Ordered - 7 Aug 1939
Laid down - 20 Apr 1940 AG Weser, Bremen (werk 987)
Launched - 22 Oct 1940
Commissioned 11/Feb/41, U-68 a type IX-C Kptlt. Karl-Friedrich Merten (Oak Leaves)
Commanders
11 Feb 1941- 21 Jan 1943 KrvKpt. Kptlt. Karl-Friedrich Merten (Knights Cross)
21 Jan 1943 -16 Jun 1943 Oblt. Albert Lauzemis (German Cross in Gold)
14 Jun 1943 - Jul, 1943 Oblt. Ekkerhard Scherraus
Jul, 193-29 Jul 1943 Oblt. Gerhard Seehausen (German Cross in Gold)
30 Jul 1943-10 Apr 1944 Oblt. Oblt. Albert Lauzemis (German Cross in Gold)
Career
10 patrols
Feb 1941-31 May 1941 2. Flotille (training)
1 Jun 1941-10 Apr 1944 2. Flotille (active service)
Successes
32 ships for a total of 197,453 GRT
1 auxiliary warship sunk for a total of 545 GR
Sunk 10 Apr 1944 north-west of Madeira,
56 Dead
1 Survivor
She was the most successful U-boat which operated in the south Atlantic sinking 24 ships for a total of 122,718 tons.
ALLENDE - HAZELSIDE - BRADFORD CITY - DARKDALE - HELENUS- BALUCHISTAN - BARON NEWLANDS -ILE DE BATZ - SCOTTISH PRINCE - MUNCASTER CASTLE - TREVILLEY - BREEDIJK -KOUMOUNDOUROS - GAASTERKERK - SWIFTSURE - SARTHE - EXAMELIA - BELGIAN FIGHTER - CITY OF CAIRO - ORFASY - LITIOPA - FORT DE VAUX - NEW COLUMBIA
ALLENDE
DARKDALE
HAZELSIDE
BRADFORD CITY
HELENUS
BALUCHISTAN (SISTER SHIP TURKISTAN)
BARON NEWLANDS
ILE DE BATZ
SCOTTISH PRINCE
MUNCASTER CASTLE
TREVILLEY
BREEDIJK
KOUMOUNDOUROS
GAASTERKERK
SWIFTSURE
SARTHE
EXAMELIA
BELGIAN FIGHTER
CITY OF CAIRO
HMS ORFASY
LITIOPA
FORT DE VAUX
NEW COLUMBIA