Braeuer, Luc German U-Boat Ace Carl Emmermann. The Patrols of U-172 in World War II

Though he entered combat late in May 1942, Carl Emmermann sank twenty-six Allied ships in only four combat patrols while commanding U-172, becoming the thirteenth most successful U-boat commander of the war. U-172, a Type IXC U-boat, saw non-stop action throughout the Atlantic, during its four patrols under Emmermann. U-172s third patrol to Cape Town would be its longest with 131 days at sea, where it added eight vessels to its list of successes in this sector; the first sinkings in this area for the U-boat service. On its sixth patrol under a different commander, U-172 would later be sunk in December 1943. Awarded the Knights Cross with Oak Leaves in 1944, Emmermann was ordered at St. Nazaire, France, to command the Kriegsmarines 6th U-boat Flotilla. Later in Germany, he became the new sub-specialist for the Type XXIII U-boat, and in the last months of the war, commanded a marine battalion in defense of Hamburg. This biography details all WWII patrols by U-172 and features over 230 images and maps.

On its sixth voyage under a different commander, U-172 was itself sunk in December 1943. Emmermann was awarded the Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves in 1944 and was commissioned to lead the Kriegsmarine's 6th Submarine Flotilla. Later in Germany, he was regarded as a submarine specialist for the Type XXIII submarine and commanded a naval battalion for the defence of Hamburg in the final months of the war. This biography describes all of the U-172's voyages and has 230 pictures and maps.