Unterseeboot 352

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Kapitänleutnant Rathke painted this watercolor while held as a POW
Career ( Nazi Germany)
Name:	U-352
Ordered:	October 9, 1939
Builder:	Flensburger Schiffbau-Gesellschaft, Flensburg
Laid down:	21 November 1939
Launched:	March 11, 1940
Commissioned:	August 28, 1941
Fate:	Sunk on May 9, 1942 by USCGC Icarus off Cape Hatteras. 33 survivors taken as prisoners of war.
General characteristics
Type:	VIIC
Service record
Part of	Kriegsmarine 3. Unterseebootsflottille January 15 - January 19, 1942 January 20 - February 26, 1942 April 7 - May 9, 1942
Commanders	Kptlt. Hellmut Rathke
Operations	3 patrols
Victories	none

Unterseeboot 352 or U-352 was a type VIIC Nazi German U-boat that served in the North Atlantic during World War II. It was launched on May 7, 1941 under the command of Kapitänleutnant Hellmut Rathke, with a crew of 49.

In January 1942 U-352 began active patrols in the northern Atlantic areas toward the United States of America. Operating chiefly out of St. Nazaire and Kiel, U-352 was ordered toward the eastern coastline of the United States on April 7, 1942. The United States Coast Guard cutter Icarus intercepted and sank it on May 9. Thirty-three members of the crew of forty-nine survived, were taken prisoner, and served the remainder of the war as prisoners of war.

The U-352 currently lies in approximately 100 feet of water off the North Carolina coast at 34°13′682″N 76°33′907″W / 34.40611, -76.80194. She sits at a 45 degree list to the starboard side. This wreck is popular scuba diving spot for advance level divers. A replica of the wreck is on display at the North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores.

[edit] Heins Richter

Heins Karl Richter, a Maschinengefreiter (equivalent of a Fireman 3cl.) who survived the sinking, was found living in Canada and was interviewed in conjunction with the Discovery Channel's special coverage of U-352. Throughout the interview process, he mentioned that the ship's Captain, Hellmut Rathke, was obsessed about receiving a Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross medal for sinking 100,000 tonnes worth of enemy ships. Richter claimed that the Captain's obsession eventually lead to recklessness, ultimately resulting in the sinking of the ship.

Richter also claimed he was the last man out of the boat before it sank. The others were already dead, or perished in the depths of the darkened boat as it sank into the abyss.

[edit] Survivors

U-352 officers at Fort Bragg - (L-R) Fahnrich z. S. Ernst Kammerer, Kapitänleutnant Hellmut Rathke and Leutnant z. S. Oskar Bernard

POW survivors from U-352 eating lunch

According to documents from the Naval Department, the following are survivors of the sinking:

[edit] References

• Warships of World War II German U 352
• History Channel TV Show about U-352
• USCG report on U-352