Ulrich Folkers U-125
(Summary)

Kapitänleutnant Ulrich Folkers was 26 when he took command of U-125 leaving Lorient France on the 18th
of December 1941 among five boats in the first wave of Operation Drumbeat. Captain Hardegen (U-123),
arrived the same day. Folkers had been unable to find any targets in the shipping lanes near Nantucket.
Then on December 22nd U-125 encountered convoy HG 76 but was unable to penetrate the task force
protecting it. Between the 17th and 20th of January Folkers remained off the Nantucket Lightship waiting
for victims coming from or to New York, and again no suitable targets. On the 21st he headed northeast of
Nantucket, past Siasconset and dangerously close to Nantucket Shoals, still finding no targets. Exasperated,
Folkers quickly headed southwest and on the 25th and fired a torpedo at U.S. tanker Olney, missing the target,
though the ship was aground and a detonation was heard. He succeeded off Cape Hatteras, when he sank
U.S. steamer West Ivis (5,666 tons). Returning to France, trying to redeem himself in subsequent actions,
Karl Dönitz was not pleased with his performance. A sad ending for a U-boat Captain,
Ulrich Folkers was killed on the 6th of May 1943 when U-125 was sunk between Greenland and Newfoundland
by British destroyers. U-125 was scuttled after being rammed by HMS Oribi and suffered further
artillery fire from both Oribi and HMS Snowflake. Apparently the captain of HMS Snowflake signaled the
Senior Officer Escort, Lieutenant Commander Robert Sherwood, against any rescue.
The order; "Not approved to pick up survivors." More than likely any surviving crew members were left to drown
in the Atlantic. These events were regarded as the turning point for the Battle of the Atlantic.