Sinking of S 21

[Christoph Awender]

Hello!

Working through the KTB of the Seekriegsleitung Juni 1940 at the moment I can´t find the loss of Schnellboot S-21 on 21.June 1940.
Some post war sources say that S-21 sinks on 21.June off the french coast.
The KTB reports the loss of S 32 off Dungeness by mine but not the loss of S 21. Could this some kind of mistake in post war sources?
Any confirmations of one or the other version?

Christoph

[M.S.Laarman]

Hello!

In ' Deutsche Schnellboote im zweiten Weltkrieg' is mentioned that S-21 became a USA trophy, and was given in 1946 to Norway were it served as OMGUS, it was scrapped in 1950.

Kind regards,

Maurice

[Robert Hurst]

Hi Christoph

According to 'German Coastal Forces of World War Two', by M.J.Whitley, the Schnellboote S.21 was sunk at Boulogne on 21.6.40. She was raised and recovered 26.5.42. After the war transferred to the USA 1945. Transferred to Norway 7.47 (not recorded by R.Nor.N. Historical Dept).

S.32 was the first S-boat loss of the war after striking a drifting mine 30 nm west of Boulogne in the early hours of 22 June; it destroyed all of the boat forward of the wheelhouse. The stricken boat foundered with the loss of seven men, including her CO.

Regards

Bob

[Christoph Awender]

Thanks to both of you....
Seems that many different versions are around. Will have to check that on my next visit to BAMA.

Thanks again,
Christoph

[Robert Hurst]

Hi Christoph

I know this is going to muddy the waters some what, but checking through the text of 'German Coastal Forces of World War Two', I came across a bit of mystery.

The first thing is that in the chapter headed At War Again: Home Waters, 1939-40, there is no mention of how or why S21 was sunk at Boulogne on 21.6.40.

The amazing thing about all this is that the book later states that in August 1940 S21 participated alongwith S20, S25 and S27 in an attack on convoy CW9 off Newhaven, and that on 4 September 1940 S21 alongwith S18, S22, S25 (which later returned early with engine problems) and S54, sailed on a sortie to the north-west of Smiths Knoll. The four remaining boats encountered a convoy, from which they sank the following ships;

S21 sank Corbrook (1,729 tons) and New Lamton (2,709 tons)
S18 sank Joseph Swan (1,571 tons) and Newland (1,075 tons)
S22 sank Fulham V (1,562 tons) in addition S54 torpedoed and damaged Ewell (1.350 tons), which was claimed as an 'I'-Class destroyer.

After that there is no further mention of S21.

I would have looked for further info in my copy of German Warships 1815-1945, by Erich Groner, unfortunately the English language edition was published without anything dealing with S-Boats.

The info about S21 that I gave you in my first reply was taken from Appendix II. Construction and Fates: S-Boats

Regards

Bob

[Christoph Awender]

Interesting Bob! Thanks for checking. Seems to be an interesting case....
As I said I can´t believe that the KTB of the Skl. does not mention the loss on 21.Juni.

Thanks again,
Christoph