U-boats in the Pacific

[Wally]

Was wondering if there were any u-boats that patrolled the pacific ocean off the California Coast. I read a story where there was a sinking of a u-boat off the Louisiana Coast in the Gulf of Mexico. Just wondering if any crept into the Pacific Ocean or was this just controlled by the Japanese.
Thanks.

Wally

[charlie don't surf]

I remember reading about an uboat who was in japan, it's an interesting story but I don't have the book here so I have to get back with info later.

regards

[Visje]

No German U-boats have operated off America's western seaborder during World War II. The only hostile subs to operate there were the Japanese.

[Attila Sipos]

Hello Wally!

There was only one Uboat that operated in the Pacific: U-862. But it was pretty far from the California Coast...

You can read more about the boat and its commander, Heinrich Timm at:

http://www.uboat.net/boats/u862.htm

Also some information about the boat at the Monsun boats section:

http://www.uboat.net/ops/monsun3.htm

Hope this helps!

Attila

[greenhorn]

Monsun boats..... Italian Uboats sailed to the far east. (from Brice)

Comandante Cappellini 11/05/43 Bordeaux for Penang and arrived Singapore 13/07/43, so probaly overtook U511.
It carried 160 tons of cargo, included mercury, steel & aluminium bars, welding steel, ammo & bomb prototypes, 2cm guns, bombsight & tank blue prints.

On the return legs she carried 44-70t zinc, 110-155t rubber, 5t wolfram ie Tungsten (good for AP shells), quinine 2t, opium 2t etc.

Reginaldo Giulani Bordeaux-Singapore in 43....16 May arrived 1 Aug.

[Hawk]

Please follow this post

http://www.feldgrau.net/phpBB2/viewtopi ... c&start=15

[seakrieg]

There were several U-boats that operated both as part of the Monsun group and into the Indian Ocean both before and after the Monsun boats. U862 was the only one to successfully penetrate the Pacific as part of a planned but unsuccessful foray by a small group of U-boats from Malaysia, Java and Singapore.

The table below has been cut and paste so I hope it shows up okay.
Cheers
Lawrence

1. U-boats for the Indian Ocean.

U-Boat Departures from Europe for Indian Ocean Operations(including Cape Town)
Boat Group/Designation Depart Port Planned Operational Area Return Port
U172 Eisbär 19/8/42 Lorient Cape Town 27/12/42 Lorient
U504 Eisbär 19/8/42 Lorient Cape Town 11/12/42 Lorient
U459 Eisbär 19/8/42 St Nazaire Supporting tanker (Quadrant GG) 5/11/42 St Nazaire
U159 Eisbär 19/8/42 Lorient Cape Town 5/1/43 Lorient
U156 Eisbär 20/8/42 Lorient Cape Town (aborted) 16/11/42 Lorient
U68 Eisbär 20/8/42 Lorient Cape Town 6/12/42 Lorient

U179 Eisbär 2 20/8/42 Lorient Cape Town 8/10/42 SUNK
U178 Eisbär 2 8/9/42 Kiel Cape Town 9/1/43 Bordeaux
U181 Eisbär 2 12/9/42 Kiel Cape Town 18/1/43 Bordeaux
U177 Eisbär 2 17/9/42 Kiel Cape Town 22/1/43 Bordeaux

U182 Seehund 9/12/42 Horten Cape Town 15/5/43 SUNK
U506 Seehund 14/12/42 Lorient Cape Town 8/5/43 Lorient
U509 Seehund 23/12/42 Lorient Cape Town 11/5/43 Lorient
U516 Seehund 23/12/42 Lorient Cape Town 4/5/43 Lorient
U160 Seehund 5/1/43 Lorient Cape Town/Durban 10/5/43 Bordeaux

U180 Independent 9/2/43 Kiel Personnel/Equipment exchange with IJN 2/7/43 Bordeaux
U198 Independent 9/3/43 Kiel Durban/Madagascar 24/9/43 Bordeaux
U196 Independent 13/3/43 Kiel Mozambique St/Aden 23/10/43 Bordeaux
U195 Independent 20/3/43 Kiel Cape Town 23/7/43 Bordeaux
U181 Independent 23/3/43 Bordeaux Madagascar/Mauritius 14/10/43 Bordeaux
U178 Independent 28/3/43 Bordeaux Mozambique St 27/8/43 Penang
U177 Independent 1/4/43 Bordeaux SE Africa 1/10/43 Bordeaux
U197 Independent 3/4/43 Kiel SE Africa 20/8/43 SUNK

U511 Marco Polo 10/5/43 Lorient Transfer to IJN 15/7/4315/8/43 PenangKure

U200 Monsun 12/6/43 Kiel Indian Ocean 24/6/43 SUNK
U487 Monsun (support) 15/6/43 Bordeaux Tanker 13/7/43 SUNK
U462 Monsun (support) 17/6/43 Bordeaux Tanker (aborted) 23/6/43 Bordeaux
U462 Monsun (support) 28/6/43 Bordeaux Tanker (aborted) 6/7/43 Bordeaux
U188 Monsun 30/6/43 Lorient Indian Ocean 30/10/43 Penang
U168 Monsun 3/7/43 Lorient Indian Ocean 11/11/43 Penang
U509 Monsun 3/7/43 Lorient Indian Ocean 15/7/43 SUNK
U514 Monsun 3/7/43 Lorient Indian Ocean 8/7/43 SUNK
U532 Monsun 3/7/43 Lorient Indian Ocean 30/10/43 Penang
U183 Monsun 3/7/43 Lorient Indian Ocean 30/10/43 Penang
U506 Monsun 6/7/43 Lorient Indian Ocean 12/7/43 SUNK
U533 Monsun 6/7/43 Lorient Indian Ocean 16/10/43 SUNK
U516 Monsun 8/7/43 Lorient Indian Ocean (aborted) 23/8/43 Lorient
U847 Monsun 29/7/43 Lorient Indian Ocean (tanker) 27/8/43 SUNK

U848 Monsun II 18/9/43 Kiel Indian Ocean 5/11/43 SUNK
U849 Monsun II 2/10/43 Kiel Indian Ocean 25/11/43 SUNK
U510 Monsun II 3/11/43 St Nazaire Durban/Aden/Indian Ocean 5/4/44 Penang
U850 Monsun II 18/11/43 Kiel Indian Ocean 20/12/43 SUNK
U172 Monsun II 22/11/43 St Nazaire Indian Ocean 13/12/43 SUNK

U1062 Independent 18/12/43 Kiel Supplies for Penang - Damaged 23/12/43 Bergen
U177 Independent 2/1/44 La Pallice Indian Ocean 6/2/44 SUNK
U1062 Independent 3/1/44 Bergen Supplies for Penang 19/4/44 Penang
U852 Independent 18/1/44 Kiel Indian Ocean 3/5/4 SUNK
UIT22 Independent 19/1/44 Bordeaux Transport to Far East (aborted) 21/1/44 Bordeaux
UIT22 Independent 26/1/44 Bordeaux Transport to Far East 11/3/44 SUNK
U1059 Independent 4/2/44 Kiel Supplies for Penang 19/3/44 SUNK
U843 Independent 10/2/44 Lorient Indian Ocean 11/6/44 Jakarta [Batavia]
U851 Independent 26/2/44 Kiel Indian Ocean 3/44 SUNK
U196 Independent 11/3/44 La Pallice Indian Ocean 10/8/44 Penang
U181 Independent 16/3/44 La Pallice Indian Ocean 8/8/44 Penang
U537 Independent 25/3/44 Lorient Indian Ocean 2/8/44 Jakarta
U1224 Marco Polo II 29/3/44 Kiel Transfer to IJN 13/5/44 SUNK
U859 Independent 4/4/44 Kiel Indian Ocean 23/9/44 SUNK
U860 Independent 11/4/44 Kiel Indian Ocean 15/6/44 SUNK
U198 Independent 20/4/44 La Pallice Indian Ocean 12/8/44 SUNK
U861 Independent 20/4/44 Kiel Indian Ocean 22/9/44 Penang
U490 Independent 4/5/44 Kiel Indian Ocean tanker 12/6/44 SUNK
U862 Independent 21/5/44 Kiel Indian Ocean 9/9/44 Penang
U863 Independent 26/7/44 Bergen Indian Ocean 29/9/44 SUNK
U180 Independent 22/8/44 Bordeaux Supplies for Penang 24/8/44 SUNK
U195 Independent 22/8/44 Bordeaux Supplies for Far East 28/12/44 Jakarta
U219 Monsun II 30/4/44 Bordeaux Supplies for Penang (aborted) 22/5/44 La Pallice
U219 Independent 24/8/44 Bordeaux Supplies for Far East 11/12/44 Jakarta
U871 Independent 31/8/44 Trondheim Indian Ocean 26/9/44 SUNK
U1060 Independent 25/10/44 Trondheim Supplies for Far East 30/10/44 SUNK
U864 Independent 5/2/45 Bergen Indian Ocean 9/2/45 SUNK
U234 Independent 24/3/45 Kiel Passengers and supplies for Far East 29/5/45 Portsmouth (USA)
U-Boat Departures from Far Eastern Ports
U178 Independent 27/11/43 Penang Indian Ocean/Return to France 24/5/44 Bordeaux
U188 Independent 14/12/43 Penang Singapore (Keel loading) 15/12/43 Singapore
U188 Independent 29/12/43 Singapore Penang 30/12/43 Penang
U532 Independent 4/1/44 Penang Indian Ocean/Return to France (aborted) 19/4/44 Penang
U188 Independent 8/1/44 Penang Indian Ocean/Return to France. 19/6/44 Bordeaux
U168 Independent 28/1/44 Penang Indian Ocean/Return to France (aborted) 3/2/44 Penang
UIT24 Independent 2/2/44 Singapore Transport 3/2/44 Penang
U168 Independent 7/2/44 Penang Indian Ocean/Return to France (aborted) 24/3/44 Jakarta
UIT24 Independent 8/2/44 Penang Transport to Europe (aborted) 3/4/44 Penang
UIT25 Independent 8/2/44 Singapore Transport 10/2/44 Penang
U183 Independent 10/2/44 Penang Indian Ocean/Return to France (aborted) 3/4/44 Penang
UIT23 Independent 14/2/44 Singapore Supplies for Penang 15/2/44 SUNK
UIT25 Independent 7/3/44 Penang Transport 11/3/44 Surabaya
UIT24 Independent 5/4/44 Penang Transport 6/4/44 Singapore
U510 Independent 12/4/44 Penang Refit 13/4/44 Singapore
U532 Independent 5/44 Penang Refit 6/5/44 Jakarta
U183 Independent 3/5/44 Penang Indian Ocean/Return to France (aborted) 5/5/44 Penang
U183 Independent 17/5/44 Penang Indian Ocean/Return to France (aborted) 7/7/44 Penang
UIT24 Independent 25/5/44 Singapore Refit 6/6/44 Kobe
UIT25 Independent 10/6/44 Surabaya Transport 25/6/44 Tama
U843 Independent 13/6/44 Jakarta Removal of keel cargo 15/6/44 Singapore
U1062 Independent 19/6/44 Penang Indian Ocean/Return to France (aborted) 2/7/44 Penang
U510 Independent 26/6/44 Singapore Battery replacement 7/7/44 Kobe
UIT25 Independent 7/44 Tama Refit 7/44 Kobe
U1062 Independent 15/7/44 Penang Indian Ocean/Return to France 4/10/44 SUNK
U532 Independent 29/7/44 Jakarta Battery replacement 29/9/44 Kobe
U183 Independent 8/44 Penang Maintenance 8/44 Singapore
UIT24 Independent 5/9/44 Kobe Transport 20/9/44 Singapore
U862 Independent 12/9/44 Penang Removal of keel cargo 13/9/44 Singapore
U861 Independent 23/9/44 Penang Transfer to Surabaya 11/11/44 Surabaya
UIT24 Independent 28/9/44 Singapore Transport 28/9/44 Penang
U168 Independent 5/10/44 Jakarta Transfer to Surabaya (prep for Australia) 7/10/44 SUNK
U510 Independent 7/10/44 Kobe Return to active duty 19/10/44 Jakarta
U196 Independent 9/10/44 Penang Removal of keel cargo 11/10/44 Singapore
UIT24 Independent 10/10/44 Penang Transport 12/10/44 Singapore
U183 Independent 16/10/44 Singapore Battery replacement 29/10/44 Kobe
U181 Independent 19/10/44 Jakarta Indian Ocean/Return to France (aborted) 6/1/45 Jakarta
U537 Independent ?/10/44 Jakarta Relocation ?/10/44 Surabaya
U862 Independent 6/11/44 Singapore Return to active duty 8/11/44 Jakarta
U537 Independent 9/11/44 Surabaya Australia 9/11/44 SUNK
U862 Independent 18/11/44 Jakarta Australia 15/2/45 Jakarta
U510 Independent 26/11/44 Jakarta Indian Ocean/Return to France (aborted) 3/12/44 Jakarta
U843 Independent ?/11/44 Singapore Return to active service ?/11/44 Jakarta
U196 Independent 30/11/44 Jakarta Indian Ocean, Australia, on to Japan 30/11/44 SUNK
U532 Independent 9/12/44 Kobe Transfer 23/12/44 Jakarta
U843 Independent 10/12/44 Jakarta Indian Ocean/Return to Germany. 9/4/45 SUNK
U510 Independent 11/1/45 Jakarta Indian Ocean/Return to France. 24/4/45 St Nazaire
U532 Independent 13/1/45 Jakarta Indian Ocean/Return to Germany. 10/5/45 Liverpool
U861 Independent 15/1/45 Surabaya Indian Ocean/Return to Norway. 19/4/45 Trondheim
UIT24 Independent 15/1/45 Singapore Refit 18/2/45 Kobe
U195 Independent 19/1/45 Jakarta Indian Ocean/Return to France (aborted) 4/3/45 Jakarta
U862 Independent 18/2/45 Jakarta Refit 20/2/45 Singapore
U183 Independent 22/2/45 Kobe Keel ballast installed 9/3/45 Jakarta
U183 Independent 21/4/45 Jakarta Indian Ocean/Return to France. 23/4/45 SUNK

[Black Baron]

Christpher Lee played a Germen U-boater on board a Japanese sub that was patrolling west US coast. He was an observer. Forgot movie title.

[Patrick]

Christpher Lee played a Germen U-boater on board a Japanese sub that was patrolling west US coast. He was an observer. Forgot movie title.

You're thinking of the Steven Spielberg bomb "1941".

[John W. Howard]

Hello Patrick:
"1941" was not a very good movie, but the scene where General "Vinegar" Joe Stilwell (played by Robert Stack) starts crying in his popcorn while watching "Dumbo The Elephant" at the movie theater, is absolutely priceless!!!!! Cheers.