Submarine vs Submarine combat

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Jerrybandit67

Airman
73
21
Mar 11, 2024
since i thought about ww2 submarines were there any instances of submarines sinking another submarine well, Kriegsmarine and IJN ?
 
I know the Brits sank at least one U-boat in WWI, and I think one or two in WWII. The Japanese and Americans each had a kill or two against opposing subs in WWII.
 
The RN lost a two submarines to German U-boat torpedoes in WW2.

The Kriegsmarine lost 19 German built U-boats plus the ex-Italian UIT-23 to Allied submarine torpedoes (British, US and Soviet) in WW2. Plus a few more to submarine laid mines.

About 18 Italian subs were sunk by submarine torpedoes.

About 20 IJN subs were sunk by Allied subs in WW2 including 2 by RN subs.

The USS Corvina was sunk by a torpedo from I-176 in Nov 1943.

There is one, so far unique, event amongst those sinkings. U864 was sunk by HMS Venturer in Feb 1945 while both submarines were submerged. In all the other cases the victim was travelling on the surface.
 
The Soviets recognized at least two instances of their subs being sunk by torpedoes from German U-boats.
Another Soviet submarine (Shch-305) sank after a collision with the Finnish submarine Vetehinen. The latter first tried unsuccessfully to torpedo the Shch-305, then fired a gun but failed, the gun shots blinded everyone on the command deck of the Vetehinen, resulting in the Finnish submarine crashing into the Soviet submarine at 6 knots.
 
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i also heard that USS kete was possibly sunk by Ro-41 but thats only probable, since on 20 march 1945 kete was last seen off okinawa and on same date Ro-41 crossed ketes path, and couldnt report the sinking as the jap sub itself was sunk by destroyers,
 
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Ignoring friendly fire.

From J Rohwer, Axis Submarine Successes, in date order, date, axis then allied submarine
10-Apr-40 U-4 Thistle
9-May-40 U-9 Doris
1-Aug-40 U-34 Spearfish
15-Oct-40 Toti Rainbow
19-Dec-40 U-37 Sfax (Vichy)
24-Dec-41 I-166 K-XVI
10-Jan-42 U-584 M-175
11-Oct-42 I-25 L-16
21-Oct-42 Vesihiisi S-7
27-Oct-42 Iku-Turso SC-306
5-Nov-42 Vetehinen SC-305
18-Apr-43 U-123 P.615
26-Aug-43 CB-4 SC-207
16-Nov-43 I-176 Corvina

The list of axis submarines sunk by allies ones according to the Royal Navy Official History, which has the advantage of noting when submarines were involved and tabulates the numbers but has the disadvantage of being old and needing revision, it notes for example the reported sinking of I-8 by USS Grayback is considered incorrect. Axis losses table,

TimeGermanyItalyJapan
1939​
1​
1940​
2​
2​
1941​
1​
4​
1942​
2​
7​
5​
Jan to May-43
3​
1​
1​
Jun to Dec-43
2​
4​
2​
Jan to May-44
2​
0​
3​
Jun to Dec-44
5​
0​
4​
Jan to Aug-45
3​
0​
7​
Total
21​
18​
22​

Date, allied then axis submarine
4-Dec-39 Salmon U-36
15-Apr-40 Porpoise U-1
20-Aug-40 Cachalot U-51
28-Nov-41 O-21 U-95
20-Jun-40 Parthian Diamante
15-Dec-40 Thunderbolt Tarantini
31-Mar-41 Roqual Pier Capponi
27-Jun-41 Triumph Salpa
5-Jul-41 Torbay Jantina
7-Aug-41 Severn Michele Bianchi

12-Jan-42 Unbeaten U-374
3-Aug-42 Saracen U-335
21-Jan-43 Sahib U-301
7-Apr-43 Tuna U-644
21-May-43 Sickle U-303
2-Jan-42 Upholder Ammiraglio St. Bon
30-Jan-42 Thorn Medusa
14-Mar-42 Ultimatum Ammiaglio Millo
17-Mar-42 Unbeaten Gugliemotti
18-Mar-42 Upholder Tricheco
9-Nov-42 Saracen Granito
6-Dec-42 Tigris Porfido
9-Feb-43 Dolfijn Malachite
29-Jan-42 Gudgeon I-173
26-Apr-42 Tautog RO-30
17-May-42 Tautog I-28
17-May-42 Triton I-164
20-Dec-42 Seadragon I-4
2-Jan-43 Grayback I-8 cancelled

1-Jun-43 Truculent U-308
30-Aug-43 USSR U-639 Unknown USSR Submarine
30-Oct-43 Ultimatum U-431
14-Feb-44 Tally-Ho U-It-23
19-Apr-44 Ula U-974
13-Jun-43 Unruly Acciaco
15-Jul-43 United Remo
29-Jul-43 Trooper Pietro Micca
7-Sep-43 Shakespeare Velella
27-Jul-43 Scamp I-168
13-Nov-43 Taurus I-34
15-Feb-44 Aspro I-43
23-Mar-44 Tunny I-42
28-Apr-44 Pogy I-183

15-Jun-44 Satyr U-987
23-Sep-44 Trenchant U-859
5-Oct-44 Zwaarvisch U-168
9-Nov-44 Flounder U-537
11-Nov-44 Venturer U-771
9-Feb-45 Venturer U-864
2-Apr-45 Tapir U-486
23-Apr-45 Besugo U-183
17-Jul-44 Telemachus I-166
29-Jul-44 Sawfish I-29
16-Sep-44 Sea Devil I-364
29-Nov-44 Scabbardfish I-365
10-Feb-45 Batfish RO-55
11-Feb-45 Batfish RO-112
13-Feb-45 Batfish RO-115
24-Feb-45 Lagarto I-371
10-Jun-45 Skate I-122
14-Jul-45 Bluefish I-351
14-Aug-45 Spikefish I-373
 
Ignoring friendly fire.

From J Rohwer, Axis Submarine Successes, in date order, date, axis then allied submarine
10-Apr-40 U-4 Thistle
9-May-40 U-9 Doris
Ignoring friendly fire.

From J Rohwer, Axis Submarine Successes, in date order, date, axis then allied submarine
10-Apr-40 U-4 Thistle
9-May-40 U-9 Doris
1-Aug-40 U-34 Spearfish
15-Oct-40 Toti Rainbow
19-Dec-40 U-37 Sfax (Vichy)
24-Dec-41 I-166 K-XVI
10-Jan-42 U-584 M-175
11-Oct-42 I-25 L-16
21-Oct-42 Vesihiisi S-7
27-Oct-42 Iku-Turso SC-306
5-Nov-42 Vetehinen SC-305
18-Apr-43 U-123 P.615
26-Aug-43 CB-4 SC-207
16-Nov-43 I-176 Corvina

The list of axis submarines sunk by allies ones according to the Royal Navy Official History, which has the advantage of noting when submarines were involved and tabulates the numbers but has the disadvantage of being old and needing revision, it notes for example the reported sinking of I-8 by USS Grayback is considered incorrect. Axis losses table,

TimeGermanyItalyJapan
1939​
1​
1940​
2​
2​
1941​
1​
4​
1942​
2​
7​
5​
Jan to May-43
3​
1​
1​
Jun to Dec-43
2​
4​
2​
Jan to May-44
2​
0​
3​
Jun to Dec-44
5​
0​
4​
Jan to Aug-45
3​
0​
7​
Total
21​
18​
22​

Date, allied then axis submarine
4-Dec-39 Salmon U-36
15-Apr-40 Porpoise U-1
20-Aug-40 Cachalot U-51
28-Nov-41 O-21 U-95
20-Jun-40 Parthian Diamante
15-Dec-40 Thunderbolt Tarantini
31-Mar-41 Roqual Pier Capponi
27-Jun-41 Triumph Salpa
5-Jul-41 Torbay Jantina
7-Aug-41 Severn Michele Bianchi

12-Jan-42 Unbeaten U-374
3-Aug-42 Saracen U-335
21-Jan-43 Sahib U-301
7-Apr-43 Tuna U-644
21-May-43 Sickle U-303
2-Jan-42 Upholder Ammiraglio St. Bon
30-Jan-42 Thorn Medusa
14-Mar-42 Ultimatum Ammiaglio Millo
17-Mar-42 Unbeaten Gugliemotti
18-Mar-42 Upholder Tricheco
9-Nov-42 Saracen Granito
6-Dec-42 Tigris Porfido
9-Feb-43 Dolfijn Malachite
29-Jan-42 Gudgeon I-173
26-Apr-42 Tautog RO-30
17-May-42 Tautog I-28
17-May-42 Triton I-164
20-Dec-42 Seadragon I-4
2-Jan-43 Grayback I-8 cancelled

1-Jun-43 Truculent U-308
30-Aug-43 USSR U-639 Unknown USSR Submarine
30-Oct-43 Ultimatum U-431
14-Feb-44 Tally-Ho U-It-23
19-Apr-44 Ula U-974
13-Jun-43 Unruly Acciaco
15-Jul-43 United Remo
29-Jul-43 Trooper Pietro Micca
7-Sep-43 Shakespeare Velella
27-Jul-43 Scamp I-168
13-Nov-43 Taurus I-34
15-Feb-44 Aspro I-43
23-Mar-44 Tunny I-42
28-Apr-44 Pogy I-183

15-Jun-44 Satyr U-987
23-Sep-44 Trenchant U-859
5-Oct-44 Zwaarvisch U-168
9-Nov-44 Flounder U-537
11-Nov-44 Venturer U-771
9-Feb-45 Venturer U-864
2-Apr-45 Tapir U-486
23-Apr-45 Besugo U-183
17-Jul-44 Telemachus I-166
29-Jul-44 Sawfish I-29
16-Sep-44 Sea Devil I-364
29-Nov-44 Scabbardfish I-365
10-Feb-45 Batfish RO-55
11-Feb-45 Batfish RO-112
13-Feb-45 Batfish RO-115
24-Feb-45 Lagarto I-371
10-Jun-45 Skate I-122
14-Jul-45 Bluefish I-351
14-Aug-45 Spikefish I-373
you
1-Aug-40 U-34 Spearfish
15-Oct-40 Toti Rainbow
19-Dec-40 U-37 Sfax (Vichy)
24-Dec-41 I-166 K-XVI
10-Jan-42 U-584 M-175
11-Oct-42 I-25 L-16
21-Oct-42 Vesihiisi S-7
27-Oct-42 Iku-Turso SC-306
5-Nov-42 Vetehinen SC-305
18-Apr-43 U-123 P.615
26-Aug-43 CB-4 SC-207
16-Nov-43 I-176 Corvina

The list of axis submarines sunk by allies ones according to the Royal Navy Official History, which has the advantage of noting when submarines were involved and tabulates the numbers but has the disadvantage of being old and needing revision, it notes for example the reported sinking of I-8 by USS Grayback is considered incorrect. Axis losses table,

TimeGermanyItalyJapan
1939​
1​
1940​
2​
2​
1941​
1​
4​
1942​
2​
7​
5​
Jan to May-43
3​
1​
1​
Jun to Dec-43
2​
4​
2​
Jan to May-44
2​
0​
3​
Jun to Dec-44
5​
0​
4​
Jan to Aug-45
3​
0​
7​
Total
21​
18​
22​

Date, allied then axis submarine
4-Dec-39 Salmon U-36
15-Apr-40 Porpoise U-1
20-Aug-40 Cachalot U-51
28-Nov-41 O-21 U-95
20-Jun-40 Parthian Diamante
15-Dec-40 Thunderbolt Tarantini
31-Mar-41 Roqual Pier Capponi
27-Jun-41 Triumph Salpa
5-Jul-41 Torbay Jantina
7-Aug-41 Severn Michele Bianchi

12-Jan-42 Unbeaten U-374
3-Aug-42 Saracen U-335
21-Jan-43 Sahib U-301
7-Apr-43 Tuna U-644
21-May-43 Sickle U-303
2-Jan-42 Upholder Ammiraglio St. Bon
30-Jan-42 Thorn Medusa
14-Mar-42 Ultimatum Ammiaglio Millo
17-Mar-42 Unbeaten Gugliemotti
18-Mar-42 Upholder Tricheco
9-Nov-42 Saracen Granito
6-Dec-42 Tigris Porfido
9-Feb-43 Dolfijn Malachite
29-Jan-42 Gudgeon I-173
26-Apr-42 Tautog RO-30
17-May-42 Tautog I-28
17-May-42 Triton I-164
20-Dec-42 Seadragon I-4
2-Jan-43 Grayback I-8 cancelled

1-Jun-43 Truculent U-308
30-Aug-43 USSR U-639 Unknown USSR Submarine
30-Oct-43 Ultimatum U-431
14-Feb-44 Tally-Ho U-It-23
19-Apr-44 Ula U-974
13-Jun-43 Unruly Acciaco
15-Jul-43 United Remo
29-Jul-43 Trooper Pietro Micca
7-Sep-43 Shakespeare Velella
27-Jul-43 Scamp I-168
13-Nov-43 Taurus I-34
15-Feb-44 Aspro I-43
23-Mar-44 Tunny I-42
28-Apr-44 Pogy I-183

15-Jun-44 Satyr U-987
23-Sep-44 Trenchant U-859
5-Oct-44 Zwaarvisch U-168
9-Nov-44 Flounder U-537
11-Nov-44 Venturer U-771
9-Feb-45 Venturer U-864
2-Apr-45 Tapir U-486
23-Apr-45 Besugo U-183
17-Jul-44 Telemachus I-166
29-Jul-44 Sawfish I-29
16-Sep-44 Sea Devil I-364
29-Nov-44 Scabbardfish I-365
10-Feb-45 Batfish RO-55
11-Feb-45 Batfish RO-112
13-Feb-45 Batfish RO-115
24-Feb-45 Lagarto I-371
10-Jun-45 Skate I-122
14-Jul-45 Bluefish I-351
14-Aug-45 Spikefish I-373
you forgot HMS triad wich was sunk by Enrico toti
 
Looked at the sources again and counted 7 Soviet subs sunk by other subs:
Baltic Fleet
M-94 sunk by torpedo from U-140
M-99 sunk by torpedo from U-149
S-7 sunk by torpedo from Vesihiisi
Shch-305 sunk by Vetehinen ramming
Black Sea Fleet
Shch-203 sunk by torpedo from Italian midget submarine CB-4
Northern Fleet
M-175 sunk by torpedo from U-584
Pacific Fleet
L-16 sunk by torpedo from I-25
 
From J Rohwer, Axis Submarine Successes, in date order, date, axis then allied submarine
The list is both inaccurate and incomplete.
27-Oct-42 Iku-Turso SC-306
Later research showed that the Shch-306 was killed by a mine and her last torpedo attack was on November 13, 1942 at 4:45 am
26-Aug-43 CB-4 SC-207
Shch-207 safely survived the war and was decommissioned in 1954. Shch-203 was sunk.
 
about the two probable US sub losses by enemy action or sub, those two have a complicated theories


USS snook (lost on 8 april, 1945 was assumed to be sunk by I-56 submarine but also were claims it was sunk by 4 kaibokan boats (it is unlikely that snook was sunk by sub)




while uss kete SS-369 was lost near okinawa, there were three japanese submarines patrolling near kete (ro-41 was known to have crossed kete)

theory 2 was she stumbled onto mines, but she already left the area,
theory 3 was she had faulty diving planes

but it is higly likely, that kete was torpedoed by one of three japanese submarines that were patrolling
(but since japanese subs diddnt confirm any sinkings since all three subs were sunk by destroyers before reaching HQ complicates of what happened)
 
since i thought about ww2 submarines were there any instances of submarines sinking another submarine well, Kriegsmarine and IJN ?
USS Batfish, SS-310 sank three IJN submarines on 6th war patrol Feb 1945 under command of LCdr Jake Fyfe. Awarded Navy Cross. Knew the man and I must say he was an unforgettable character.
 

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