German_submarine_U-752

German submarine <i>U-752</i>

German submarine U-752

German World War II submarine

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

Quick Facts History, Nazi Germany ...

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:

  • 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

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References

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

Bibliography
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