German submarine U-332

Coordinates: 44°48′N 8°58′W / 44.800°N 8.967°W / 44.800; -8.967
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
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 type
Type VIIC submarine
Displacement
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
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)

German submarine U-332 was a

Nordsee-Werke, Emden,[3]
U-332 was a Type VIIC U-boat, capable of lengthy ocean patrols and of operating in distant environments.

Design

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).

2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 anti-aircraft gun. The boat had a complement of between forty-four and sixty.[4]

Service history

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

Fate

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

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

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

  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

External links