German submarine U-375

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
NameU-375
Ordered16 October 1939
BuilderHowaldtswerke, Kiel
Yard number6
Laid down14 March 1940
Launched7 June 1941
Commissioned19 July 1941
FateMissing since 25 July 1943 in the Mediterranean Sea south of Sicily. No explanation for her loss.
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[1]
Part of:
Identification codes: M 00 016
Commanders:
  • Kptlt. Jürgen Koenenkamp
  • 19 July 1941 – 25 July 1943
Operations:
  • 10 patrols:
  • 1st patrol:
  • 12 November – 26 December 1941
  • 2nd patrol:
  • a. 17 – 19 January 1942
  • b. 25 January – 10 February 1942
  • 3rd patrol:
  • 27 April – 6 May 1942
  • 4th patrol:
  • 29 June – 3 August 1942
  • 5th patrol:
  • 22 August – 29 September 1942
  • 6th patrol:
  • 14 November – 23 December 1942
  • 7th patrol:
  • 4 February – 2 March 1943
  • 8th patrol:
  • 17 March – 19 April 1943
  • 9th patrol:
  • 27 June – 7 July 1943
  • 10th patrol:
  • 10 – 25 July 1943
Victories:
  • 8 merchant ships sunk
    (8,090 GRT)
  • 1 merchant ship total loss
    (6,288 GRT)
  • 1 warship damaged
    (2,650 tons)

Design

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German 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

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The 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

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U-375 has been missing since 25 July 1943 in the Mediterranean Sea south of Sicily. All hands were lost.[1]

Previously recorded fate

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U-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 / 36.667; 12.467 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

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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

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References

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Notes

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  1. ^ Merchant ship tonnages are in gross register tons. Military vessels are listed by tons displacement.

Citations

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  1. ^ a b Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-375". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 15 May 2014.
  2. ^ a b c d Gröner 1991, pp. 43–46.
  3. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U-375". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 15 May 2014.

Bibliography

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  • 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.
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