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 Koenenkamp.
| 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 | Missing 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 |
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| Beam |
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| Height | 9.60 m (31 ft 6 in) |
| Draught | 4.74 m (15 ft 7 in) |
| Installed power |
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| Propulsion |
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| Speed |
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| Range | |
| Test depth |
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| Complement | 4 officers, 40–56 enlisted |
| Armament |
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| Service record[1] | |
| Part of: |
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| Identification codes: | M 00 016 |
| Commanders: |
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| Operations: |
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| Victories: | |
Design
editGerman 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 a 2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 anti-aircraft gun. The boat had a complement of between forty-four and sixty.[2]
Service history
editThe 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 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
editU-375 has been missing since 25 July 1943 in the Mediterranean Sea south of Sicily. All hands were lost.[1]
Previously recorded fate
editU-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 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
edit| 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
editReferences
editNotes
edit- ^ Merchant ship tonnages are in gross register tons. Military vessels are listed by tons displacement.
Citations
edit- ^ a b Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-375". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 15 May 2014.
- ^ a b c d Gröner 1991, pp. 43–46.
- ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U-375". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 15 May 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). Deutsche U-Boot-Verluste von September 1939 bis Mai 1945 [German U-boat losses from September 1939 to May 1945]. Der U-Boot-Krieg (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. 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
edit- Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-375". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 26 December 2014.