Monsun Gruppe

The Gruppe Monsun or Monsoon Group was a force of German U-boats (submarines) that operated in the Pacific and Indian Oceans during World War II.

[2] Altogether 41 U-boats of all types including transports would be sent; a large number of these, however, were lost and only a small fraction returned to Europe.

Japan's entry into the war in 1941 led to the capture of European South-east Asian colonies such as British Malaya and the Dutch East Indies.

The German invasion of the Soviet Union in 1941 had ended the use of overland routes for the delivery of strategic materials from southeast Asia, and few Axis ships were able to avoid Allied patrols in the North Atlantic.

The boat was given to Japan as RO-500; its German crew returned to Penang to provide replacement personnel for the main submarine base being established at a former British seaplane station on the west coast of the Malayan Peninsula.

[11] With the base established, twelve submarines were assigned to the "Monsun Gruppe" and directed to proceed to Penang, patrolling along allied trade routes for the duration of their voyage.

The group name reflected an intent; that the opening of the Indian Ocean U-boat campaign should coincide with the monsoon season.