Wolfpack Prien

Prien was a wolfpack of German U-boats that operated during the World War II Battle of the Atlantic from 12 June to 17 June 1940.

The group was named after its leader Korvettenkapitän Günther Prien.

Area of Operation
This wolfpack operated south of Ireland in the North Atlantic, attacking convoy HX 47 – en route from Halifax to Liverpool.

Ships hit by this Wolfpack
They sank five ships for a total of.

HMS Scotstoun
U-25 struck the stern of the armed merchant cruiser with one torpedo on 13 June 1940, approximately 80 nmi west of Barra, Outer Hebrides. The hit didn’t sink her, so just 10 hours later a second torpedo hit just aft of the funnel and caused the ship to sink by the stern. Seen crew were killed. The survivors were picked up by HMS Highlander (H44).

Balmoralwood and Mount Myrto
At 19.44 hours on 14 June 1940 the Balmoralwood, a straggler from convoy HX-47, was hit amidships by one stern torpedo from U-47 and sank after two hours about 70 nmi south-southwest of Cape Clear. The master, 39 crew members and one gunner were picked up by Germanic.

At 19.11 hours on 14 June 1940 the Mount Myrto was shelled by 53 rounds from the surfaced U-38. After the shelling, the U-boat dived and struck the ship with a torpedo, but the ship did not sink due her load of timber. Liebe decided to break off the attack on the damaged vessel because the convoy HX-47 came in sight.

Erik Boye and Italia
On 15 June 1940, in the space of four minutes, U-38 fired torpedoes at and sank both the Italia and Erik Boye of convoy HX-47, about 60 nmi W of the Scilly Isles. The survivors of Erik Boye were picked up by HMS Fowey (L15).

The Italia was struck by a torpedo near the engine room, killing nearly all the engine crew. The ship finally sank in 50.68333°N, -8.875°W in shallow waters. The survivors were picked up by HMS Fowey (L15).