U-204 taken from aboard U-201

Type: VII-C
Built by: Germania Werft (Kiel)
Launched: 23 January 1941
Commissioned: 8 March 1941
Feldpost Nr.: M37084
Sunk: 19 October 1941
Sunk by: HMS Rochester (SL) and HMS Swallow (CV)
Location sunk: Straits of Gibraltar
Position sunk: 35º 46’N x 06º 02’W (all hands lost: 46 men)

Kapitänleutnant Walter Kell, who had also commanded U-8, was the only Skipper. He was KIA with U-204.

U-204 was posted to the well established 1st U-Bootflottille based at Brest, France.

She had three patrols in the North Atlantic and claimed sinking a Royal Navy destroyer (HMS BATH on 19 August 1941). On her fourth patrol, she had taken on fuel from the German supply tanker THALIA, anchored in Cadiz, Spain. She was operating west of the Straits of Gibraltar to interdict shipping there.

The following is from the files given to us by ONI and NSA veteran, Captain ROBERT THEW (333-+-1987).

On 12 June 1941, U-204 was part of the ‘Kurfurst’ Group northeast of the Azores. On 2 August she was operating in the central Atlantic when she made contact with Convoy SL.81 and vectored in other submarines. Under the command of Kplt Kell, she attacked on the night of 4/5 August and sank one ship but was driven off during the day. On 6/7 August she operated without success against Convoy HG.68. She assembled with other boats west of the North Channel on 10 August. On the 17th, they were directed to Convoy OG.71 which had been sighted by reconnaissance aircraft. She attacked on the night of 18/19 August and sank the destroyer BATH.

On 2 October she was homeward bound when she was directed to Convoy OG.75. She was unable to make contact until 9 October when she probably sank a 10,000 ton tanker. On the 12th, she put into Cadiz to take on fuel from a German tanker. By the 17th, she was operating off Cape Spartel and on the 19th, attacked HG.74, sinking one ship of 9,158 tons (INVERLEE) but was sunk herself in the counter attack.

SHIPS SUNK BY U-204 UNDER KELL
01.06.41	HOLMSTEINN	Isln stmr	16 GRT
10.06.41	MERCIER	Belg stmr	7,886 GRT
05.08.41	unknown	unknown	unknown
U-204 observed two hits on a steamer, which they claimed as 14,000 GRT, which stopped, smoking heavily. ASW operations in the area forced them to dive before observing the outcome.
19.08.41	HMS BATH	Brit DD	1,060 GRT
19.08.41	unknown	unknown	6,000 GRT
19.08.41	unknown	unknown	10,000 GRT
U-204 fired four torpedo spread and saw hits on two ships, which erupted into blazing columns of fire. The first sank in 19½ minutes, the second in 43 minutes. Names of the ships not known.
05.10.41	C. JON	Pana stmr	744 GRT
19.10.41	INVERLEE	Brit tnkr	9,158 GRT
It was believed that these last two ships were sunk by U-204, since no other U-Boats claimed these attacks and U-204 was lost on the 19th October.