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, U-332 was a Type VIIC U-boat, capable of lengthy ocean patrols and of operating in distant environments.
Design German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-332 had a displacement of when at the surface and while submerged. She had a total length of , a pressure hull length of , a beam of , a height of , and a draught of . The submarine was powered by two Germaniawerft F46 four-stroke, six-cylinder supercharged diesel engines producing a total of for use while surfaced, two AEG GU 460/8–27 double-acting electric motors producing a total of for use while submerged. She had two shafts and two propellers. The boat was capable of operating at depths of up to .
The submarine had a maximum surface speed of and a maximum submerged speed of . When submerged, the boat could operate for at ; when surfaced, she could travel at . U-332 was fitted with five torpedo tubes (four fitted at the bow and one at the stern), fourteen torpedoes, one SK C/35 naval gun, 220 rounds, and a C/30 anti-aircraft gun. The boat had a complement of between forty-four and sixty.
Service history U-332 was launched on 22 March 1941 and commissioned 7 June 1941.
Fate On 29 April 1943 the boat was bombed and sunk by a RAF Liberator bomber of 224 Squadron off Cape Finisterre at . All 45 crew members died in the event.
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
DateShip NameNationalityTonnage (GRT)Fate13 March 1942Albert F. Paul735Sunk13 March 1942Trepca5,042Sunk16 March 1942Australia11,628Sunk19 March 1942Liberator7,720Sunk28 June 1942Raphael Semmes6,027Sunk19 July 1942Leonidas M.4,573Sunk29 September 1942Registan6,008Sunk19 October 1942Rothley4,996Sunk21 February 1943Stigstad5,964Damaged
References
Bibliography
External links