U-boat Flotillas

There were thirty U-boat flotillas created by the Kriegsmarine between 1935 and 1945. Each flotilla was of an indeterminate size that depended on a combination of circumstances and conditions of U-boat deployment. Flotilla command provided an administrative framework under which to operate U-boats at sea. Combat U-boats were not under operational control of their flotilla command however - BdU continued to oversee the coordination of the U-boat campaign against the Allies.

Combat Flotillas

1st U-Flotilla 2nd U-Flotilla 3rd U-Flotilla 6th U-Flotilla* 7th U-Flotilla
9th U-Flotilla 10th U-Flotilla 11th U-Flotilla 12th U-Flotilla 13th U-Flotilla
14th U-Flotilla 18th U-Flotilla 23rd U-Flotilla** 29th U-Flotilla 30th U-Flotilla
33rd U-Flotilla

Training Flotillas

4th U-Flotilla 5th U-Flotilla 6th U-Flotilla* 8th U-Flotilla 19th U-Flotilla
20th U-Flotilla 21st U-Flotilla 22nd U-Flotilla 23rd U-Flotilla** 24th U-Flotilla
25th U-Flotilla 26th U-Flotilla 27th U-Flotilla 31st U-Flotilla 32nd U-Flotilla

*This flotilla was stationed in both Danzig (training)and Sainte Nazaire (combat) until mid -1942 when it became totally front-line.

**This flotilla was on combat status between September 1941 and May 1942. From August 1943 to March 1945 it was relegated to Baltic training.