Robert-Richard Zapp


Robert-Richard Zapp was a German U-boat commander in World War II. As commander of the Type IXC U-boat, he sank sixteen ships on five patrols, for a total of 106,200 tons of Allied shipping, to become the 27th highest scoring U-Boat ace of World War II. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership.

Career

Robert-Richard Zapp joined the Reichsmarine in May 1923. Before joining the U-boat service in 1939, he served aboard a minesweeper and later on took command of 251 Marineflak. After initial training, he served on board for a short while under Oberleutnant zur See Engelbert Endrass, with whom he participated in the battle against Convoy HX 79 in October 1940.
Zapp was appointed commander of in January 1941. U-66 was one of the boats that participated in the first wave of attacks in "Operation Drumbeat". On the first patrol of this operation, he sank five vessels, totalling 33,456 tons. On his second patrol off the eastern seaboard of the USA he sank six vessels totaling 43,946 tons. They included the Canadian passenger liner on 19 January, whose final death toll was 251. Zapp was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 23 April 1942.
In June 1942 he was posted ashore to become commander of 3rd U-boat Flotilla, based at La Rochelle, France. On 1 January 1945 he was promoted to Fregattenkapitän. In the last three months of the war, he became commander of Marine-Regiment Zapp and defended the U-boat base at La Rochelle until the very end of the war in May 1945. He spent over two years in French captivity and was released on 7 July 1947.

Summary of career

Ships attacked

As commander of Zapp is credited with the sinking of 16 ships for a total of, and damaging one further ship, Geo. W. McNight, of.
DateShipNationalityTonnageFate
29 June 1941George J. Goulandris4,345Sunk
29 June 1941Kalypso Vergotti5,686Sunk
30 June 1941Saint Aslem5,614Sunk
19 July 1941Holmside3,433Sunk
26 July 1941I. C. White7,052Sunk
18 January 1942Allan Jackson6,635Sunk
19 January 19427,988Sunk
22 January 1942Olympic5,335Sunk
24 January 1942Empire Gem8,139Sunk
24 January 1942Venore8,017Sunk
14 April 1942Korthion2,116Sunk
16 April 1942Amsterdam7,329Sunk
17 April 1942Heinrich von Riedemann11,020Sunk
26 April 1942Alcoa Partner5,513Sunk
29 April 1942Harry G. Siedel10,354Sunk
2 May 1942Sandar7,624Sunk
3 May 1942Geo. W. McNight12,502Damaged

Awards