Oblt.z.S. Wolfgang-Friedrich Freiherr von Forstner
26 May 1943 – 4 March 1944
Operations:
1 patrol:
24 February – 4 March 1944
Victories:
None
She carried out one patrol. She sank no ships.
She was sunk by a British aircraft Swordfish "B" of 816 Squadron FAA by rocket projectiles, and a British warship, southeast of Bear Island on 4 March 1944.[1][2]
German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-472 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 superchargeddiesel 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 Siemens-Schuckert GU 343/38–8 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-472 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 one twin 2 cm (0.79 in) C/30anti-aircraft gun. The boat had a complement of between forty-four and sixty.[3]
U-472's only patrol was preceded by short voyages from Kiel in Germany to Hammerfest then Narvik in Norway. Her only sortie began with her departure from Narvik on 24 February 1944. She sailed out into the Norwegian Sea, then northeast towards the Barents Sea. On 4 March, when southeast of Bear Island, she was attacked and sunk (one source says she might have been scuttled)[2] by gunfire and rockets from a Fairey Swordfish of 816 Naval Air Squadron FAA and the destroyer HMS Onslaught. The aircraft had come from HMS Chaser.
Twenty-three men died with U-472; there were thirty survivors.[2]
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. ISBN1-55750-186-6.
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. ISBN3-8132-0514-2.
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. ISBN0-85177-593-4.
Kemp, Paul (1999). U-Boats Destroyed – German Submarine Losses in the World Wars. London: Arms & Armour. ISBN1-85409-515-3.
External links
Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-472". German U-boats of WWII – uboat.net. Retrieved 28 December 2014.
german, submarine, type, viic, boat, nazi, germany, kriegsmarine, during, world, historynazi, germanynameu, 472ordered20, january, 1941builderdeutsche, werke, kielyard, number303laid, down15, november, 1941launched6, march, 1943commissioned26, 1943fatesunk, br. German submarine U 472 was a Type VIIC U boat of Nazi Germany s Kriegsmarine during World War II HistoryNazi GermanyNameU 472Ordered20 January 1941BuilderDeutsche Werke KielYard number303Laid down15 November 1941Launched6 March 1943Commissioned26 May 1943FateSunk by a British aircraft and a British warship southeast of Bear Island on 4 March 1944 1 General characteristicsClass and typeType VIIC submarineDisplacement769 tonnes 757 long tons surfaced 871 t 857 long tons submergedLength67 10 m 220 ft 2 in o a 50 50 m 165 ft 8 in pressure hullBeam6 20 m 20 ft 4 in o a 4 70 m 15 ft 5 in pressure hullHeight9 60 m 31 ft 6 in Draught4 74 m 15 ft 7 in Installed power2 800 3 200 PS 2 100 2 400 kW 2 800 3 200 bhp diesels 750 PS 550 kW 740 shp electric Propulsion2 shafts 2 diesel engines 2 electric motors Speed17 7 knots 32 8 km h 20 4 mph surfaced 7 6 knots 14 1 km h 8 7 mph submergedRange8 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 submergedTest depth230 m 750 ft Crush depth 250 295 m 820 968 ft Complement4 officers 40 56 enlistedArmament5 53 3 cm 21 in torpedo tubes four bow one stern 14 torpedoes or 26 TMA mines 1 8 8 cm 3 46 in deck gun 220 rounds 1 twin 2 cm 0 79 in C 30 anti aircraft gunService record 2 Part of 5th U boat Flotilla 26 May 31 December 1943 11th U boat Flotilla 1 January 4 March 1944Commanders Oblt z S Wolfgang Friedrich Freiherr von Forstner 26 May 1943 4 March 1944Operations 1 patrol 24 February 4 March 1944Victories NoneShe carried out one patrol She sank no ships She was sunk by a British aircraft Swordfish B of 816 Squadron FAA by rocket projectiles and a British warship southeast of Bear Island on 4 March 1944 1 2 Contents 1 Design 2 Service history 2 1 Patrol and loss 2 2 Wolfpacks 3 References 4 Bibliography 5 External linksDesign EditGerman Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines U 472 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 Siemens Schuckert GU 343 38 8 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 472 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 one twin 2 cm 0 79 in C 30 anti aircraft gun The boat had a complement of between forty four and sixty 3 Service history EditThe submarine was laid down on 15 November 1941 at the Deutsche Werke in Kiel as yard number 303 launched on 6 March 1943 and commissioned on 26 May under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Wolfgang Friedrich Freiherr von Forstner She served with the 5th U boat Flotilla from 26 May 1943 for training and the 11th flotilla from 1 January 1944 for operations Patrol and loss Edit U 472 s only patrol was preceded by short voyages from Kiel in Germany to Hammerfest then Narvik in Norway Her only sortie began with her departure from Narvik on 24 February 1944 She sailed out into the Norwegian Sea then northeast towards the Barents Sea On 4 March when southeast of Bear Island she was attacked and sunk one source says she might have been scuttled 2 by gunfire and rockets from a Fairey Swordfish of 816 Naval Air Squadron FAA and the destroyer HMS Onslaught The aircraft had come from HMS Chaser Twenty three men died with U 472 there were thirty survivors 2 Wolfpacks Edit U 472 took part in four wolfpacks namely Isegrim 25 27 January 1944 Werwolf 27 January 1 February 1944 Hartmut 24 28 February 1944 Boreas 28 February 4 March 1944 References Edit a b Kemp 1999 pp 173 174 a b c d Helgason Gudmundur The Type VIIC boat U 472 German U boats of WWII uboat net Retrieved 24 September 2012 a b c d Groner 1991 pp 43 46 Bibliography EditBusch Rainer Roll 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 Roll 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 Groner 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 Kemp Paul 1999 U Boats Destroyed German Submarine Losses in the World Wars London Arms amp Armour ISBN 1 85409 515 3 External links EditHelgason Gudmundur The Type VIIC boat U 472 German U boats of WWII uboat net Retrieved 28 December 2014 Portals Military of Germany World War II Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title German submarine U 472 amp oldid 1104517559, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
