Type: VII-D
Built by: Germania Werft (Kiel)
Launched: 23 October 1941
Commissioned: 15 December 1941
Feldpost Nr: M47679
Sunk: 20 October 1942
Sunk by: RAF A/C (224 Squadron)
Location sunk: WSW of Ireland
Position sunk: 48° 21 'N x 19° 25'W (All hands lost - 45 men)

The only Skipper of U-216 was Kapitanleutnant Karl Otto Schultz. He had previously commanded U-34 and was killed when the boat was lost.

U-216 was another of the rare minelaying adaptations of the Type VII-C but with an additional section added to the hull for the mines. She was attached to the 5th U-Bootflottille based in Kiel for her sea trials in the Baltic, then to the 9th U-Bootflottille based at Brest as a Frontboot. She had one war patrol; lost on that patrol.

The conning tower emblem, a sword piercing the heart of England, left no doubt what the crew had in mind. This was not an uncommon theme of the time. Some portrayed attacks on Churchill personally. Many coming tower emblems had the defeat of Great Britain as their main theme.

Here is a summery of the one and only war patrol, compiled by Captain ROBERT THEW (333-+-1986), of U-216:

By 19 September 1942, she was part of the `Pfeil" (Arrow) Group in the North Atlantic, deployed against Convoy SC.100. Before joining this group, she sighted Convoy SC.99 but was driven off. On 23 September she was directed to Convoy RB.1 which she attacked on the afternoon of the 25th, sinking one 4,989 ton ship.

The next day, she became part of the `Tiger" Group and was ordered to intercept Convoy ON. 131 but search was unsuccessful.

6 October 1942, a wounded crewman was transferred to the Type XIV `Milch kuh' submarine tanker U-463.

On 12 October, she joined the `Wotan' Group east of Newfoundland after refueling from U-463. On the 13~, she was brought into action against Convoy SC. 104 under the directions of U-221, but she was driven off by the escort. At mid-day, she reestablished contact but was driven off again.

The Group was ordered to go against Convoy ON.137 on 16 October, but U-216 had to break off and depart for home on the 17th. She was sunk enroute, three days short of her first `birthday'.

SHIPS SUNK BY U-216 UNDER SCHULTZ
25.09.42 BOSTON Brit stmr 4,989 GRT

When Schultz sank SS BOSTON, he noticed the high superstructure and twin funnels and erroneously reported her as the luxury passenger liner SS VICEROY OF INDIA.