U-158 conducted only two combat patrols, sinking 17 ships totalling and damaging two others totalling 15,264 GRT.
John D. Gill was another tanker; her cargo did not ignite on being hit by a
torpedo. Instead, the surrounding water was turned into a blazing inferno after a seaman threw a
life ring overboard and its built-in carbide lamp malfunctioned. Almost half the crew died.
Olean was towed to
Hampton Roads, rebuilt and renamed
Sweep and then returned to service. Having caused so much mayhem, the boat sailed for France, arriving at
Lorient on 31 March 1942.
Second patrol For her second foray,
U-158 moved into the
Caribbean and the
Gulf of Mexico in May 1942. On the way she sank
Darina about east southeast of
Bermuda on 4 May and
Frank B. Baird on the 22nd. Following the sinking of
Knoxville City on 2 June, the survivors in their lifeboats declined an offer of help from
Jamaica as they thought the German submarine was still nearby. The
Hermis, despite being hit by two torpedoes on the seventh, maintained a speed of eight knots due to the engines still running. The U-boat surfaced and shelled the ship. She was observed some twelve hours later with her stern out of the water; she eventually sank shortly afterward. ==Fate==