German submarine U-392

German submarine U-392 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. She carried out two patrols. She did not sink or damage any ships. She was sunk by US aircraft and British warships in the Strait of Gibraltar in March 1944.[2]

History
Nazi Germany
Name: U-392
Ordered: 20 January 1941
Builder: Howaldtswerke, Kiel
Yard number: 24
Laid down: 10 January 1942
Commissioned: 29 May 1943
Fate: Sunk, by US aircraft and British warships in the Strait of Gibraltar in March 1944[1]
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) 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[2]
Part of:
Commanders:
  • Oblt.z.S. Henning Schümann
  • 29 May 1943 – 16 March 1944
Operations:
  • 1st patrol: 2 December 1943 – 20 January 1944
  • 2nd patrol: 29 February – 16 March 1944
Victories: None

Design

German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-392 had a displacement of 769 tonnes (757 long tons) when at the surface and 871 tonnes (857 long tons) while submerged.[3] 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).[3]

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).[3] 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-392 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 two twin 2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 anti-aircraft guns. The boat had a complement of between forty-four and sixty.[3]

Service history

The submarine was laid down on 10 January 1942 at the Howaldtswerke (yard) at Flensburg as yard number 24, launched on 10 April 1943 and commissioned on 29 May under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Henning Schümann.

The boat was a member of five wolfpacks.

She served with the 5th U-boat Flotilla from 29 May 1943 and the 1st flotilla from 1 December of the same year.

1st patrol

The boat departed Kiel on 2 December 1943. She passed through the gap that separates Iceland and the Faroe Islands, turned about and headed northeast of Iceland; she then turned about once more and made for the northern Atlantic Ocean. She docked in Brest in occupied France on 20 January 1944.

2nd patrol and loss

U-392 had departed Brest on 29 February 1944, heading south. On 16 March, she was attacked and sunk by depth charges from three US PBY Catalinas, the British frigate HMS Affleck and the British destroyer HMS Vanoc in the Strait of Gibraltar.

52 men died in the U-boat; there were no survivors.

Wolfpacks

U-392 took part in five wolfpacks, namely.

  • Coronel 1 (15–17 December 1943)
  • Amrum (18–23 December 1943)
  • Rügen 4 (23 December 1943 – 2 January 1944)
  • Rügen 3 (2–7 January 1944)
  • Rügen (7–11 January 1944)

References
  1. Kemp 1999, pp. 177-8.
  2. Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-392". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 9 September 2012.
  3. Gröner 1991, pp. 43-46.

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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Kemp, Paul (1999). U-Boats Destroyed - German Submarine Losses in the World Wars. London: Arms & Armour. ISBN 1-85409-515-3.

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