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German submarine U-752

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

History
Nazi Germany
NameU-752
Ordered9 October 1939
BuilderKriegsmarinewerft 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 typeType 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)

Design

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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

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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

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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

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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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Date Ship Name Nationality Tonnage
(GRT) 		Fate[6]
25 August 1941 T-898 (No 44)   Soviet Navy 553 Sunk
27 August 1941 RT-8 Seld´   Soviet Union 608 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

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  1. ^ a b c d 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

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