German submarine U-332

Last updated
History
War ensign of Germany (1938-1945).svg Nazi Germany
NameU-332
Ordered23 September 1939
Builder Nordseewerke, Emden
Yard number204
Laid down16 December 1939
Launched22 March 1941
Commissioned7 June 1941
FateSunk on 29 April 1943 [1]
General characteristics
Class and type Type VIIC submarine
Displacement
Length
Beam
  • 6.20 m (20 ft 4 in) o/a
  • 4.70 m (15 ft 5 in) pressure hull
Height9.60 m (31 ft 6 in)
Draught4.74 m (15 ft 7 in)
Installed power
  • 2,800–3,200 PS (2,100–2,400 kW; 2,800–3,200 bhp) (diesels)
  • 750 PS (550 kW; 740 shp) (electric)
Propulsion
Speed
  • 17.7 knots (32.8 km/h; 20.4 mph) submerged
  • 7.6 knots (14.1 km/h; 8.7 mph) submerged
Range
  • 8,500  nmi (15,700  km; 9,800  mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) surfaced
  • 80 nmi (150 km; 92 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph) submerged
Test depth
  • 230 m (750 ft)
  • Crush depth: 250–295 m (820–968 ft)
Complement4 officers, 40–56 enlisted
Armament
Service record [1] [2]
Part of:
Identification codes: M 41 468
Commanders:
  • Kptlt. Johannes Liebe
  • 7 June 1941 – 27 January 1943
  • Oblt.z.S. Eberhard Hüttemann
  • 27 January – 29 April 1943
Operations:
  • 7 patrols:
  • 1st patrol:
  • 30 October – 16 December 1941
  • 2nd patrol:
  • 27 January – 8 February 1942
  • 3rd patrol:
  • 17 February – 10 April 1942
  • 4th patrol:
  • 24 May – 1 August 1942
  • 5th patrol:
  • 5 September – 6 December 1942
  • 6th patrol:
  • 28 January – 24 March 1943
  • 7th patrol:
  • 26 – 29 April 1943
Victories:
  • 8 merchant ships sunk
    (46,729  GRT)
  • 1 merchant ship damaged
    (5,964  GRT)

German submarine U-332 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. She saw service in the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea. Built in 1941 and 1942 at Nordsee-Werke, Emden, [3] U-332 was a Type VIIC U-boat, capable of lengthy ocean patrols and of operating in distant environments.

Contents

Design

German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-332 had a displacement of 769 tonnes (757 long tons) when at the surface and 871 tonnes (857 long tons) while submerged. [4] She had a total length of 67.10 m (220 ft 2 in), a pressure hull length of 50.50 m (165 ft 8 in), a beam of 6.20 m (20 ft 4 in), a height of 9.60 m (31 ft 6 in), and a draught of 4.74 m (15 ft 7 in). The submarine was powered by two Germaniawerft F46 four-stroke, six-cylinder supercharged diesel engines producing a total of 2,800 to 3,200 metric horsepower (2,060 to 2,350 kW; 2,760 to 3,160 shp) for use while surfaced, two AEG GU 460/8–27 double-acting electric motors producing a total of 750 metric horsepower (550 kW; 740 shp) for use while submerged. She had two shafts and two 1.23 m (4 ft) propellers. The boat was capable of operating at depths of up to 230 metres (750 ft). [4]

The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 17.7 knots (32.8 km/h; 20.4 mph) and a maximum submerged speed of 7.6 knots (14.1 km/h; 8.7 mph). [4] When submerged, the boat could operate for 80 nautical miles (150 km; 92 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph); when surfaced, she could travel 8,500 nautical miles (15,700 km; 9,800 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph). U-332 was fitted with five 53.3 cm (21 in) torpedo tubes (four fitted at the bow and one at the stern), fourteen torpedoes, one 8.8 cm (3.46 in) SK C/35 naval gun, 220 rounds, and a 2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 anti-aircraft gun. The boat had a complement of between forty-four and sixty. [4]

Service history

U-332 was launched on 22 March 1941 and commissioned 7 June 1941. [1]

Fate

On 29 April 1943 the boat was bombed and sunk by a RAF Liberator bomber of 224 Squadron off Cape Finisterre at 44°48′N8°58′W / 44.800°N 8.967°W / 44.800; -8.967 . All 45 crew members died in the event. [1]

Wolfpacks

U-332 took part in eight wolfpacks, namely:

Summary of raiding history

DateShip NameNationalityTonnage (GRT)Fate [5]
13 March 1942 Albert F. Paul Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg  United States 735Sunk
13 March 1942 Trepca Flag of Yugoslavia (1918-1943).svg  Yugoslavia 5,042Sunk
16 March 1942 Australia Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg  United States 11,628Sunk
19 March 1942 Liberator Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg  United States 7,720Sunk
28 June 1942 Raphael Semmes Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg  United States 6,027Sunk
19 July 1942 Leonidas M. Flag of Greece.svg  Greece 4,573Sunk
29 September 1942 Registan Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 6,008Sunk
19 October 1942 Rothley Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 4,996Sunk
21 February 1943 Stigstad Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 5,964Damaged

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC/41 boat U-332". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 4 January 2010.
  2. Helgason, Guðmundur. "War Patrols by German U-boat U-332". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 11 January 2010.
  3. Gröner 1985, p. 72.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Gröner 1991, pp. 43–46.
  5. Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U-332". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 26 December 2014.

Bibliography