Michael Hoffmann
Kapitänleutnant (Crew 33)
Born 31 August 1909 Grünberg, Hessen
(Active career)
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Michael Hoffmann went after a carpenter apprenticeship to the new built
Kriegsmarine. After the theoretical phase of his training he was transferred
to the sailing ship "Gorch Fock" where he participated at a journey around
the world.
Returning from this tour he was assigned to the first u-boat training flotilla
in Pillau. After a long and hard training time he was orderd as I WO to
U-38.
On June 1939 he was given command of U-116 and he was assigned to
the first flotilla.
On the transfer journey from the 1st. flotilla in Kiel to the 9th. flotilla
in Brest the u-boat was attacked by a Sunderland. Due to foggy weather with
the enemy too near for a crash dive the u-boat opend fire with the AA-guns
and managed to shot the plane down.
This was the inspiration for the insignia of the boat: A sawfish demoliting
an airplane.
Arriving in Brest with only little damage he and his crew took by storm the
bar of Logonna and celebrated their first victory.
His first patrol was even a lucky one, but his second and third patrol were
under a bad star. The U-boat and his crew suffered from torpedo flaws.
Oberleutnant Hoffmann participated on a top secret raid on a british
research center which resulted in gathering valuable informations about british
anti U-boat research.
On his first four patrols he was commanding U-116, a II C type and
was facing serious problems with his torpedoes. After his fourth patrol he
was orderd to take command on U-302, a VII B type. He took three months
on training in Pillau. After that he, returned to his flotilla and is back
on active service.
His fifth patrol resulted in 4 more sunk merchants and a heavily damaged
battleship of the Malaya class. Again a lot of dud torpedoes hampered Hoffmann
to score better. In acknowledgement of his results and his ongoing efforts
he was awared with the Knights Cross.
On his sixt patrol the curse was broken. In sinking ten ships in only
7 days on sea and with only one dud torpedo he passed the conditions for
receiving the Oak Leaves to the Knights Cross. It was donated to him from
BdU Dönitz in the harbour as he was returning from patrol.
After his 7th patrol he was promoted to Kapitänleutnant. On his
8th patrol he earned the swords, but this patrol was known as the "King Lear
incident."
KptnLtn. Hoffmann sunk that troop ship not knowing that it was filled with
passengers. The ship has openend fire and was sunk during a gun-duell after
beeing hit by a torpedo. After notifying the tragic circumstances Hoffmann
lead help ships to the sinking place by radioing SOS for over half an hour.
After his 8th patrol he was given command on a new IXB boat U-364.
The 10th patrol was near to be the last patrol. But Hoffmann and his LI were
able to get the severe damaged boat back to Brest. The result of that patrol
was the sinking of the british battleship King George V.
Patrol reports
Report #1 Report #2
Report #3 Report
#4 Report #5
Report #6 Report
#7 Report #8
Report#9
Report#10
Report#11
Report#12
