German submarine U-752

Last updated
History
War ensign of Germany (1938-1945).svg Nazi Germany
NameU-752
Ordered9 October 1939
Builder Kriegsmarinewerft Wilhelmshaven
Yard number135
Laid down5 January 1940
Launched29 March 1941
Commissioned24 May 1941
FateScuttled on 23 May 1943 after air rocket attack in North Atlantic
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) surfaced
  • 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
Part of:
Identification codes: M 44 442
Commanders:
Operations:
  • 9 patrols:
  • 1st patrol:
  • a. 23 August – 17 September 1941
  • b. 19 – 23 September 1941
  • c. 18 – 22 October 1941
  • 2nd patrol:
  • 7 – 18 November 1941
  • 3rd patrol:
  • 22 November – 10 December 1941
  • 4th patrol:
  • a. 4 – 5 February 1942
  • b. 7 – 10 February 1942
  • c. 12 February – 13 March 1942
  • 5th patrol:
  • 28 March – 21 May 1942
  • 6th patrol:
  • 2 July – 4 September 1942
  • 7th patrol:
  • a. 19 – 21 October 1942
  • b. 22 October – 3 December 1942
  • 8th patrol:
  • 9 January – 15 February 1943
  • 9th patrol:
  • 22 April – 23 May 1943
Victories:
  • 7 merchant ships sunk
    (32,966  GRT)
  • 2 auxiliary warships sunk
    (1,134  GRT)
  • 1 merchant ship damaged
    (4,799  GRT)

German submarine U-752 was a Type VIIC U-boat built for Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine for service during World War II.

Contents

Design

German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-752 had a displacement of 769 tonnes (757 long tons) when at the surface and 871 tonnes (857 long tons) while submerged. [1] 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 Garbe, Lahmeyer & Co. RP 137/c 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). [1]

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). [1] 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-752 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. [1]

Service history

She served with 3rd U-boat Flotilla from 24 May 1941 until 23 May 1943 under the command of Korvettenkapitän Karl-Ernst Schroeter. [2] U-752 completed nine [3] wartime patrols and sank nine ships and damaged one.

Fate

Thirty-two days into her ninth patrol, on 23 May 1943, U-752 was attacked by Fairey Swordfish aircraft attached to the British escort carrier HMS Archer in the mid-Atlantic. A Rocket Spear, a new weapon with a solid cast iron head, [4] entered and left the pressure hull leaving large holes, thus preventing the U-boat from diving. At the arrival of enemy surface craft, the surviving crew of 17 scuttled the boat and abandoned ship. [5] This was the first success of the Rocket Spear. U-752 sank with 30 men. Heinz Krey was one of them.

Wolfpacks

U-752 took part in ten wolfpacks, namely:

Summary of raiding history

DateShip NameNationalityTonnage
(GRT)
Fate [6]
25 August 1941 T-898 (No 44) Naval Ensign of the Soviet Union (1950-1991).svg  Soviet Navy 553Sunk
27 August 1941 RT-8 Seld´ Flag of the USSR (1936-1955).svg  Soviet Union 608Sunk
15 November 1941 T-889 (No 34) Naval Ensign of the Soviet Union (1950-1991).svg  Soviet Navy 581Sunk
21 April 1942 West Imboden Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg  United States 5,751Sunk
23 April 1942 Reinholt Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 4,799Damaged
1 May 1942 Bidevind Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 4,956Sunk
23 July 1942 Garmula Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 5,254Sunk
27 July 1942 Leikanger Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 4,003Sunk
9 August 1942 Menanau Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands 6,047Sunk
13 August 1942 Cripple Creek Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg  United States 6,347Sunk

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Gröner 1991, pp. 43–46.
  2. Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-752". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net.
  3. Helgason, Guðmundur. "War Patrols by German U-boat U-752". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 29 December 2014.
  4. Gerald Pawle, The Wheezers & Dodgers, Seaforth Publishing 2009 ISBN   978-1-84832-026-0
  5. Busch & Röll 1999b, p. 100-3.
  6. Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U-752". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 9 February 2014.

Bibliography