Type: VII-D
Built by: Germania Werft (Kiel)
Launched: 18 September 1941
Commissioned: 11 January 1942
Feldpost Nr: M31973
Sunk: 16 July 1944
Sunk by: HMS COOKE (Frigate)
Location sunk: 16 miles SSE of Start Point
Position sunk: 490 55'N 03° 31'W (All hands lost-48 men)

The first Skipper of U-214 was Kapitanleutnant Gunther Reeder who had also commanded U-7. He was in command from 1 November 1941 to May 1943.

The second Skipper of U-214 was Oberleutnant zur See (later Kapitanleutnant) Rupprecht Fischer Graf von Treuberg, who had also commanded U-749 and U-445 where he was killed in action. He commanded U-214 from May 1943 to July 1943.

The third CO of U-214 was Kapitanleutnant Rupprecht Stock. This was his only U-Boat command and he was Skipper from July 1943 to July 1944.

The last Skipper of U-214 was Oberleutnant zur See Gerhard Conrad who commanded U-214 from early July 1944 until 26 July 1944 and was killed when the boat was lost. He had no previous commands.

U-214 was another of the rare minelaying adaptations of the Type VII-C but with an additional section added to the hull for the mines. This section is plainly visible in this commissioning (Indienstellung) photo.

Initially with the 5th U-Bootflottille based in Kiel for her working up, then to the 9th U-Bootflottille at Brest. Her conning tower emblem was the city coat of arms of Berlin. In all probability, this city had adopted this U-Boat, as was the custom of the times.

Initially, U-214 patrolled in the Caribbean, off Trinidad and also Venezuela December 1942 and January 1943. She had mine laying operations off Dakar May and June 1943; Point Manzanillo in Trinidad October 1943; off Casablanca March 1944 and in the English Channel June 1944.

29 August 1942, U-214 rescued and captured a survivor of a sunken British merchant ship.

7 May 1943, the Commanding Officer (Reeder) was severely wounded in an air attack

Operations Report compiled by ROBERT THEW (333-+-1986):

"U-214 was preparing to go to the area off Freetown with the "Blucher" group when she was ordered to intercept Convoy SL.118 on 16 August 1942. On the 18th she attacked and sank two ships for 13,840 tons and damaged the auxiliary cruiser CHESHIRE of the escort. She was commanded by LCDR CG. Reeder. Later that day, she was driven off by air escorts.

Reformed into the "ILTIS" Group she continued her southward voyage and on the 25th, reported Convoy SL. 119., Although other members of the group made successful attacks, she does not and the action was broken off on the 29th.

The group assembled west of Lisbon and on 8 September, they proceeded in line abreast to the area of the Cape Verde Islands. Between 25 and 27 September they refueled from U-460.

On 15-16 December she was operating east of the Caribbean where she shadowed a convoy.

In early January, she entered the Caribbean where she sank one ship of 4,426 tons.

In May she was damaged by aircraft while transiting the Bay of Biscay.

Now under the command of Count von Treuberg she laid a minefield off Dakar on 2 June, which damaged a 6,507 ton ship.

On 9 September she laid another field off Colon (Panama). On 3 April 1944 she laid another minefield off Casablanca and on the 8th she made an unsuccessful attack on a US destroyer escort. This patrol was under the command of LCDR Stock.

Continuing her minelaying operations, she laid a field off Plymouth on 26 June and off Land's End on 1 July which damaged one 7,177 ton ship." 

SHIPS SUNK BY U-214 UNDER REEDER
18.08.42 BALINGKAR Neth stmr 6,318 GRT
18.08.42 HATARANA Brit stmr 7,522 GRT
18.08.42 unknown unknown unknown
NOTE - it is possible that two torpedoes hit one ship and that a third sinking did not occur.
30.12.42 PADEREWSKI Pol stmr 4,426 GRT

SHIPS SUNK BY U-214 UNDER STOCK
22.10.43 unknown unknown unknown

The KTB (logbook) entries, hour by hour, follows:

2003 hours - Mast points in direction 80 degrees true, modern independent with two masts and two funnels, estimated size 7,000 tons. Apparently motor ship, course 290 deg., inclination 70. I don't gain any way in an attempt to push forward.

2055 hours - Steamer disappears in spreading rain shower, take position in quarterline, since twilight is setting in fast. It is still too light for surface attack, so turn away again somewhat and steamer again disappears from sight in heavy shower. Now I turn toward it and steamer comes in sight again in direction 010 degrees true, inclination 90.

2240 hours - At battle stations, end of twilight. I do not succeed in getting ahead. On the contrary, I lose way in closing in. I must fire at broad inclination. Quadruple spread from tubes I through IV with two T3 and two FAT I. Firing data - enemy bow to the left, inclination 110, enemy speed 14 knots, distance 2500. FAT - preliminary run 35 hm. Left bow MZ - out owing to A/C bomb of 9/9. After firing, withdrew behind steamer, strong smell of diesel exhaust. Steamer disappears in rain squall. After 12 min 10 sec two torpedo detonations at interval 4 seconds. After four minutes, distinct sinking noises heard, screw noises no longer heard. Proceed immediately to place of firing and search along reciprocal course. Nothing to be found. Poor visib and continuous drizzle.

Further investigation reveals that this was CAPE DOUGLASS and she reported in her logbook that she heard two torpedo detonations astern at the same time as U-214 reports. Apparently the two detonations heard on both vessels were end of rut, detonations. The ship was not damaged, not even hit.

SHIPS DAMAGED BY U-214 UNDER REEDER
18.08.42 CHESHIRE Brit ACL 10,552 GRT

NOTE - this Armed Merchant Cruiser was damaged and salvaged.

SHIPS DAMAGED BY U-214 UNDER von TREUBERG
20.06.43 SANTA MARIA Amer stmr

This was a new ship, built 1942. She was owned by Grace Lines and operated by WSA. Under Master Robert Twaddell, she was armed with one 5 inch and one 3 inch guns, and eight 20mm automatic guns. She drew 231/2 feet with her cargo of 450 tons of sisal and was making 15'/2 knots when she struck a mine in the field laid on 7 June.

20 June, SANTA MARIA sailed independently from Dakar to New York. When five miles offshore on a smooth sea, she struck a mine which exploded in the area of the #1 hatch and exploded the forward magazine which obliterated the forward section of the ship. Most of the nine officers, forty-eight men and thirty Armed 'Guards went to the sea in two lifeboats and stood by the freighter until two French Navy tug boats arrived in two hours.

Forty-six men went ashore while the rest reboarded their ship to help with the towing operation. The ship was taken into a dockyard in Dakar and repaired.

One member of the Armed Guard had been blown overboard by the blast and was never found.