HMCS U-190 - For Posterity's Sake

HMCS U-190

Type IXC/40 U--Boat

Following its surrender, the German submarine U-190 proceeded to Bay Bulls, NFLD, under escort by RCN vessels

Credit: Library and Archives of Canada / PA 112877

Courtesy of Dave Bennett, President, the Crow's Nest Military Artifacts Association

Click on the above photo to view a larger image

U-190 Badges

Source: the Uboat.net

Laid down: 07 Oct 1941

Launched: 08 Jun 1942

Commissioned: 24 Sep 1942

Surrendered to RCN 11 May 1945

Commissioned into the RCN: 19 May 1945

Paid off: 24 Jul 1947

Sunk: 21 Oct 1947

U-190 was launched 08 Jun 42 and commissioned 24 Sep 1942. Her specifications on completion were: Specifications: Displacement: 1120 / 1232 tons, Length: 252 ft, Beam: 22 ft, Draught: 19 ft, Speed: 18 / 7 kts, Armament: 6-21" TT, 2-37mm (1xII) 4-20mm(2xII). She sailed from Norway on her last patrol 23 Feb 1945. At approx 0635hrs on 16 Apr 45, U-190 sank HMCS ESQUIMALT J252 at 44d-26, 63d-10W. At the end of hostilities on 11 May 1945, U-190 reported its position as 42-35N, 43-05W, at 1001GMT. HMCS VICTORIAVILLE K684 and HMCS THORLOCK K394 were detached from inbound convoy ON.300. U-190's lights were sighted at 2303GMT some 500 miles east of Cape Race. HMCS THORLOCK went alongside at 2340GMT on 11 May 1945. It was found that they had followed orders by jettisoning secret documents in weighted bags, and by disposing of all ammunition - even the acoustic torpedoes. The White ensign flew from U-190 at 0001GMT on 12 May 1945. All of U-190's crew with the exception of 9 engine room personnel and 3 upper deck watch keepers were transferred to the corvettes. By 0200 the contingent was steaming at 9kts for the Bay of Bulls Nfld., where it arrived at 0600GMT on 14 May 1945. HMCS PRESTONIAN K662 delivered the fifty-four prisoners to Halifax on 16 May 1945. Subsequently taken to Halifax, U-190 commissioned into the RCN on 19 May 1945 as HMCS/M U-190, Lt D.W. Pope, RNR, took command of the boat 25 Jun 1945 before she left St. John's, Pope's XO was Lt KC Tyron RCNVR, senior Canadian aboard, testing & evaluation were carried out. She was Paid off on 24 Jul 1947 and 21 Oct 1947, U-190 was sunk by Canadian Naval a/c near the position where she had sunk HMCS ESQUIMALT. The intent at the time was to have Naval A/C, 8 Seafires, 8 Fireflies, 2 Ansons, and 2 Swordfish attack U-190 with rockets and this was to be followed by HMCS NOOTKA R96, HMCS HAIDA G63 and HMCS NEW LISKEARD J397 which would bombard U- 190 with 4.7-inch guns and Hedgehog. Almost before the ships had a chance to enter the act, U-190 pointed its bows into the air after the first rocket attack and slipped silently beneath the sea.

Photos and Documents Ship's company photos

U-190 - Report on interrogation of some crew members - Researched by / Courtesy of Derek Waller, Air Commodore, RAF, ret'd

U-boats in the Royal Canadian Navy 1945-1947 - Re-published on For Posterity's Sake with permission of the Canadian Nautical Research Society and the author, Derek Waller, Air Commodore, RAF, ret'd.

Commanding Officers

Lt Mewburn Phillip Wood, RNVR - 14 May 1945 - 24 May 1945

Lt Kenneth George Tyron, RCNVR - 25 May 1945 - 24 Jun 1945

Lt D.W. Pope, RNR 25 Jun 1945 - 27 Nov 1945

LCdr W.F. Hardy, RCNVR - 28 Nov 1945 - 17 Jan 1946

Lt James Rodney Johnston, RCNR - 18 Jan 1946 - 24 Jul 1947

In memory of those who have crossed the bar

They shall not be forgotten

Former German crew of U-190 that have Crossed the Bar

Hirschmann, Werner

Former Crew Members

Addell, R.W.

Alexander, B.

Arsenault, R.

Benham, G.

Bond, J.A.

Boyce, D.A.

Burbrick, T.W.

Crowley, E.T.

Currie, D.S.

Deadman, E.

Dennis, T.W.

Fryer, F.

Gavin, F.

Gillham, L.

Jones, E.

Kerr, R.

Larking, G.

Lusher, J.

McMillan, A.

McKenna, R., Lt

Merriman, B.

Moffat, J.

Murcua, A.

Newsome, J.

Oliver, L.

Peacock, J.

Rodwell, H.F.

Rogerson, E.

Sparks, R.

Tipple, R.

Wilsie, D.

Photos and Documents

HMC U-190 pennant

A British Bull dog with a German Eagle in its mouth and U-190 in the background

From the collection of Robert C. Foster, Submariner, Royal Navy

Robert Foster was part of the boarding crew for U-190 when she surrendered and also part of the crew when U-190 was commissioned into the Royal Canadian Navy

Courtesy of David Foster

Surrendered German U-boat U-190 flying the black flag of surrender under escort of HMCS VICTORIAVILLE and HMCS THORLOCK

From the collection of AB Radar III Robert Stone, RCNVR

Courtesy of Julia Payne

U-190 entering St. John's Harbour

Courtesy of Chris Carnell

U-190 - surrendered - entering harbour at St. John's, Newfoundland

Courtesy of Bruce Bennett, President, the Crow's Nest Military Artifacts Association

Canadian sailor holds the White Ensign above a German submarine in St. John's, Newfoundland, in 1945

Credit: Library and Archives of Canada / PA 145577 / MIKAN ID 3191842

Robert C. Foster, RN Submariner, 4th from left (with hands in pockets of his overalls)

Courtesy of Bruce Bennett, President, the Crow's Nest Military Artifacts Association

Signalman Fred Carnall, HMCS Medicine Hat, on the deck of U-190 in St. John's, NFLD, May 1945

Courtesy of Chris Carnall

When the U-190 surrendered in May 1945, the senior officers included: Lt Werner Muller, 22 years old, and Lt Ernst Glenk, 21 years old, both veterans of three years in the U-boat fleet.

From the collection of William Connor

Photo given to him by a friend who was a RCN photographer

Courtesy of Jason Salter

In the early hours of 12 May 1945, Hans-Erwin Reith, U-190's commander, signed this document formally surrendering the submarine to the Royal Canadian Navy. Although units of the Royal Canadian Navy had been involved in the boarding or surrender of U-Boats during the war, this document marked the first formal surrender of a German submarine to Canadian forces. Kenneth George Tryon, one of U-190's commanders when the submarine was in the Royal Canadian Navy between 1945 and 1947, donated this document and related artifacts to the Canadian War Museum in 1968.

Source: George Metcalf Archival Collection

CWM 19680168-009

Courtesy of the Canadian War Museum

In this sketch by HMCS Victoriaville's gunnery officer, U-190's captain surrenders his submarine to the captain of the Canadian frigate, Lieutenant Commander Lester Hickey (centre left, with cap). Hans-Erwin Reith (centre, with beard), U-190's commander since July 1944, subsequently signed a deed of unconditional surrender handing over the U-Boat to the Royal Canadian Navy. Lieutenant Bud Burbridge (left) was among the Canadians who would form part of the crew taking U-190 to Bay Bulls, Newfoundland.

Source: George Metcalf Archival Collection

CWM 20030255-010

Courtesy of the Canadian War Museum

The White Ensign flies over the Kreigsmarine Naval Ensign on the surrendered U-190 at St. John's, NFLD

HMCS ARNPRIOR in the background

From the collection of Nick Vukson

Courtesy of John Vukson

Unknown sailor holding White Ensign and Kreigsmarine Ensign on U-190

From the collection of Philip Goodfellow

Courtesy of Michael Goodfellow

HMCS U-190

From the wartime collection of Raymond Burton

This photo is not for reproduction, distribution or sale.

A control panel in U-190

From the wartime collection of Raymond Burton

This photo is not for reproduction, distribution or sale.

Surrendered German U-boat U-190, St. John's, Newfoundland - circa May 1945

From the collection of William Connor

Courtesy of Jason Salter

Surrender of U-190 - Front page of the Daily News, St. John's Newfoundland, 15 May 1945

From the collection of Nicholas Choppe

Courtesy of Trudy Choppe

German POWs from U-190

the Daily News, St. John's Newfoundland, 15 May 1945

From the collection of Nicholas Choppe

Courtesy of Trudy Choppe

Surrendered U-190 at St. John's, Nfld

From the collection of Willie Waugh

Courtesy of Brian Lapierre

Surrendered U-190

RCN photo # E-5082Y

Courtesy of the Comox RCAF Museum

U-190 alongside St. John's, Newfoundland

From the collection of George Burton

Courtesy of Len Burton

Inside U-190

Courtesy of Bruce Bennett, President, the Crow's Nest Military Artifacts Association

Unknown civilian and military personnel on U-190

Courtesy of Bruce Bennett, President, the Crow's Nest Military Artifacts Association

Unknown Canadian sailor on the conning tower of U-190

Credit: Library and Archives of Canada / PA 6569

Courtesy of Bruce Bennett, President, the Crow's Nest Military Artifacts Association

U-190

Credit: Library and Archives of Canada / PA 6570

Courtesy of Bruce Bennett, President, the Crow's Nest Military Artifacts Association

U-190 after surrendering - one of the escorts, Q095 in the background

Credit: Library and Archives of Canada / PA 141636

Courtesy of Bruce Bennett, President, the Crow's Nest Military Artifacts Association

U-190 after surrendering - Fairmile ML escorts in the distance

Credit: Library and Archives of Canada / PA 116940

Courtesy of Bruce Bennett, President, the Crow's Nest Military Artifacts Association

HMCS U-190 alongside at Quebec. The ship is open to visitors

HMCS Thetford Mines was also in port at the same time as HMCS U-190

Courtesy of the Thetford Mines Archives Center / Centre d'achives de la région de Thetford

Newspaper article on the pending demise of U-190 as a target ship

The Windsor Daily Star 17 Jul 1947

From the collection of LS Herbert Knight, M.I.D., RCNVR

Courtesy of Carole Dibbley

Former HMCS U-190 awaits her fate

Note the tow chain on the bow, no personnel on the decks and the ships standing off in the distance - U-190 awaits to her fate as a live fire target

Credit: Library and Archives of Canada / PA 112878

Courtesy of Bruce Bennett, President, the Crow's Nest Military Artifacts Association

Canadian Naval message on the surrender of U-190

From the collection of John (Jack) Campbell

Courtesy of Spencer Campbell

Webmaster's Note: The message refers to the surrendered sub under escort as U-329 (which was never completed). Perhaps there was mis-understanding on the RCN ships as to the identity of their prisoner's vessel, but in the end it was U-190

RC60

RC61

RC62

RC63

RCN64

(RC61) Surrendered U-190 at St. John's, NFLD. Note: HMCS HAWKESBURY K415 across the harbour behind U-190 (RC62) Surrendered U-190 at St. John's, NFLD, after the war (RC62) The White Ensign flies over the Kreigsmarine Naval Ensign on the surrendered U-190 at St. John's, NFLD (RC63) Surrendered U-190 at St. John's, NFLD. HMCS LANARK on the left of the photo and HMCS ARNPRIOR on the right (RC64) HMCS U-190

Photographer unknown

From the collection of Roy T. Cardy

Courtesy of Dennis Cardy

JVW255

JVW256

JVW257

JVW258

JVW259

JVW260

JVW261

Articles on the surrender and late sinking of U-190

From the collection of J. Vincent Wesley, CPO, RCNVR

Courtesy of Marilynn Taylor

PJ47

PJ48

PJ49

PJ50

HMCS U-190 (former German U-boat U-190) arrives in Halifax

Photos taken from HMCS ST BONIFACE J332

From the collection of Paul James, Stoker, RCNVR

Courtesy of Gary James

FM742

FM743

(FM742) HMCS U-889 with HMCS U-190 astern near Halifax (FM743) HMCS U-190 near Halifax

FM751

FM752

(FM751-FM752) The commissioning of German U-Boat U-190 - photographer unknown

These 2 photos appear in various collections and it is likely they were found onboard U-190 when she surrendered - with copies made and circulated

FM938

(FM938) Article on the surrender of U-190

From the collection of François Messier, AB, RCNVR

Courtesy of Denis Messier

U-190

Photos taken from HMCS Digby J267 - believed to be taken at St. John's, Nfld

U-190

Unknown sub - either U-190 or U-889 - location Halifax

From the collection of H.S. (Tim) Lee

Courtesy of Ryan Lee

HMCS U-190

Left: arriving at Halifax Right: arriving at unknown port

Courtesy of Patrick Moore

U-190 alongside HMCS Medicine Hat J256, St. John's, NFLD, May 1945

photo 1

photo 2

When some crew members from Medicine Hat went aboard U-190 some found photos and other documents which they kept as souvenirs. These were found by William Glover

(1) photo of an unknown German sailor (2) Document with the name Jakob

From the collection of William Glover

Courtesy of Bill Glover