German submarine U-120 (1940)
U-120 was a German Type IIB U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. Her keel was laid down on 15 February 1940 by Flender Werke in Lübeck as yard number 288, she was launched on 20 April 1940, and commissioned on 1 June 1940 under the command of Oberleutnant zur See (Oblt.z.S.) Georg Lasch.
As a Type IIB submarine, U-120 was primarily designed for coastal operations and lacked the range and endurance of larger U-boats. She displaced 254 tonnes when at the surface and 303 tonnes while submerged. The boat had a total length of 42.70 m (140 ft 1 in), a pressure hull length of 28.20 m (92 ft 6 in), a beam of 4.08 m (13 ft 5 in), a height of 8.60 m (28 ft 3 in), and a draught of 3.90 m (12 ft 10 in). She was powered by two MWM RS 127 S four-stroke, six-cylinder diesel engines each producing a total of 700 metric horsepower (510 kW; 690 shp) for surface use and two Siemens-Schuckert PG VV 322/36 double-acting electric motors each producing a total of 410 metric horsepower (300 kW; 400 shp) for underwater use. She had two shafts and two 0.85 m (3 ft) propellers. The boat was capable of operating at depths of up to 80 metres (260 ft).
U-120 conducted several war patrols, primarily operating in the Baltic Sea and later transferring to the Atlantic. She was a training boat for much of her service.
Fate:
U-120 was sunk on 25 November 1944 in the Baltic Sea near Pillau (now Baltiysk, Russia) after striking a mine. All 28 crew members perished. The wreck lies at a depth of approximately 30 meters.
Commanders:
- Oberleutnant zur See Georg Lasch (1 June 1940 – 14 August 1940)
- Oberleutnant zur See Fritz Frauenheim (15 August 1940 – 28 October 1940)
- Oberleutnant zur See Werner Hartmann (29 October 1940 – 31 May 1941)
- Oberleutnant zur See Günther Heydemann (1 June 1941 – 12 November 1941)
- Oberleutnant zur See Karl-Heinz Nicolai (13 November 1941 – 20 February 1942)
- Oberleutnant zur See Kurt-Heinz Nicolai (21 February 1942 – 20 May 1942)
- Oberleutnant zur See Hans-Jürgen Bartke (21 May 1942 – 26 April 1943)
- Oberleutnant zur See Rudolf Stöhr (27 April 1943 – 26 September 1943)
- Oberleutnant zur See Hermann Steinert (27 September 1943 – 25 November 1944)