpack Wolf


Wolf was a wolfpack of German U-boats that operated from 13 July to 1 August 1942, attacking Convoy ON 113 in the Battle of the Atlantic during World War II. They sank two ships sunk totalling and damaged another.

U-Boats & Commanders

The wolfpack comprised eleven U-boats, namely
U-BoatCommanderFromToNotes
Hans-Joachim Schwantke13 Jul 194230 Jul 1942
Hardo Rodler von Roithberg13 Jul 194230 Jul 1942
Walter Schug13 Jul 194231 Jul 1942
Hans-Jürgen Oldörp13 Jul 194224 Jul 1942Depth-charged and sunk by Canadian destroyer HMCS St. Croix
Paul-Hugo Kettner13 Jul 19421 Aug 1942
Burckhard Hackländer13 Jul 194230 Jul 1942
Wolf-Harro Stiebler26 Jul 19421 Aug 1942
Erich Topp13 Jul 194230 Jul 1942
Eberhard Bopst13 Jul 194230 Jul 1942
Ernst Mengersen25 Jul 194230 Jul 1942
Horst Wilhelm Kessler13 Jul 194231 Jul 1942

Ships hit by this wolfpack

British Merit

The 8,093 ton British tanker British Merit was hit at 03:52 hours on 25 July, by a torpedo fired by. One man was killed by the explosion and another seriously injured. Two lifeboats with 32 men aboard were launched, and were picked up by, while the Master and 21 men remained aboard. The tug HMS Frisky took her into St. Johns, arriving on 2 August.

Broompark

U-552 struck again at 04:09 hours on 25 July, hitting the 5,136 ton British merchant ship Broompark. The ship was taken in tow by the tug, but sank on 28 July about SW of St. Johns. The Master and three men were lost, while 38 men and 7 gunners were picked up by HMCS Brandon.

Empire Rainbow

At 07.57 hours on 26 July the 6,942 ton British merchant ship Empire Rainbow was hit and damaged by a torpedo fired by about E of Cape Race. Later, at 08.11, the ship was hit again, this time by a torpedo fired by, which sank her. The entire crew; Master, 38 men and 8 gunners were picked up by and.