German submarine U-302

Summary

German submarine U-302 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. The submarine was laid down on 2 April 1941 at the Flender Werke yard at Lübeck as yard number 302, launched on 25 April 1942 and commissioned on 16 June under the command of Kapitänleutnant Herbert Sackel.

History
Nazi Germany
NameU-302
Ordered6 August 1940
BuilderFlender Werke, Lübeck
Yard number302
Laid down2 April 1941
Launched25 April 1942
Commissioned16 June 1942
FateSunk on 6 April 1944
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[1][2]
Part of:
Identification codes: M 03 384
Commanders:
  • Kptlt. Herbert Sickel
  • 16 June 1942 – 6 April 1944
Operations:
  • 8 patrols:
  • 1st patrol:
  • 2 – 6 January 1942
  • 2nd patrol:
  • 10 – 29 January 1943
  • 3rd patrol:
  • 2 – 21 February 1943
  • 4th patrol:
  • a. 14 – 15 March 1943
  • b. 17 March – 17 April 1943
  • c. 18 – 20 April 1943
  • d. 29 May – 1 June 1943
  • 5th patrol:
  • a. 9 June – 19 July 1943
  • b. 25 July 1943
  • 6th patrol:
  • a. 30 July – 22 September 1943
  • b. 23 – 25 September 1943
  • 7th patrol:
  • 6 December 1943 – 30 January 1944
  • 8th patrol:
  • 11 March – 6 April 1944
Victories: 3 merchant ships sunk
(12,697 GRT)

During her career, the U-boat sailed on eight combat patrols, sinking three ships, before she was sunk on 6 April 1944 in mid-Atlantic by a British frigate.[1]

She was a member of ten wolfpacks.

Design edit

German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-302 had a displacement of 769 tonnes (757 long tons) when at the surface and 871 tonnes (857 long tons) while submerged.[3] 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).[3]

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).[3] 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-302 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.[3]

Service history edit

The boat's service life began with training with the 8th U-boat Flotilla in May 1942. She was then transferred to the 11th flotilla for operations on 1 December. She was reassigned to the 13th flotilla on 1 June 1943 and moved again to the 9th flotilla on 1 November.

The boat made the short journey from Kiel in Germany to Bergen in Norway, arriving on 1 December 1942.

First, second, third and fourth patrols edit

The submarine's first patrol began with her departure from Bergen on 2 January 1943.

Her fourth sortie finished in Narvik on 15 March 1943.

None of them was eventful.

The U-boat then made short voyages from Narvik to Trondheim to Hammerfest, (the latter lying in the far north of Norway).

Fifth and sixth patrols edit

Her fifth patrol took her around Bear Island, west of Svalbard, then around Bear Island again.

Her sixth effort was successful in that she sank the Soviet Dikson near Mona Island on 22 August 1943.[4]

Seventh patrol edit

Leaving Trondheim on 6 December 1943, she passed through the gap between Iceland and the Faroe Islands. She arrived at La Pallice in occupied France, on 30 January 1944.

Eighth patrol and loss edit

Her last patrol was her most successful, sinking the Ruth I and the South America on 6 April 1944.

She was sunk later on 6 April 1944 by depth charges.[5] from the British frigate HMS Swale northwest of the Azores.

Fifty-one men died; there were no survivors.

Summary of raiding history edit

Date Ship Name Nationality Tonnage
(GRT)
Fate[6]
28 August 1943 Dikson   Soviet Union 2,920 Sunk
6 April 1944 Ruth I   Norway 3,531 Sunk
6 April 1944 South America   Norway 6,246 Sunk

References edit

  1. ^ a b Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-302". German U-boats of WWII – uboat.net. Retrieved 14 August 2012.
  2. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "War Patrols by German U-boat U-302". German U-boats of WWII – uboat.net. Retrieved 14 August 2012.
  3. ^ a b c d Gröner 1991, pp. 43–46.
  4. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Patrol of U-boat U-302 from 30 Jul 1942 to 22 Sep 1942". German U-boats of WWII – uboat.net. Retrieved 14 August 2012.
  5. ^ Hofmann, Markus. "U 302". Deutsche U-Boote 1935–1945 – u-boot-archiv.de (in German). Retrieved 26 December 2014.
  6. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U-302". German U-boats of WWII – uboat.net. Retrieved 26 December 2014.

Bibliography edit

  • Busch, Rainer; Röll, Hans-Joachim (1999). German U-boat commanders of World War II : a biographical dictionary. Translated by Brooks, Geoffrey. London, Annapolis, Md: Greenhill Books, Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-55750-186-6.
  • Busch, Rainer; Röll, Hans-Joachim (1999). Der U-Boot-Krieg, 1939-1945: Deutsche U-Boot-Verluste von September 1939 bis Mai 1945 [German U-boat losses from September 1939 to May 1945] (in German). Vol. 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. Vol. II. Translated by Thomas, Keith; Magowan, Rachel. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-593-4.
  • Kemp, Paul (1999). U-Boats Destroyed – German Submarine Losses in the World Wars. London: Arms & Armour. ISBN 1-85409-515-3.

External links edit

  • Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-302". German U-boats of WWII – uboat.net. Retrieved 5 August 2016.
  • Hofmann, Markus. "U 302". Deutsche U-Boote 1935–1945 – u-boot-archiv.de (in German). Retrieved 26 December 2014.

45°05′N 35°11′W / 45.083°N 35.183°W / 45.083; -35.183