German submarine U-752
| History | |
|---|---|
 Nazi Germany
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| Name: | U-752 |
| Ordered: | 9 October 1939 |
| Builder: | Kriegsmarinewerft Wilhelmshaven |
| Laid down: | 5 January 1940 |
| Launched: | 29 March 1941 |
| Commissioned: | 24 May 1941 |
| Status: | Scuttled 23 May 1943 after air rocket attack in North Atlantic |
| General characteristics | |
| Class & type: | Type VIIC submarine |
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| Beam: |
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| Height: | 9.60 m (31 ft 6 in) |
| Draught: | 4.74 m (15 ft 7 in) |
| Installed power: |
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| Complement: | 4 officers, 40–56 enlisted |
| Armament: |
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| Service record | |
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| Commanders: |
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| Operations: | 9 patrols |
| Victories: | |
German submarine U-752 was a Type VIIC U-boat built for Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine for service during World War II.
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 an 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 to 23 May 1943 under the command of Karl-Ernst Schroeter.[2] U-752 completed nine[3] wartime patrols and sank eight 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 to dive. 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.
Wolfpacks
U-752 took part in ten wolfpacks, namely.
- Westwall (2–12 March 1942)
- Hai (3–21 July 1942)
- Schlagetot (9–21 November 1942)
- Habicht (10–19 January 1943)
- Haudegen (19 January – 9 February 1943)
- Amsel 3 (4–6 May 1943)
- Rhein (7–10 May 1943)
- Elbe 1 (10–14 May 1943)
- Oder (17–19 May 1943)
- Mosel (19–23 May 1943)
Summary of raiding history
| Date | Ship Name | Nationality | Tonnage (GRT) | Fate[6] |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 August 1941 | T-898 (No 44) |  Soviet Navy |
553 | Sunk |
| 15 November 1941 | T-889 (No 34) | Soviet Navy |
581 | Sunk |
| 21 April 1942 | West Imboden |  United States |
5,751 | Sunk |
| 23 April 1942 | Reinholt |  Norway |
4,799 | Damaged |
| 1 May 1942 | Bidevind | Norway |
4,956 | Sunk |
| 23 July 1942 | Garmula |  United Kingdom |
5,254 | Sunk |
| 27 July 1942 | Leikanger | Norway |
4,003 | Sunk |
| 9 August 1942 | Menanau |  Netherlands |
6,047 | Sunk |
| 13 August 1942 | Cripple Creek | United States |
6,347 | Sunk |
References
- 1 2 3 4 Gröner 1991, pp. 43-46.
- ↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-752". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net.
- ↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "War Patrols by German U-boat U-752". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 29 December 2014.
- ↑ Gerald Pawle, The Wheezers & Dodgers, Seaforth Publishing 2009 ISBN 978-1-84832-026-0
- ↑ Busch, Röll 1999, p. 100-3.
- ↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U-752". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 9 February 2014.
Bibliography
- Busch, Rainer; Röll, Hans-Joachim (1999). Deutsche U-Boot-Verluste von September 1939 bis Mai 1945. Der U-Boot-Krieg (in German) IV (Hamburg, Berlin, Bonn: Mittler). ISBN 3-8132-0514-2.
- Gröner, Erich; Jung, Dieter; Maass, Martin (1991). U-boats and Mine Warfare Vessels. German Warships 1815–1945 2. Translated by Thomas, Keith; Magowan, Rachel (London: Conway Maritime Press). ISBN 0-85177-593-4.
External links
- Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-752". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 29 December 2014.