More on U-123

After completing his 2nd war patrol in American waters, K.K. REINHARD HARDEGEN (102-LIFE-1985) transferred off the boat and command passed to Horst von Schroeter, pictured here.. After the War, von Schroeter joined the Bundsmarine and retired as Vize Admiral, the highest rank attained after the War by any WW II U-Bootfahrer. He also won the KNIGHTS CROSS in WW II, bringing the total of RITTERKREUZTRÄGER to five from U-123; an impressive total!

SHIPS ATTACKED BY U-123 UNDER von SCHROETER

29.12.42 BARON COCHRANE Brit stmr 3,385 GRT (U-406 had damaged this ship and one or two others that were then dead in the water. U-591 fired torpedoes at ZARIAN, sinking her, and at BARON COCHRANE but missed. U-123 fired at BARON COCHRANE, sinking her and at LYNTON GRANGE but missed her - that ship was then sunk by U-628.)

29.12.42 EMPIRE SHACKLETON Brit stmr 7,068 GRT (EMPIRE SHACKLETON was hit by two torpedoes fired by U-225, damaging her. U-435 fired two torpedoes at her but missed with both. U-123 hit her with another torpedo, and still EMPIRE SHACKLETON did not sink. Finally, U-435 opened fire with her deck gun and EMPIRE SHACKLETON finally slid beneath the waves.)

18.04.43 HMS P-615 Brit SUB 683 GRT (This was the former Turkish submarine ULUC ALI REIS, which was taken over by the Royal Navy)

18.04.43 EMPIRE BRUCE Brit stmr 7,459GRT

29.04.43 NANKING Swed mtrshp 5,931GRT

05.05.43 HOLMBURY Brit stmr 4,566GRT (The Skipper of this ship was taken prisoner by U-123)

09.05.43 KANBE Brit stmr 6,244GRT

21.09.43 U-123 fired into Convoy ON.202 and heard two hits and three additional detonations on a tanker & a LIBERTY SHIP, but there is no confirmation and no names of ships.

End of Combat

This was the end of combat for U-123. She was back in her old homeport of Lorient where she was paid off on 19 August, 1944. When the Allies took that city and facility, U-123 was given over to the French and was refitted by the French Navy in 1947 & renamed BLAISSON in honor of the Commander of the ill-fated French giant submarine SURCOUF which disappeared without a trace, unless you subscribe to the 'official' story put forth by the government which is not believed by too many historians.

BLAISSON, the former U-123 that brought forth five KNIGHTS CROSS winners (RITTERKREUZTRÄGERS) was discarded in 1957 - broken up for scrap.

More on U-123