German submarine U-332

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

History
Nazi Germany
Name: U-332
Ordered: 23 September 1939
Builder: Nordseewerke, Emden
Yard number: 204
Laid down: 26 January 1940
Launched: 20 March 1941
Commissioned: 7 June 1941
Fate: Sunk, 2 May 1943
General characteristics
Class and 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) 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)
Complement: 4 officers, 40–56 enlisted
Armament:

Design

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.[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 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).[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-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.[2]

Service history

U-332 was launched on 20 March 1941 and commissioned 7 June 1941.[3]

Fate

On 2 May 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. All 45 crew members died in the event.[4]

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. Gröner 1985, p. 72.
  2. Gröner 1991, pp. 43-46.
  3. Gröner 1991, p. 53.
  4. Gröner 1985, p. 87.
  5. Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U-332". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 26 December 2014.

Bibliography
  • 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.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • 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). IV. Hamburg, Berlin, Bonn: Mittler. ISBN 3-8132-0514-2.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Edwards, Bernard (1996). Dönitz and the Wolf Packs - The U-boats at War. Cassell Military Classics. p. 155. ISBN 0-304-35203-9.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • 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.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • 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.
  • 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.

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