Type: VII-D
Built by: Germania Werft (Kiel)
Launched: 24 July 1941
Commissioned: 30 August 1941
Feldpost Nr: M01954
Sunk: 31 July 1942
Sunk by: HMS ERNE, ROCHESTER and HMS SANDWICH (Sloops)
Location sunk: W of Punta Delgada
Position sunk: 36º 45’N x 22º 50’W (All hands lost – 50 men)

Top: U-213 in port
Bottom: Commissioning Ceremony of U-213

The only Skipper of U-213 was Oberleutnant zur See von Varendorff who was killed when the boat was lost. He had no previous commands.

U-213 was one of the rare minelaying adaptations of the Type VII-C but with an additional section added to the hull for the mines. She was initially with the 5th U-Bootflottille based in Kiel for her working up, then to the 7th U-Bootflottille (St. Nazaire) and later to the 9 th U-Bootflottille at Brest.

She had no individual conning tower emblem but rather just the “Snorting Bull” that all boats of the 7 th used.

U-213 had three patrols in the North Atlantic. On 14 May 1942, a shore party landed at St. John’s, Newfoundland, to put an intelligence agent ashore. He was listed as Leutnant (M.A.) Langbein. There is no note if this is his real name, inasmuch as his attachment to the Marine Artillery was a false cover. Langbein had lived in Canada from 1928 to 1932 and had a photographic memory. During these years, he had surveyed in Alberta, railroaded in Winnipeg and did some mining in Flin Flon.

Here is the actual logbook entry of U-213, sent by KLAUS KUKA (1329-1990) translated by ADOLF SCHMIDT (1790-1991):

EDITOR NOTE – times are in German time

24.04.42 Lorient. Lt (M.A.) Langbein on board

12.05.42 Qu CB WSW 2,1,0 2150 hours, surfaced, march continued, position by radio direction finder. Radio beacons on like in peacetime. I intend to comply with the order to enter Fundy Bay the following night because I had to expect worsening of the weather conditions and in night and mist the navigational problems under prevailing streaming conditions are too great. This performance needs fuel. On the wish of OKW (Military High Command) the disembarkation takes place east of St. John. Intend to enter during the night. In the daytime, lay on the ground (bottom) and then disembarkation during the night, considering the possibility of cracking steamers put at sea.

13.5.42 Qu BA 9627-01-0-0

0400 hours entering the passage of Manan Island and Long Island. All lights on like in peacetime. Only a few coastal vessels, all with lights on. Sights deteriorate. In order to navigate according to the lights, I have to remain completely to starboard. In front of St. John, strong searchlight check regularly the sea. As assumed no coast guards noticed. The search light checks several times in our direction but it could be accidental.

0600 hours it starts raining. Only very strong lights could be identified. Stro (possibly the helmsman) sets ahead port with 3-4 knots.

0700 hours abeam St. John

0830 hours boat stands south of Quaco-Ledge. Intend to lay on the ground (bottom) 60 meters deep north of Quaco lightbuoy with the beginning of daylight. Distance to the coast 2 sm (sea miles). During the daylight approaching the coast to find a suitable landing site, since visibility only permits to see St. Martin light. Position inaccurate, charts inadequate for such an operation. Quaco lighthouse probably off.

14.05.42 0230 hours after beginning of darkness surfaced, boat ventilated, batteries charged. Approached the coast on the surface of 1200 meters, hazy. From the beach nothing to recognize. Rubber boat made ready.

0420 hours layed off rubber boat under the leadership of II. W. O. together with two seamen. Visibility very favorable. However, since lower visibility must be assumed, a light signal was arranged for the return of the rubber boat. After 20 minutes, the rubber boat runs out of sight approximately near the coast. Landing site according to the chart “Melvina Beach” only from the light St. Martins as well as Isle Haufe position could be identified. Heavy streaming to the west. After one hour, the rubber boat not to be seen. Visibility deteriorating. Boat kept on position with E-motors. Since at 0700 hours the rubber boat not to be seen, the arranged light signal switched.

0830 hours after 4 hours and 10 minutes absence rubber boat in sight, boat and crew taken on board and departed.

1000 hours with the beginning of daylight submerged south of St. Johns Qu BA 9393, boat set on the ground. The long delay resulted from the unsuitability of the landing place found since the whole coast is steep, the rubber boat crew had to lookout for suitable landing place.

Langbein had returned to Germany to visit his parents and while there, possibly got married. He was training in espionage and did one mission in Romania. It is reported that he was not happy with National Socialism and so he accepted the assignment to go back to Canada for spying. He was not to perform any sabotage – only information gathering. He thought this was a great opportunity to return to Canada, disappear into anonymity and live a quiet life.

He reported aboard U-213 as a reserve naval officer and he had with him a radio transmitter, civilian clothes, an old Canadian road map and false papers identifying him as Alfred Haskins, living at 182 Young Street in Toronto. He also had some $7,000 in US and just a few dollars in Canadian money.

Once he hit the beach and the rubber boats returned to the U-Boat, Langbein (Haskins) wrapped his Kriegsmarine uniform and his radio set in waterproof material and buried them in the sand near the beach. Then he set off for St. Martins, a 2½ hour walk. When he arrived, he spent the first of his Canadian $2 bills. These bills were old – issued in 1917 and were a third larger than the ones in circulation at the time.

EDITOR NOTE – The same was true of US dollars. The large old ones were known as “ shin plasters”.

The people who accepted this money didn’t find anything suspicious and soon he was on his way, hitchhiking and taking the train to Montreal. There he was caught in the act in a brothel, and arrested. He paid his fine with his American money, and quickly departed for Ottawa from 19 June to 1 November 1942. He first lived in the Grand Hotel on Sussex Street, which was well patronized by members of the armed forces, who were employed in the Daly Building across the street.

In August 1942, he moved to a boarding house, citing an illness as the reason. The family he lived with apparently had no idea he was a spy or that he lived the wild life later attributed to him.

With no job, no further money coming from Germany and the fast life he was living, he soon ran out of money. On 1 November 1944, he told the family who owned the boarding house that he was going on a fishing trip but actually turned himself in to the Canadian Naval Intelligence Directorate. Actually – he TRIED to give himself up. Superintendent C. E. Rivett-Carnac, later the Commissioner, would not believe him. After telling where he had buried his spy equipment, Sergeant Cecil Bayfield, later a Superintendent, dug up his radio transmitter, Kriegsmarine uniform and the rest. It was apparent that he had never engaged in any espionage of any kind, and so was not tried as a saboteur but rather just unceremoniously stuck into an internment camp until the end of the war, when he was sent back to Germany. We don’t know what happened to him once there.

U-213 attacked no ships during the war.