German submarine U-375

History
Nazi Germany
Name: U-375
Ordered: 16 October 1939
Builder: Howaldtswerke, Kiel
Yard number: 6
Laid down: 14 March 1940
Launched: 7 June 1941
Commissioned: 19 July 1941
Fate: 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; 12.467Coordinates: 36°40′N 12°28′E / 36.667°N 12.467°E / 36.667; 12.467 in the Mediterranean NW of Malta.
General characteristics
Class & type: Type VIIC submarine
Displacement:
  • 769 tonnes (757 long tons) surfaced
  • 871 t (857 long tons) submerged
Length:
Beam:
  • 6.20 m (20 ft 4 in) o/a
  • 4.70 m (15 ft 5 in) pressure hull
Height: 9.60 m (31 ft 6 in)
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:
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:
Identification codes: M 00 016
Commanders:
  • Kptlt. Jürgen Könenkamp
  • 19 July 1941 – 30 July 1943
Operations:
  • 1st patrol: 12 November – 26 December 1941
  • 2nd patrol: 17–19 January 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: 10–30 July 1943
Victories:
  • 9 merchant ships sunk (16,852 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 laid down on 14 March 1940 by Howaldtswerke in Kiel as yard number 6, launched on 7 June 1941 and commissioned on 19 July 1941 under Kapitänleutnant Jürgen Könenkamp.

Design

German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-375 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 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] 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-375 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 service began on 19 July 1941 with training as part of the 5th U-boat Flotilla. She was transferred to the 3rd Flotilla on 1 November 1941 for active service, followed by a transfer to 29th Flotilla on 1 January 1942 in the Mediterranean.

In 10 patrols she sank 9 merchant ships, for a total of 16,852 GRT, plus 1 warship damaged and another merchant ship written off as a total loss.

Fate

U-375 was 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.

Summary of raiding history

Date Name Nationality Tonnage
(GRT)		 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 City of Venice  United Kingdom 8,762 Sunk
4 July 1943 St.Essylt  United Kingdom 5,634 Sunk

See also

References

  1. ↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-375". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 15 May 2014.
  2. 1 2 3 4 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

  • Busch, Rainer; Röll, Hans-Joachim (1999). Deutsche U-Boot-Verluste von September 1939 bis Mai 1945. Der U-Boot-Krieg (in German) 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 2. Translated by Thomas, Keith; Magowan, Rachel (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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