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German submarine U-372

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German submarine U-372
Career (Nazi Germany)
Name: U-372
Ordered: 23 September 1939
Builder: Howaldtswerke, Kiel
Yard number: 3
Laid down: 17 November 1939
Launched: 8 March 1941
Commissioned: 19 April 1941
Fate: Sunk 4 August 1942 in the Mediterranean in position 32°28′N 34°37′E / 32.467°N 34.617°E / 32.467; 34.617Coordinates: 32°28′N 34°37′E / 32.467°N 34.617°E / 32.467; 34.617, by depth charges from Royal Navy destroyers and an RAF Wellington bomber.
General characteristics
Class & type: Type VIIC submarine
Displacement:
  • 769 tonnes (757 long tons) surfaced
  • 871 t (857 long tons) submerged
Length:
  • 67.10 m (220 ft 2 in) o/a
  • 50.50 m (165 ft 8 in) pressure hull
    • Beam:
  • 6.20 m (20 ft 4 in) o/a
  • 4.70 m (15 ft 5 in) pressure hull
    • Draught: 4.74 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:
  • 2 shafts
  • 2 × diesel engines
  • 2 × electric motors
    • 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)
    • Complement: 4 officers, 40–56 enlisted
    Armament:
    Service record[1]
    Part of:
    Commanders:
    • Kptlt. Heinz-Joachim Neumann
    • 2 January – 12 September 1942
    Operations:
    • 1st patrol: 9 July – 13 August 1941
    • 2nd patrol: 10 September – 13 October 1941
    • 3rd patrol: 13 November – 16 December 1941
    • 4th patrol: 17–31 January 1942
    • 5th patrol: 15 June – 12 July 1942
    • 6th patrol: 27 July – 4 August 1942
    Victories:
    • 3 merchant ships sunk (11,751 GRT)
    • 1 auxiliary warship sunk (14,650 GRT)

    German submarine U-372 was a Type VIIC U-boat built for Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine for service during World War II. She was laid down on 17 November 1939 by Howaldtswerke, Kiel as construction number 3, launched on 8 March 1941 and commissioned on 19 April 1941 under Kapitänleutnant Heinz-Joachim Neumann.

    Design[]

    German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-372 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 AEG GU 460/8–27 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-372 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.[2]

    Service history[]

    The boat's career began with training at 1st U-boat Flotilla on 19 April 1941, followed by active service on 1 July 1941 as part of the 1st Flotilla until 13 December 1941, whence she joined 29th U-boat Flotilla for operations in the Mediterranean.

    In 6 patrols she sank 3 merchant ships, for a total of 11,751 gross register tons (GRT), and an auxiliary warship of 14,650 GRT.

    Wolfpacks[]

    U-372 took part in three wolfpacks, namely

    • Brandenburg (15 September – 1 October 1941)
    • Störtebecker (16–19 November 1941)
    • Steuben (19 November – 2 December 1941)

    Fate[]

    U-372 was sunk on 4 August 1942 in the Mediterranean, SW of Haifa, in position 32°28′N 34°37′E / 32.467°N 34.617°E / 32.467; 34.617, by depth charges from Royal Navy destroyers HMS Sikh, HMS Zulu, HMS Croome, HMS Tetcott and an RAF Wellington bomber. All hands survived.

    Summary of raiding history[]

    Date Name Nationality Tonnage[Note 1] Fate[3]
    5 August 1941 Belgravian  United Kingdom 3,136 Sunk
    5 August 1941 Swiftpool  United Kingdom 5,205 Sunk
    19 September 1941 Baron Pentland  United Kingdom 3,410 Sunk
    30 June 1942 HMS Medway  Royal Navy 14,650 Sunk

    See also[]

    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-372". http://uboat.net/boats/u372.html. Retrieved 3 November 2014. 
    2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Gröner 1991, pp. 43-46.
    3. ↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U-372". http://uboat.net/boats/successes/u372.html. Retrieved 3 November 2014. 

    Bibliography[]

    • Busch, Rainer; Röll, Hans-Joachim (1999). German U-boat commanders of World War II : a biographical dictionary. London, Annapolis, Md: Greenhill Books, Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-55750-186-6. 
    • Busch, Rainer; Röll, Hans-Joachim (1999) (in German). Deutsche U-Boot-Verluste von September 1939 bis Mai 1945. IV. Hamburg, Berlin, Bonn: Mittler. ISBN 3-8132-0514-2. 
    • Gröner, ErichExpression error: Unexpected < operator. (1991). U-boats and Mine Warfare Vessels. 2. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-593-4. 
    • Sharpe, Peter (1998). U-Boat Fact File. Great Britain: Midland Publishing. ISBN 1-85780-072-9. 

    External links[]


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