7. Unterseebootsflottille

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name=7. Unterseebootsflottille


caption=The emblem of "7. Unterseebootsflottille", adopted in 1941.
country=Nazi Germany
type=U-boat flottilla
branch=Kriegsmarine
dates=Raised 1938, Dissolved 1944
command_structure=
garrison=Kiel, St. Nazaire
nickname=Unterseebootsflottille Wegener
battles=
notable_commanders=Korvettenkapitän Hans-Rudolf Rösing
Korvettenkapitän Adolf Piening
associated units=

7. Unterseebootsflottille (also known as Unterseebootsflottille Wegener) was the seventh operational U-boat combat unit in the German Kriegsmarine. Founded on June 25 1938 under the command of Korvettenkapitän Werner Sobe, it was named in honour of Kapitänleutnant Bernd Wegener. Wegener, a U-boat commander during World War I, died on August 19 1915 after his submarine U-27 was sunk by British Q-Ship HMS "Baralong".

The flotilla, under the name "Unterseebootsflottille Wegener", was founded in Kiel in June 1938. In September 1940, the flotilla left its base in Kiel and moved to St. Nazaire in France. After the change in location, the flotilla was renamed "7. Unterseebootsflottille". In August 1944, the flotilla was disbanded and its remaining boats were distributed to other flotillas based in Norway.

"Unterseebootsflottille Wegener" had one of the most famous flotilla emblems from World War II. The "snorting bull" emblem was first used by "U-47", which is famous for sinking the British battleship HMS "Royal Oak" in October 1939. The emblem, based on a picture seen in a comic book, was adopted by the flotilla while based in St. Nazaire.

Flotilla commanders

U-boats assigned to 7. Unterseebootsflottille

References

*cite web | title= Uboat.net| work= The Flotillas – 7th Flotilla| url=http://www.uboat.net/flotillas/7flo.htm| accessdate=August 5| accessyear=2006
*cite web | title= Uboatnet.de| work= Die Flottillen – 7. Unterseebootsflottille| url=http://www.uboatnet.de/Archiv/Flottillen/7.U_Flottille.htm| accessdate=August 5| accessyear=2006