Otto Kretschmer - Wikipedia

They had some brilliant officers and some amazing talent. I am glad that Hitler overreached with his invasion of Russia...
SMSgt Lawrence McCarter LT Brad McInnis PO3 Bob McCord CW3 Dick McManus SGT John " Mac " McConnell CWO3 Dennis M. MSgt Stephen Council LTC (Join to see) LTC Stephan PorterLTC Stephen C. LTC Greg Henning SGT Gregory Lawritson Maj William W. 'Bill' Price Maj Bill Smith, Ph.D. SGT Jim Arnold Maj Robert Thornton Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen SFC Francisco Rosario LTC (Join to see) PO3 Phyllis Maynard

Great history share.

Thank you, my friend Maj Marty Hogan for making us aware that May 1 is the anniversary of the birth of the most successful German U-boat commander in the Second World War Otto Kretschmer and later an admiral in the Bundesmarine.
"From September 1939 until his surrender in March 1941, he sank 47 ships, a total of 274,333 tons. For this he received the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords, among other awards."

Silent Otto" Kretschmer
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B1LQR92fEsw


Images
1. Kptlt. Kretschmer (right) on U-99 after docking at Lorient on 21 July 1940
2. Kptlt. Kretschmer with the crew of U-99 enjoying the first bottle of beer after returning from patrol.
3. Otto Kretschmer in 1997

Background from /uboat.net/men/kretschmer.htm
Otto Kretschmer
Fregattenkapitän (Crew 30)

Successes
40 ships sunk, total tonnage 208,954 GRT
3 auxiliary warships sunk, total tonnage 46,440 GRT
1 warship sunk, total tonnage 1,375 tons
1 ship sunk, total tonnage 2,136 GRT
5 ships damaged, total tonnage 37,965 GRT
2 ships a total loss, total tonnage 15,513 GRT

Born 1 May 1912 Heidau, Liegnitz
Died 5 Aug 1998 (86) Straubing
Ranks
1 Apr 1930 Offiziersanwärter
9 Oct 1930 Seekadett
1 Jan 1932 Fähnrich zur See
1 Apr 1934 Oberfähnrich zur See
1 Oct 1934 Leutnant zur See
1 Jun 1936 Oberleutnant zur See
1 Jun 1939 Kapitänleutnant
1 Mar 1941 Korvettenkapitän
1 Sep 1944 Fregattenkapitän
Decorations
17 Oct 1939 Iron Cross 2nd Class
9 Nov 1939 U-boat War Badge 1939
17 Dec 1939 Iron Cross 1st Class
4 Aug 1940 Knights Cross
4 Nov 1940 Knights Cross with Oak Leaves
26 Dec 1941 Knights Cross with Oak Leaves and Crossed Swords
U-boat Commands
U-boat From To
U-35 31 Jul 1937 15 Aug 1937 No war patrols
U-23 1 Oct 1937 1 Apr 1940 8 patrols (97 days)
U-99 18 Apr 1940 17 Mar 1941 8 patrols (127 days)
Otto Kretschmer was born in Heidau über Niesse in Prussian Silesia (now Hajduki Nyskie, Poland), and was the son of a schoolmaster. Prior to joining the Reichsmarine as an officer candidate at the age of 18 he studied English and literature at Exeter University in England for eight months. After officer training he spent three months on the sailing school ship Niobe and more than a year on the light cruiser Emden.

After serving on the pocket battleship Deutschland and the light cruiser Köln 1934-35, he transferred to the U-bootwaffe (U-boat force) in January 1936. He thus received a solid pre-war training as a U-boat officer. He joined U-35 as 1st Watch Officer (IWO) on U-35 in Nov 1936, and commanded her as Kommandant in Vertretung (Commandant substitute) on one patrol in Spanish waters during the Spanish Civil War.
In September 1937 he took over command the small Type II U-23. Following the outbreak of the war he won his first successes on patrols in the North Sea off the English and Scottish east coasts.
In November 1939 he laid nine mines in Moray Firth, Scotland. The first great success for Otto Kretschmer was the sinking of the Danish tanker Danmark (10,517 tons) on 12 January 1940.
Just over a month later he sank the British destroyer HMS Daring (1,375 tons).
He left U-23 in April 1940 and in the same month commissioned U-99. While commanding U-99 Otto Kretschmer became famous for night-time surface attacks against convoys, and it was at this time his motto
"One torpedo ... one ship" was coined.
With the sinking of three British Armed Merchant Cruisers, Laurentic (18,724 tons), Patroclus (11,314 tons) and Forfar (16,402 tons) in November 1940, with a total of more than 46,000 tons, Silent Otto became the "Tonnage King" of U-boat commanders, never to be dethroned.

His last patrol also began successfully, but after attacking ten ships, his luck ran out. He was captured after scuttling U-99 at 0343hrs on 17 March 1941 (Schepke was lost in the same action) SE of Iceland following depth charge damage inflicted by the British destroyer HMS Walker (Niestlé, 1998). Kretschmer managed to surface the badly damaged boat and save 40 of his crew before U-99 sank. The LI (Chief Engineer) was one of three men who went down with her.
After his capture he spent more than six and a half years in Allied captivity.
His initial RN interrogation report stated that
"He gave the impression of being a quiet, deliberate man, and looked more like a student than a U-Boat Captain".

For more than four years he was a POW in Canada in Camp 30 (often referred to as Camp Bowmanville), during which time he managed to remain in contact with BdU (U-boat High Command). He returned to Germany in December 1947.

In 1955 Otto Kretschmer joined the Bundesmarine (Federal German Navy), and in 1957 became commander of the 1. Geleitgeschwader (1st Escort Squadron). In November 1958 he became commander of the Amphibische Streitkräfte (Amphibious Forces).

From 1962 he served in several staff positions before becoming Chief of Staff at NATO COMNAVBALTAP (Commander, Allied Naval Forces, Baltic Approaches) in May 1965, a position he held for four years. He retired in September 1970 with the rank of Flotillenadmiral (Admiral of the Fleet).

Otto Kretschmer died in hospital in Bavaria during the summer of 1998 following an accident while on vacation.

You can listen to Silent Otto speaking of his experiences here.

Sources
Busch, R. and Röll, H-J. (1998). German U-boat commanders of World War II.
Busch, R. and Röll, H-J. (1997). Der U-Bootkrieg 1939-1945 (Band 2).
Niestlé, A. (1998). German U-boat losses during World War II.
Rohwer, J. (1998). Axis Submarine Successes of World War Two.

Patrol info for Otto Kretschmer
U-boat Departure Arrival
1. U-23 25 Aug 1939 Wilhelmshaven 4 Sep 1939 Wilhelmshaven Patrol 1, 11 days
2. U-23 9 Sep 1939 Wilhelmshaven 21 Sep 1939 Kiel Patrol 2, 13 days
3. U-23 29 Sep 1939 Kiel 30 Sep 1939 Wilhelmshaven 2 days
4. U-23 1 Oct 1939 Wilhelmshaven 16 Oct 1939 Kiel Patrol 3, 16 days
5. U-23 1 Nov 1939 Kiel 9 Nov 1939 Kiel Patrol 4, 9 days
6. U-23 5 Dec 1939 Kiel 15 Dec 1939 Kiel Patrol 5, 11 days
7. U-23 8 Jan 1940 Kiel 15 Jan 1940 Wilhelmshaven Patrol 6, 8 days
8. U-23 18 Jan 1940 Wilhelmshaven 29 Jan 1940 Wilhelmshaven Patrol 7, 12 days
9. U-23 9 Feb 1940 Wilhelmshaven 25 Feb 1940 Wilhelmshaven Patrol 8, 17 days
10. U-23 26 Feb 1940 Wilhelmshaven 28 Feb 1940 Kiel 3 days
11. U-99 18 Jun 1940 Kiel 25 Jun 1940 Wilhelmshaven Patrol 9, 8 days
12. U-99 27 Jun 1940 Wilhelmshaven 21 Jul 1940 Lorient Patrol 10, 25 days
13. U-99 25 Jul 1940 Lorient 5 Aug 1940 Lorient Patrol 11, 12 days
14. U-99 4 Sep 1940 Lorient 25 Sep 1940 Lorient Patrol 12, 22 days
15. U-99 13 Oct 1940 Lorient 22 Oct 1940 Lorient Patrol 13, 10 days
16. U-99 30 Oct 1940 Lorient 8 Nov 1940 Lorient Patrol 14, 10 days
17. U-99 27 Nov 1940 Lorient 12 Dec 1940 Lorient Patrol 15, 16 days
18. U-99 22 Feb 1941 Lorient 17 Mar 1941 Sunk Patrol 16, 24 days
16 patrols, 224 days at sea

Ships hit by Otto Kretschmer
Date U-boat Commander Name of ship Tons Nat. Convoy
4 Oct 1939 U-23 Otto Kretschmer Glen Farg 876 br
8 Dec 1939 U-23 Otto Kretschmer Scotia 2,400 da

11 Jan 1940 U-23 Otto Kretschmer Fredville 1,150 nw
12 Jan 1940 U-23 Otto Kretschmer Danmark (t.) 10,517 da
24 Jan 1940 U-23 Otto Kretschmer Varild 1,085 nw
18 Feb 1940 U-23 Otto Kretschmer HMS Daring (H 16) 1,375 br HN-12
19 Feb 1940 U-23 Otto Kretschmer Tiberton 5,225 br
22 Feb 1940 U-23 Otto Kretschmer Loch Maddy (t.) 4,996 br HX-19
5 Jul 1940 U-99 Otto Kretschmer Magog 2,053 ca HX-52
7 Jul 1940 U-99 Otto Kretschmer Sea Glory 1,964 br
7 Jul 1940 U-99 Otto Kretschmer Bissen 1,514 sw
8 Jul 1940 U-99 Otto Kretschmer Humber Arm 5,758 br HX-53
12 Jul 1940 U-99 Otto Kretschmer Ia 4,860 gr
12 Jul 1940 U-99 Otto Kretschmer Merisaar (c.) 2,136 es
18 Jul 1940 U-99 Otto Kretschmer Woodbury 4,434 br
28 Jul 1940 U-99 Otto Kretschmer Auckland Star 13,212 br
29 Jul 1940 U-99 Otto Kretschmer Clan Menzies 7,336 br
31 Jul 1940 U-99 Otto Kretschmer Jamaica Progress 5,475 br
31 Jul 1940 U-99 Otto Kretschmer Jersey City 6,322 br OB-191
2 Aug 1940 U-99 Otto Kretschmer Strinda (d.) 10,973 nw OB-191
2 Aug 1940 U-99 Otto Kretschmer Lucerna (d.) 6,556 br OB-191
2 Aug 1940 U-99 Otto Kretschmer Alexia (d.) 8,016 br OB-191
11 Sep 1940 U-99 Otto Kretschmer Albionic 2,468 br
15 Sep 1940 U-99 Otto Kretschmer Kenordoc 1,780 ca SC-3
16 Sep 1940 U-99 Otto Kretschmer Lotos 1,327 nw SC-3
17 Sep 1940 U-99 Otto Kretschmer Crown Arun 2,372 br HX-71
21 Sep 1940 U-99 Otto Kretschmer Invershannon 9,154 br HX-72
21 Sep 1940 U-99 Otto Kretschmer Baron Blythswood 3,668 br HX-72
21 Sep 1940 U-99 Otto Kretschmer Elmbank 5,156 br HX-72
18 Oct 1940 U-99 Otto Kretschmer Empire Miniver 6,055 br SC-7
18 Oct 1940 U-99 Otto Kretschmer Niritos 3,854 gr SC-7
18 Oct 1940 U-99 Otto Kretschmer Fiscus 4,815 br SC-7
19 Oct 1940 U-99 Otto Kretschmer Empire Brigade 5,154 br SC-7
19 Oct 1940 U-99 Otto Kretschmer Thalia 5,875 gr SC-7
19 Oct 1940 U-99 Otto Kretschmer Snefjeld 1,643 nw SC-7
19 Oct 1940 U-99 Otto Kretschmer Clintonia (d.) 3,106 br SC-7
3 Nov 1940 U-99 Otto Kretschmer Casanare 5,376 br
3 Nov 1940 U-99 Otto Kretschmer HMS Laurentic (F 51) 18,724 br
4 Nov 1940 U-99 Otto Kretschmer HMS Patroclus 11,314 br
5 Nov 1940 U-99 Otto Kretschmer Scottish Maiden 6,993 br HX-83
2 Dec 1940 U-99 Otto Kretschmer HMS Forfar (F 30) 16,402 br HX-90
2 Dec 1940 U-99 Otto Kretschmer Samnanger 4,276 nw OB-251
3 Dec 1940 U-99 Otto Kretschmer Conch 8,376 br HX-90
7 Dec 1940 U-99 Otto Kretschmer Farmsum 5,237 nl OB-252

7 Mar 1941 U-99 Otto Kretschmer Terje Viken 20,638 br OB-293
7 Mar 1941 U-99 Otto Kretschmer Athelbeach 6,568 br OB-293
16 Mar 1941 U-99 Otto Kretschmer Beduin 8,136 nw HX-112
16 Mar 1941 U-99 Otto Kretschmer Franche Comte (d.) 9,314 br HX-112
16 Mar 1941 U-99 Otto Kretschmer J.B. White 7,375 ca HX-112
16 Mar 1941 U-99 Otto Kretschmer Korshamn 6,673 sw HX-112
16 Mar 1941 U-99 Otto Kretschmer Venetia 5,728 br HX-112
16 Mar 1941 U-99 Otto Kretschmer Ferm 6,593 nw HX-112
312,383
47 ships sunk (274,418 tons) and 5 ships damaged (37,965 tons).


FYI LTC Wayne Brandon LTC (Join to see) MSgt Robert C Aldi CPT Scott Sharon CMSgt (Join to see) SMSgt Tom Burns SSG Donald H "Don" Bates SSG Jeffrey Leake Sgt (Join to see) SGT Randal Groover SGT Rick Colburn SPC Mike Lake PO3 William Hetrick PO3 Lynn Spalding SPC Mark Huddleston Rhonda Hanson SPC Jordan Sutich [