German submarine U-375

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History
Nazi Germany
NameU-375
Ordered16 October 1939
Builder
Howaldtswerke, Kiel
Yard number6
Laid down14 March 1940
Launched7 June 1941
Commissioned19 July 1941
FateMissing since 25 July 1943 in the Mediterranean Sea south of Sicily. No explanation for her loss.
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) 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]
Part of:
Identification codes: M 00 016
Commanders:
  • Kptlt.
    Jürgen Koenenkamp
  • 19 July 1941 – 25 July 1943
Operations:
  • 10 patrols:
  • 1st patrol:
  • 12 November – 26 December 1941
  • 2nd patrol:
  • a. 17 – 19 January 1942
  • b. 25 January – 10 February 1942
  • 3rd patrol:
  • 27 April – 6 May 1942
  • 4th patrol:
  • 29 June – 3 August 1942
  • 5th patrol:
  • 22 August – 29 September 1942
  • 6th patrol:
  • 14 November – 23 December 1942
  • 7th patrol:
  • 4 February – 2 March 1943
  • 8th patrol:
  • 17 March – 19 April 1943
  • 9th patrol:
  • 27 June – 7 July 1943
  • 10th patrol:
  • 10 – 25 July 1943
Victories:
  • 8 merchant ships sunk
    (8,090 GRT)
  • 1 merchant ship total loss
    (6,288 GRT)
  • 1 warship damaged
    (2,650 tons)

German submarine U-375 was a

Type VIIC U-boat built for Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine for service during World War II
. She was
Howaldtswerke in Kiel as yard number 6, launched on 7 June 1941 and commissioned on 19 July 1941 under Kapitänleutnant
Jürgen Koenenkamp.

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

Service history

The boat's service began on 19 July 1941 with training as part of the

Mediterranean
.

In 10 patrols she sank 8 merchant ships, for a total of 8,090 GRT, plus 1 warship damaged and another merchant ship written off as a total loss.

Fate

U-375 has been missing since 25 July 1943 in the Mediterranean Sea south of Sicily. All hands were lost.[1]

Previously recorded fate

U-375 was thought to have been sunk after being depth charged by USN submarine chaser PC-624 on 30 July 1943 at position 36°40′N 12°28′E / 36.667°N 12.467°E / 36.667; 12.467 in the

Mediterranean NW of Malta
. All hands were lost. This attack was actually against Italian submarine Velella, inflicting no damage.

Summary of raiding history

Date Ship Name Nationality Tonnage[Note 1] Fate[3]
6 July 1942 Hero  Norway 1,376 Sunk
30 July 1942 Amina  Egypt 87 Sunk
30 July 1942 Ikbal  Egypt 176 Sunk
26 August 1942 Empire Kumari  United Kingdom 6,288 Total loss
3 September 1942 Miriam  Mandatory Palestine 38 Sunk
3 September 1942 Arnon  Mandatory Palestine 558 Sunk
3 September 1942 Salina  Mandatory Palestine 108 Sunk
6 September 1942 Turkian  Egypt 113 Sunk
1 December 1942 HMS Manxman  Royal Navy 2,650 Damaged
4 July 1943 St.Essylt  United Kingdom 5,634 Sunk

See also

  • Mediterranean U-boat Campaign (World War II)

References

Notes

  1. gross register tons. Military vessels are listed by tons displacement
    .

Citations

  1. ^ a b Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-375". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 15 May 2014.
  2. ^ a b c d Gröner 1991, pp. 43–46.
  3. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U-375". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 15 May 2014.

Bibliography

External links