German submarine U-72 (1940)

German submarine U-72 was a Type VIIC submarine of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

For other ships with the same name, see German submarine U-72.

History
Nazi Germany
Name: U-72
Ordered: 25 January 1939
Builder: Germaniawerft, Kiel
Yard number: 619
Laid down: 28 December 1939
Launched: 22 November 1940
Commissioned: 4 January 1941
Fate: Damaged by bombing, 30 March 1945; scuttled, 2 May 1945
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:
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:
Commanders:
  • K.Kapt. Hans-Werner Neumann
  • 4 January – September 1941
  • Oblt.z.S. Helmut Köster
  • September – 1 December 1941
  • Kptlt. Waldemar Mehl
  • 2 December 1941 – 6 May 1942
  • Oblt.z.S. Hans-Martin Scheibe
  • 7 May – 19 November 1942
  • Oblt.z.S. Helmut Lange
  • 20 November 1942 – 14 December 1943
  • Oblt.z.S. Paul Sander
  • 15 December 1943 – 19 May 1944
  • Oblt.z.S. Karl-Theodor Mayer
  • 20 May 1944 – March 1945
Operations: None
Victories: None

U-72 was launched on 22 November 1940 and commissioned on 4 January 1941. U-72 served with 24th U-boat Flotilla (a training unit), and later with 21st U-boat Flotilla (also a training unit), from 2 July 1941 to 30 March 1945. U-72 was used throughout World War II as a training boat until it was damaged in a daylight American bombing raid on 30 March 1945. U-72 was scuttled on 2 May 1945.[1]

Design

German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-72 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 460/8-276 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-72 was fitted with two 53.3 cm (21 in) torpedo tubes at the bow, fourteen torpedoes, one 8.8 cm (3.46 in) SK C/35 naval gun, 220 rounds, and one 2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 anti-aircraft gun. The boat had a complement of between forty-four and sixty.[2]

References
  1. Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-72". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 23 December 2009.
  2. Gröner 1991, pp. 43–46.

The U 72 was found off the coast of Fla in 1971 by divers from Diver Haven, between the second and third reef. It is now in the area of the "Graveyard of ships in North Carolina.

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.
  • Bishop, Chris (2006). Kriegsmarine U-Boats, 1939-45. London: Amber Books. ISBN 978-1-904687-96-2.
  • Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-72". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 24 December 2014.
  • Hofmann, Markus. "U 72". Deutsche U-Boote 1935-1945 - u-boot-archiv.de (in German). Retrieved 26 December 2014.
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