German submarine U852

German submarine U852

Service history of U852 depth-charged by Royal Air Force aircraft of 8 and 621 Squadron, driven ashore and scuttled south east of Socotra. History of Heinz-Wilhelm Ech, the captain, and records vessels sunk by the submarine.

One-page typewritten document

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MGomersalO139719-160530-04

[inserted] 14 [/inserted]
[underlined] U 852. [/underlined]
TYPE: IX D2
BUILDERS: Deschimag, AG Weser (Bremen).
BUILDER’S NUMBER: 1058.
LAUNCHED: 28.01.1943.
COMMISSIONED: 15.06.1943.
TRAINING FLOTILLA: 04.U-F1. Stettin. 06.1943 – 01.1944.
FRONT FLOTILLA: 12.U-F1. Bordeaux. 02.1944 – 05.1944.
COMMANDING OFFICER: KL Heinz-Wilhelm Eck. 06.1943 – 05.1944.
FATE: 03.05.1943. Depth Charged RAF aircraft (8 & 621 Sqns (squadrons)). Driven ashore & scuttled. SE of Socotra 09.32N/50.59E.
SURVIVORS: c45. 7 killed.
[underlined] ECK. Heinz-Wilhelm. [/underlined]
27.03.1916. Born in Hamburg.
.1934. Joined the German Navy (Reichsmarine).
01.12.1941. Kapitänleutnant (Lieut. Comdr). (Lieutenant Commander). 7th in year.
09.1939 – 02.1941. Attached to the 6th Minesweeping Flotilla.
03.1941 – 06.1942. Attached to the 8th Minesweeping Flotilla.
06.1942 – 10.1942. U boat training.
10.1942 – 05.1943. Attached to the 2.U-F1, 2.U.A.A. & 24.U-F1.
05.1943 – 06.1943. Overseeing the final construction of U 852.
06.1943 – 05.1944 – U 852 Commander.
05.1944 – 11.1945. Prisoner of War.
[missing word] 11.1945. Courts-Martial for the killing of survivors from the PELEUS found guilty & shot by firing squad.
[underlined] Vessels Sunk by U 852. [/underlined]
13/03/1944. Greek PELEUS 4,695 GRT. Sunk in position: 02. S/10. W. German grid position FF ????
01.04.1944. British DAHOMIAN 5,277 GRT. Sunk in position: 34.25S/18.19E. German grid position
GR 5699.
[underlined] Note. [/underlined]
Although KL Eck was convicted at his Courts-Martial it seems strange that after sinking the DAHOMIAN he didn’t kill any survivors. Might I suggest some further research to clarify the position? It was not known in 1945 that U 852 has sunk the DAHOMIAN.