Type: X-B
Built by: Germania Werft (Kiel)
Launched: 3 May, 1941
Commissioned: 26 July, 1941
Feldpost Nr.: M43288
Date sunk: UNCERTAIN
Sunk by: UNCERTAIN
Location sunk: North Atlantic
Position sunk: UNCERTAIN (All hands, 55 men, lost)

The first Skipper of U-116 was Oblt. Werner von Schmidt who had previously commanded U-40 and eventually went on to command the 8th U-BootFlotille at Danzig. He was replaced by Oblt Wilhelm Grimm, who was the last Skipper. Since U-116 was used primarily as a re-supply boat, she was attached to both the 1st U-Bootflotille at Brest and the 2nd U-Bootflotille at Lorient. As we see by the conning tower emblem U-116 was adopted by the Austrian town of Villach; a beautiful town visited by SHARKHUNTERS in 1990.

U-116 seen from the bow of a VII-C taking on more fuel.

The Captain of the sunken merchantman SS SHAFTESBURY was taken aboard U-116 as a prisoner on 12 July, 1942. U-116 departed Lorient on 22 September, 1942. Her operational area was in the area of GRID SQUARE BD (NW of the Azores) to re-supply frontboots. In early Oct, she supplied fuel to U-258, U-618, U-221 and U-356 that were operating against convoys; and U-43 and U-106 which were homeward bound. Her mission completed, U-116 was en route home when contact was lost. Her last report, 6 October 1942, originated from GRID SQUARE BD 52, about halfway between Newfoundland and the Bay of Biscay. A German source shows the date of loss at 15 October, 1942 while an Allied source shows approximately 20 October, 1942. She was officially posted as missing in action by the KRIEGSMARINE on 6 November, 1942.

According to JOHN CARLIN (2672-1993), it was a PBM MARINER of US NAVY Squadron VPB-74 that attacked and sank U-116. While this is certainly a possibility, there is no confirmation and the attack report is not very detailed.

While U-116 was a large mine-laying boat which was later used for re-supply and not well suited for combat, she did sink two ships while under command of von Schmidt.

12.07.42	CORTONA	Brit stmr	7,093 GRT
(NOTE - torpedoes from U-116 hit CORTONA about the same time as torpedoes from U-201 but the ship was sunk with a late coup de grace from U-116)
12.07.42	SHAFTESBURY	Brit stmr	4,284 GRT