German submarine U-252

German submarine U-252 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. The submarine was laid down on 1 November 1940 at the Vegesacker Werft at Bremen as yard number 17, launched on 14 August 1941 and commissioned on 4 October under the command of Kapitänleutnant Gunter Schiebusch.

History
Nazi Germany
NameU-252
Ordered23 September 1939
BuilderVegesacker Werft, Bremen
Yard number17
Laid down1 November 1940
Launched14 August 1941
Commissioned4 October 1941
FateSunk, 14 April 1942[1]
General characteristics
Class and typeType VIIC submarine
Displacement
Length
Beam
  • 6.20 m (20 ft 4 in) o/a
  • 4.70 m (15 ft 5 in) pressure hull
Height9.60 m (31 ft 6 in)
Draught4.74 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)
Complement4 officers, 40–56 enlisted
Armament
Service record[2][3]
Part of:
Identification codes: M 32 853
Commanders:
  • Kptlt. Gunter Schiebusch
  • 4 October – 20 December 1941
  • Kptlt. Kai Lerchen
  • 21 December 1941 – 14 April 1942
Operations:
  • 1 patrol:
  • 30 March – 14 April 1942
Victories: 1 merchant ship sunk
(1,355 GRT)

Schiebusch was replaced by Kapitänleutnant Kai Lerchen on 21 December 1941. After training with the 6th U-boat Flotilla at Kiel, U-252 was deemed to be ready for front-line service and sailed on her first patrol on 1 April 1942.

On 6 April 1942, U-252 landed espionage agent Ib Riis in Iceland.[4]

U-252 is thought to have sunk the 1,355 GRT Norwegian Fanefield on 9 April.[5] Five days later she encountered convoy OG 82, and was attacked and sunk by depth charges from the sloop HMS Stork and the corvette HMS Vetch on 14 April 1942.[1][6]

Design

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German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-252 had a displacement of 769 tonnes (757 long tons) when at the surface and 871 tonnes (857 long tons) while submerged.[7] 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).[7]

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).[7] 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-252 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.[7]

Summary of raiding history

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Date Ship Name Nationality Tonnage
(GRT)
Fate[8]
9 April 1942 Fanefjeld   Norway 1,355 Sunk

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b Kemp 1999, p. 81.
  2. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-252". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 20 May 2012.
  3. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "War Patrols by U-252". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 20 May 2012.
  4. ^ "Ib Riis - Double Agent".
  5. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Fanefjeld". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 18 December 2012.
  6. ^ Neistle p50
  7. ^ a b c d Gröner 1991, pp. 43–46.
  8. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U-252". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 26 December 2014.

Bibliography

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  • Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-252". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 26 December 2014.
  • Hofmann, Markus. "U 252". Deutsche U-Boote 1935-1945 - u-boot-archiv.de (in German). Retrieved 26 December 2014.