German submarine U-143 (1940)

German submarine U-143 was a Type IID U-boat of the Nazi German Kriegsmarine during World War II. Her keel was laid down on 3 January 1940 by Deutsche Werke in Kiel as 'werk' 272. She was launched on 10 August 1940 and commissioned on 18 September under Kapitänleutnant Ernst Mengerson.

U-143 began her service life with the 1st U-boat Flotilla. She was then assigned to the 24th flotilla and subsequently to the 22nd flotilla where she conducted four patrols, sinking one ship of 1,409 tons. She spent the rest of the war as a training vessel.

1st patrol
U-143's first patrol took her along the Norwegian coast, before crossing the North Sea and passing through the gap between the Faroe and Shetland Islands towards Iceland.

2nd and 3rd patrols
Following a transit voyage from Bergen in Norway, she left Kiel on 9 June 1941, travelling to much the same area as on her first sortie.

Her third foray was equally uneventful.

4th patrol and fate
On her fourth patrol, the boat sank the Inger on 23 August 1941 about 30 mi northwest of the Butt of Lewis (in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland).

She surrendered on 2 May 1945 in Heligoland, was transferred to Wilhelmshaven and then to Loch Ryan for Operation Deadlight. She was sunk on 22 December at 55.58N, 09.35W.