HMCS U-190

Type IXC/40 U-Boat

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

Photos and Documents

(U190-001)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

(U190-002 - U190-003) 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

(U190-004) U-190 entering St. John's Harbour  //  Courtesy of Chris Carnell

(U190-005) U-190 passing the anti-submarine nets as she enters the narrows at St. John's, Nfld // RCN Neg # Z-1470  // Courtesy of the Naval Museum of Halifax

(U190-006) 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

(U190-007) 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

(U190-008) 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

(U190-009) the White Ensign flies over the Kreigsmarine Naval Ensign on the surrendered U-190 at St. John's, NFLD with HMCS ARNPRIOR in the background  //  From the collection of Nick Vukson  //  Courtesy of John Vukson

(U190-010) Unknown sailor holding White Ensign and Kreigsmarine Ensign on U-190  //  From the collection of Philip Goodfellow  //  Courtesy of Michael Goodfellow

(U190-011 - U190-012) HMCS U-190  //  From the wartime collection of Raymond Burton  //  This photo is not for reproduction, distribution or sale. Copyright Elizabeth Wagner

(U190-013) A control panel in U-190  //  From the wartime collection of Raymond Burton  //  This photo is not for reproduction, distribution or sale. Copyright Elizabeth Wagner

(U190-014 - 0190-015) Surrendered German U-boat U-190, St. John's, Newfoundland - circa May 1945  //  From the collection of William Connor  //  Courtesy of Jason Salter

(U190-016) 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

(U190-017) 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

(U190-018) Surrendered U-190 at St. John's, Nfld  //  From the collection of Willie Waugh  //  Courtesy of Brian Lapierre 

(U190-019) Surrendered U-190  //  RCN photo # E-5082Y  //  Courtesy of the Comox RCAF Museum

(190-020) 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

(U190-021) 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

(U190-022) 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

(U190-23) Signalman Fred Carnall, HMCS Medicine Hat, on the deck of U-190 in St. John's, NFLD, May 1945 // Courtesy of Chris Carnall