Type: IX-B
Built by: AG Weser (Bremen)
Launched: 25 August, 1940
Commissioned: 21 November, 1940
Feldpost Nr.: M23130
Sunk: 9 May, 1941
Sunk by: HMS BROADWAY (DD), HMS BULLDOG (DD), HMS AUBRIETTA (CV)
Location sunk: SW of Ireland
Position sunk: 60.31N x 33.10W (15 men lost, 32 captured)

U-110 was assigned to the famed 2nd U-BootFlotille at Lorient and she had only one Skipper from her commissioning, Kapitanleutnant Fritz-Julius Lemp at right).

When his first boat, U-30 was retired as a FrontBoot and reassigned to the 24th U-BootFlotille as a schulboot, about one-half of the crew remained with U-30 as the training crew and the other half ultimately wound up as crew of U-110, with replacements to fill crew requirements.

After the great successes enjoyed by Lemp and U-30, he was greatly disappointed with the results on his first patrol. He had a little bit better luck on his second patrol but upon firing torpedoes at his final victim, he made the fatal mistake of leaving the periscope exposed too long, probably to confirm a hit. A sharp-eyed ROYAL NAVY look-out on the corvette HMS AUBRIETTA spotted the 'scope and raced over to begin a depth charge attack. HMS BROADWAY and HMS BULLDOG quickly raced over to join the attack and U-110 was forced to the surface. The story of this encounter will be shown further in this article, in a letter from the Funkmaat (Radioman) of both U-30 and U-110, GEORG HOGEL (240-LIFE-1987).

According to published reports that are widely accepted, it is said that Lemp was shot by Sub.Lt. David Balme when he attempted to re-board U-110 which was not sinking quickly enough.....but that is possibly not the way it really happened. Read on.....

SHIPS SUNK BY U-110
26.04.41	ANDRE MOYRANT	Frnc stmr	2,471 GRT
(It is not clear whether Lemp was shooting at this ship or the British SS HENRY NORY of 2,564 GRT.)
09.05.41	ESMOND	Brit stmr	4,976 GRT
09.05.41	BENGORE HEAD	Brit stmr	2,609 GRT
(It was this spread, fired just two minute before noon, German time, that was the beginning of the end of U-110.)
SHIPS DAMAGED BY U-110
16.03.41	ERODONA	Brit tnkr	6,207 GRT
(Just past midnight, German time, Lemp fired torpedoes at three ships in Convoy HX.112, claiming two ships of 8,000 GRT each being sunk and one ship of 6,000 GRT being damaged. The 6,000 ton ERODONA was damaged, but there is no confirmation of any ships being sunk by this attack.)
23.03.41	SIREMALM	Norw stmr	2,468 GRT

After U-110 was forced to the surface, Lemp ordered 'ABANDON SHIP' to save his men, as the boat was too badly beat up to survive. He ordered the ship to be scuttled, and the crew swam away for the boat. But U-110 was not going down - the TYPE IX boats 'CLUNG' to the surface more than the TYPE VII boats, and they suddenly heard whaleboats coming from the British TIN CANS towards the stricken but still floating U-Boat. Most published reports state that Lemp swan back toward U-110 in an effort to prevent the British from going aboard and that Sub.Lt David Balme shot him - but is that what really happened?

Here is part of a letter from the radioman from U-110, GEORG HOGEL (240-LIFE-1987):

"It is right, U-110 was rammed by destroyer BROADWAY as in last seconds he got orders from Destroyer Commander (aboard BULLDOG) this not to do. HMS BROADWAY could not stop and touched with U-110. The consequences to the destroyer's flimsy plating were serious, for the U-boat's hydro- plane (diving planes) tore a big gash in her port bow, holed her badly below the waterline amidships, and knocked off her port propeller.

The problem was for Kplt. Lemp in this moment to give the right order. He was thinking for his men in the boat, and drove the men to leave in a hurry. In the face of a ramming destroyer, he thinks it would be better the secrets stay in the boat. This was the mistake! Then, as the men were in the water, it was too late. If Lemp was shot in the water it today is still a secret."

This letter was sent to this HQ several years ago. Later I spoke with HOGEL in person about the loss of U-110 & Lemp. He said that when Lemp tried to return to U-110, his I.W.O. attempted to stop him and they struggled in the water for some moments before Lemp continued swimming toward U-110. According to GEORG, Sub.Lt. Balme swore on his honor as an officer and a gentleman that he did not shoot Lemp. Even if he did shoot, Lemp there would be no court to lay blame against Balme, so he had no motive to lie - and he swore that he did not shoot Lemp. What then, really happened to Fritz-Julius Lemp?

When the crew abandoned ship, they were all on the side away from the onrushing destroyer, and all the action was going on between the destroyer and U-110. That is the direction from where the British whaleboat was coming with the boarding party, and so when Lemp swam to intercept them, he swam around U-110 and out of sight from his crew.

GEORG told me that Lemp was old beyond his years, due to the stress of the War and constant combat, and after the struggle in the water with his I.W.O., Lemp was visible tired.....perhaps even exhausted. He feels that Lemp either had a heart attack or was just plain too tired to continue swimming toward the boat, and went under.

What finally happened to U-110 herself?

She was prevented from sinking by the ROYAL NAVY crew, and all her codes, secret materials etc. were in their hands. They were towing U-110 back to a British base when, it appears, that someone woke up and realized they had all the codes, so the submarine itself was of no great value but if the Germans somehow found that U-110 was in the hands of the ROYAL NAVY, they would certainly change all the codes, ciphers etc. So U-110 mysteriously 'foundered and sank while under tow' off Ireland. It was a convenient 'accident'.

Here we read the last entries

In a classified US NAVAL INTELLIGENCE report entitled 'THE LAST RECORDED MISSIONS OF GERMAN SUBMARINE U-110' which came from survivors. We will begin at the final hours of U-110.

"On the morning of 9 May we moved closer to the convoy. We maintained contact with the leading destroyer on the starboard side. We could see Schnee moving up on the starboard side. The following agreement is made by means of flag signals.

DAYLIGHT ATTACK. WE WILL DIVE RIGHT INTO THE MIDST OF THE CONVOY, LEMP FIRST.

Radio message ATTACK! We reversed course. Submerged. Covered 800 meters between columns at periscope depth. ATTACK. Three single shots fired at three steamers in the second column. While we were turning to fire a stern torpedo we were approached by a destroyer, making straight for us at high speed. Order of the Commanding Officer 'Go down to great depth quickly.'

WEATHER: In the afternoon of 8 May; wind was 1 - 2; the sea 0 - 1; it was slightly cloudy; good visibility. In the morning of 9 May; freshening wind 4 - 6; sea 3; dense low clouds; misty; poor visibility (3 - 5 miles); varying. Around noon it was clearing somewhat and the wind was getting stronger.

CONDITION OF THE BOAT - According to statement of the Engineer Officer; the boat was perfectly clear for action. The battery was charged. All the compressed air cylinders were filled. The torpedo tube bow caps were open. Three single shots were fired. After each shot compensation was made. When the order 'Go down to great depth quickly' was given the boat was brought to a diving angle of 15 degrees by shifting all ballast from below, aft top and middle tanks.

The boat began its dive with its nose down 7 or 8 degrees. The 1st depth charge patterns were dropped immediately after her nose had been put down. The following installations were put out of commission: the electrical engine master switch and although that was, restored the electric motors did not run again; all depth gauges in the control room and bow compartment; much gas formed; fuel oil tank was blown in; several valves on the high pressure manifold had their spindles broken. For this reason the pressure-gauge at the main cooling water pump was turned on. Depths were reported from there at frequent intervals; depth readings varied between 105 and 115 meters. The rudder and hydroplanes could no longer be operated electrically. The rudder was switched over to hand operation and operated from the stern compartment.

The hydroplanes were similarly switched over but proved to be too unmanageable for operation by hand. Both hydroplanes were locked in the horizontal position. Other depth charge patterns were dropped, a total of perhaps 30 individual depth-charges. The reports from the engine room caused us to use our pumps, so as to keep the boat from going down any deeper. The pressure-gauge at the cooling water pump must have been out of commission too. The Engineer Officer suspects that the boat never fell beyond a depth of 40 meters.

The Commanding Officer gives the order "BLOW ALL TANKS!" The valve is broken. Another order "GET READY FOR EMERGENCY BLOWING." Shortly afterwards the boat begins to roll, which means that it is on the surface, even though the tanks have not yet been blown by the crew. The Commanding Officer gives the order "ALL HANDS ABANDON SHIP." The valves of the air supply shaft are opened to equalize pressure. The Commanding Officer opens the conning tower hatch. The crew abandons ship.

The Engineer Officer, the Executive Officer & the Second Control Room Mate stay behind in the control room. The Commanding Officer gives the order to open the air vents for scuttling. The Engineer Officer dismisses the Control Room Mate; he opens the air vents and the quick- diving tank on the port side. Thereupon the Executive Officer and the Engineer Officer mount on the conning tower.

Three destroyers, one corvette and one trawler are forming a circle around the boat at a distance of 800 to 1,000 meters. The submarine sinks with a 10 degree trim by the stern. When the water reaches up to about one meter above the base of the conning tower, the Commanding Officer, Executive Officer, Engineer Officer and Warrant Engineer also leave the ship."

February 1944

In Feb. 1944, Stoker Focke met the surviving officers of the submarine in Canada. On this occasion he made the following statements, which should be added to the account given above:

"At the time the ship was abandoned, the water in the diesel engine room was reaching up to and above the shafts; the shafts were twisted. The filter was taken out of the main flooding line.

While we are floating in the water, the ship is suddenly lifted high out of the water again; but after that it sinks, though very slowly. The Commanding Officer yells at me: 'Let's swim back on board ship.' The bow and conning tower of the ship are visible above water. The ship is drifting away from us quickly and is soon out of our range. That is the reason why we turn around and head in the direction of a corvette. I notice a destroyer heading towards the ship and lowering a cutter. Due to the high seas the submarine gets out of sight. I did not observe the sinking of the submarine.

I talked with only six of the crew prior to my arrival in Camp I, England. None of those had observed the sinking of the ship. A few days later the Engineer Officer received his IRON CROSS (2nd CLASS) award certificate, which had been forwarded to the camp by the British authorities. He did not remember for sure whether he carried it on his person or left it in his folder in the control room of the submarine. I explained the whole situation to Lt. Cdr. Kretschmer in Camp and I told him that I had decided to inform the Commanding Admiral, Submarine of my suspicion that our submarine might possibly have fallen into enemy hands. This report was worded: 'Suspicion U E O in enemy hands.'

While on transfer from England to Canada in April 1942, I met Stoker Nuernberg, who had told me verbatim:

'I know that two men saw the ship go down.'

On the strength of that I reported from Canada: 'U E O was sunk; it is possible or probable (?) that the enemy was aboard at one time.' I asked Lt (jg) Ratsch to transmit the same report, when the latter was exchanged in the fall of 1943. In February 1944 Ordinary Stoker Focke, the control room technician, was transferred to the camp where I was. This man had made the following observations, after being picked up by the corvette. 'Some men from the cutter managed to get on the submarine's deck. They slammed the conning tower hatch shut and made fast a hawser that had been thrown over from the destroyer. Shortly afterwards the submarine became very stern-heavy, so that only one or two meters of her bow were still visible above water. Then she went down vertically, stern first.'

On 27 April 1944 I asked Captain Schueller to pass these latter observations on to the Commanding Admiral, Submarines; I chose the following wording:

'Submarine sunk, enemy did not get inside submarine.'

After I became separated from Lt. Cdr. Kretschmer, I discussed all questions relating to the boat with Lt Jenisch, the friend of my fallen commander. All officers and enlisted men left the ship alive before the latter went down. Stoker Hoerter was seriously wounded and Boatswain's Mate Brohm was slightly wounded. The Commanding Officer and 14 members of the crew were not rescued."