German submarine U-332

Summary

German submarine U-332 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. She saw service in the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea. Built in 1941 and 1942 at Nordsee-Werke, Emden,[3] U-332 was a Type VIIC U-boat, capable of lengthy ocean patrols and of operating in distant environments.

History
Nazi Germany
NameU-332
Ordered23 September 1939
BuilderNordseewerke, Emden
Yard number204
Laid down16 December 1939
Launched22 March 1941
Commissioned7 June 1941
FateSunk on 29 April 1943[1]
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) submerged
  • 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 41 468
Commanders:
  • Kptlt. Johannes Liebe
  • 7 June 1941 – 27 January 1943
  • Oblt.z.S. Eberhard Hüttemann
  • 27 January – 29 April 1943
Operations:
  • 7 patrols:
  • 1st patrol:
  • 30 October – 16 December 1941
  • 2nd patrol:
  • 27 January – 8 February 1942
  • 3rd patrol:
  • 17 February – 10 April 1942
  • 4th patrol:
  • 24 May – 1 August 1942
  • 5th patrol:
  • 5 September – 6 December 1942
  • 6th patrol:
  • 28 January – 24 March 1943
  • 7th patrol:
  • 26 – 29 April 1943
Victories:
  • 8 merchant ships sunk
    (46,729 GRT)
  • 1 merchant ship damaged
    (5,964 GRT)

Design edit

German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-332 had a displacement of 769 tonnes (757 long tons) when at the surface and 871 tonnes (857 long tons) while submerged.[4] 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).[4]

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).[4] 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-332 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.[4]

Service history edit

U-332 was launched on 22 March 1941 and commissioned 7 June 1941.[1]

Fate edit

On 29 April 1943 the boat was bombed and sunk by a RAF Liberator bomber of 224 Squadron off Cape Finisterre at 44°48′N 8°58′W / 44.800°N 8.967°W / 44.800; -8.967. All 45 crew members died in the event.[1]

Wolfpacks edit

U-332 took part in eight wolfpacks, namely:

  • Störtebecker (17 – 19 November 1941)
  • Benecke (19 November – 2 December 1941)
  • Hartherz (3 – 7 February 1943)
  • Ritter (11 – 23 February 1943)
  • Sturmbock (23 – 26 February 1943)
  • Burggraf (2 – 5 March 1943)
  • Westmark (6 – 11 March 1943)
  • Drossel (29 April 1943)

Summary of raiding history edit

Date Ship Name Nationality Tonnage (GRT) Fate[5]
13 March 1942 Albert F. Paul   United States 735 Sunk
13 March 1942 Trepca   Yugoslavia 5,042 Sunk
16 March 1942 Australia   United States 11,628 Sunk
19 March 1942 Liberator   United States 7,720 Sunk
28 June 1942 Raphael Semmes   United States 6,027 Sunk
19 July 1942 Leonidas M.   Greece 4,573 Sunk
29 September 1942 Registan   United Kingdom 6,008 Sunk
19 October 1942 Rothley   United Kingdom 4,996 Sunk
21 February 1943 Stigstad   Norway 5,964 Damaged

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC/41 boat U-332". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 4 January 2010.
  2. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "War Patrols by German U-boat U-332". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 11 January 2010.
  3. ^ Gröner 1985, p. 72.
  4. ^ a b c d Gröner 1991, pp. 43–46.
  5. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U-332". 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.
  • Edwards, Bernard (1996). Dönitz and the Wolf Packs - The U-boats at War. Cassell Military Classics. p. 155. ISBN 0-304-35203-9.
  • Gröner, Erich (1985). Die deutschen Kriegsschiffe 1815-1945 / 3, U-Boote, Hilfskreuzer, Minenschiffe, Netzleger, Sperrbrecher (in German). Koblenz: Bernard & Graefe. ISBN 3-7637-4802-4. OCLC 310610321.
  • Gröner, Erich; Jung, Dieter; Maass, Martin (1991). U-boats and Mine Warfare Vessels. German Warships 1815–1945. Vol. 2. Translated by Thomas, Keith; Magowan, Rachel. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-593-4.

External links edit

  • Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-332". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 26 December 2014.
  • Hofmann, Markus. "U 332". Deutsche U-Boote 1935-1945 - u-boot-archiv.de (in German). Retrieved 26 December 2014.