German submarine U-952

Last updated
History
War ensign of Germany (1938-1945).svg Nazi Germany
NameU-952
Ordered10 April 1941
Builder Blohm & Voss, Hamburg
Yard number152
Laid down1 February 1942
Launched14 October 1942
Commissioned10 December 1942
Decommissioned12 July 1944
FateBroken up in 1946
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
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 [1]
Part of:
Identification codes: M 49 527
Commanders:
Operations:
  • 5 patrols:
  • 1st patrol:
  • a. 27 April – 31 May 1943
  • b. 2 August 1943
  • c. 26 August – 5 September 1943
  • 2nd patrol:
  • 6 September – 23 October 1943
  • 3rd patrol:
  • a. 11 – 15 December 1943
  • b. 16 December 1943 – 15 January 1944
  • 4th patrol:
  • a. 17 February – 20 March 1944
  • b. 3 – 7 May 1944
  • 5th patrol:
  • 8 May – 21 June 1944
Victories:
  • 2 merchant ships sunk
    (13,374  GRT)
  • 1 warship sunk
    (925 tons)
  • 1 merchant ship damaged
    (7,176  GRT)

German submarine U-952 was a Type VIIC U-boat built for Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine for service during World War II. She was laid down on 1 February 1942 by Blohm & Voss, Hamburg as yard number 152, launched on 14 October 1942 and commissioned on 10 December 1942 under Oberleutnant zur See Oskar Curio.

Contents

Design

German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-952 had a displacement of 769 tonnes (757 long tons) when at the surface and 871 tonnes (857 long tons) while submerged. [2] 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 Brown, Boveri & Cie GG UB 720/8 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). [2]

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). [2] 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-952 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 one twin 2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 anti-aircraft gun. The boat had a complement of between forty-four and sixty. [2]

Service history

The boat's career began with training at 5th U-boat Flotilla on 10 December 1942, followed by active service on 1 May 1943 as part of the 3rd Flotilla for the next seven months. On 1 February 1944 she transferred to serve with 29th Flotilla, based in La Spezia, for Mediterranean operations.

In five patrols she sank two merchant ships, for a total of 13,374  gross register tons  (GRT), plus one warship sunk and a further merchant ship damaged.

Wolfpacks

U-952 took part in five wolfpacks, namely:

Fate

U-952 was decommissioned on 12 July 1944 after being badly damaged on 5 July 1944 by US air raid. Her wreck was captured by French and broken up in 1946.

Previously recorded fate

U-952 was sunk on 6 August 1944 in the Military port of Toulon, France, in position 43°07′N05°55′E / 43.117°N 5.917°E / 43.117; 5.917 , during an air raid by US Liberator bombers.

Summary of raiding history

DateShip NameNationalityTonnage [Note 1] Fate [3]
21 September 1943 HMS Polyanthus Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Navy 925Sunk
23 September 1943 Steel Voyager Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg  United States 6,198Sunk
23 September 1943 James Gordon Bennett Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg  United States 7,176Damaged
10 March 1944 William B. Woods Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg  United States 7,176Sunk

See also

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References

Notes

  1. ↑ Merchant ship tonnages are in gross register tons. Military vessels are listed by tons displacement.

Citations

  1. ↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-952". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 16 August 2014.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Gröner 1991, pp. 43–46.
  3. ↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U-952". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 16 August 2014.

Bibliography

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