Although this photograph is undated, it was probably taken pre-war, as U-52's number, here visible on the conning tower, was painted out on the commencement of hostilities
U-52 was attacked by an American warship, USS Niblack (DD-424), on 10 April 1941. She undertook eight war patrols in the Battle of the Atlantic, she sank thirteen ships before being scuttled at Danzig in 1945 and broken up in 1947.
German Type VIIB submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIA submarines. U-52 had a displacement of 753 tonnes (741 long tons) when at the surface and 857 tonnes (843 long tons) while submerged.[2] She had a total length of 66.50 m (218 ft 2 in), a pressure hull length of 48.80 m (160 ft 1 in), a beam of 6.20 m (20 ft 4 in), a height of 9.50 m (31 ft 2 in), and a draught of 4.74 m (15 ft 7 in). The submarine was powered by two MAN M 6 V 40/46 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 BBC GG UB 720/8double-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 17.9 knots (33.2 km/h; 20.6 mph) and a maximum submerged speed of 8 knots (15 km/h; 9.2 mph).[2] When submerged, the boat could operate for 90 nautical miles (170 km; 100 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph); when surfaced, she could travel 8,700 nautical miles (16,100 km; 10,000 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph). U-52 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 2 cm (0.79 in)anti-aircraft gun The boat had a complement of between forty-four and sixty.[2]
Service history
First patrol
U-52's first patrol began with her departure from Kiel on 19 August 1939, well before the outbreak of war. She crossed the North Sea and headed for the Atlantic Ocean via the 'gap' between Iceland and the Faroe Islands. The most southerly point of the patrol was reached on 1 September, the same day that Germany began the invasion of Poland.
Second patrol
After a series of short trips from Kiel to the German-administered island of Helgoland, (also known as Heligoland) and then Wilhelmshaven, the boat left Helgoland on 27 February 1940 and arrived at Wilhelmshaven on 4 April.
Third patrol
Three days later, U-52 began her third sortie. It was very similar to her second; but success continued to elude her. She crossed the North Sea and swept the area between the Faroes and Shetland Islands.
Fourth patrol
Having sailed in a southerly direction to the west of Ireland, the boat sank The Monarch 60 nautical miles (110 km; 69 mi) west of Belle Ile in the Bay of Biscay on 19 June 1940. Moving further into the Bay, U-52 came across the Ville de Namur. At first the Germans were under the impression that large wooden structures on deck were for weapons, when they were stables for horses. Nevertheless, the vessel was sunk; she went down in five minutes.
She also sank the Hilda on 21 June and the Thetis A. on 14 July. The latter vessel had already been attacked, but the torpedo used malfunctioned, (a common occurrence in the early months of the war).
Fifth patrol
SS Geraldine Mary 4 August 1940
Foray number five was in terms of tonnage sunk, her most successful; she destroyed the Gogovale on 4 August 1940 about 300 nautical miles (560 km; 350 mi) west southwest of Bloody Foreland (County Donegal in Ireland).[3] On about the same day the submarine was badly damaged by British escorts; repairs took four months to implement.
Sixth patrol
Her tally rose steadily with the demise of the Tasso and the Goodleigh on the same day (2 December 1940). Both ships went to the bottom about 360 nautical miles (670 km; 410 mi) west of Bloody Foreland.
Seventh patrol
Continuing her hunting in mid-Atlantic, U-52 sank the Ringhorn on 4 February 1941 and the Canford Chine about 165 nautical miles (306 km; 190 mi) southwest of Rockall, (a tiny outcrop), on the tenth. There were no survivors from the second ship.
Eighth patrol
She sank the Saleier on 10 April 1941. The ship sank in 15 seconds but the whole crew of 63 survived.[4]
Her last recorded victim was the Ville de Liège, a Belgian-registered vessel which was successfully attacked about 700 nautical miles (1,300 km; 810 mi) east of Cape Farewell, (southern Greenland)[5] on 14 April.
^Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U-52". German U-boats of WWII – uboat.net. Retrieved 5 November 2012.
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. 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.
External links
Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIB boat U-52". German U-boats of WWII – uboat.net. Retrieved 8 December 2014.
Hofmann, Markus. "U 52". Deutsche U-Boote 1935–1945 – u-boot-archiv.de (in German). Retrieved 18 February 2015.
german, submarine, 1938, other, ships, with, same, name, german, submarine, german, submarine, type, viib, boat, nazi, germany, kriegsmarine, during, world, initially, ordered, 1937, violation, terms, treaty, versailles, laid, down, march, 1938, yards, friedri. For other ships with the same name see German submarine U 52 German submarine U 52 was a type VIIB U boat of Nazi Germany s Kriegsmarine during World War II She was initially ordered on 15 May 1937 in violation of the terms of the Treaty of Versailles and laid down on 9 March 1938 at the yards of Friedrich Krupp Germaniawerft AG in Kiel as yard number 587 Launched on 21 December 1938 she was commissioned on 4 February 1939 under the command of Kapitanleutnant Kptlt Wolfgang Barten Although this photograph is undated it was probably taken pre war as U 52 s number here visible on the conning tower was painted out on the commencement of hostilitiesHistoryNazi GermanyNameU 52Ordered15 May 1937 1 BuilderGermaniawerft KielCost4 439 000 ReichsmarkYard number587Laid down9 March 1937 1 Launched21 December 1938 1 Commissioned4 February 1939 1 Decommissioned22 October 1943FateScuttled at Danzig 3 May 1945 broken up 1946 7 1 General characteristicsClass and typeType VIIB U boatDisplacement753 t 741 long tons surfaced 857 t 843 long tons submergedLength66 50 m 218 ft 2 in o a 48 80 m 160 ft 1 in pressure hullBeam6 20 m 20 ft 4 in o a 4 70 m 15 ft 5 in pressure hullDraught4 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 motorsRange8 700 nmi 16 112 km 10 012 mi at 10 knots 19 km h 12 mph surfaced 90 nmi 170 km 100 mi at 4 knots 7 4 km h 4 6 mph Test depth230 m 750 ft Calculated crush depth 250 295 m 820 968 ft Complement4 officers 40 56 enlistedSensors and processing systemsGruppenhorchgeratArmament5 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 2 cm 0 79 in C 30 anti aircraft gunService recordPart of 7th U boat Flotilla 4 February 31 May 1941 26th U boat Flotilla 1 June 31 March 1942 24th U boat Flotilla 1 April 1942 30 September 1943 23rd U boat Flotilla 1 22 October 1943Commanders Oblt z S Wolfgang Barten 4 February 17 September 1939 Kptlt Otto Salman 14 November 1939 9 June 1941 Kptlt Helmut Mohlmann 20 March 15 April 1941 Oblt z S Wolf Rudiger von Rabenau 10 June 6 July 1941 Oblt z S Freiherr Walter von Freyberg Eisenberg Allmendingen 7 July 1941 13 January 1942 Oblt z S Friedrich Mumm 16 January 24 July 1942 Oblt z S Hermann Rossmann 25 July 1942 31 March 1943 Oblt z S Ernst August Racky 1 April 22 October 1943Operations 8 patrols 1st patrol a 19 August 17 September 1939 b 20 21 February 1940 c 25 February 1940 d 27 February 1940 2nd patrol 27 February 4 April 1940 3rd patrol 7 29 April 1940 4th patrol 8 June 21 July 1940 5th patrol 27 July 13 August 1940 6th patrol 17 November 28 December 1940 7th patrol a 22 January 24 February 1941 b 22 23 March 1941 c 27 31 March 1941 8th patrol 3 April 1 May 1941Victories 13 merchant ships sunk 56 333 GRT U 52 was attacked by an American warship USS Niblack DD 424 on 10 April 1941 She undertook eight war patrols in the Battle of the Atlantic she sank thirteen ships before being scuttled at Danzig in 1945 and broken up in 1947 Contents 1 Design 2 Service history 2 1 First patrol 2 2 Second patrol 2 3 Third patrol 2 4 Fourth patrol 2 5 Fifth patrol 2 6 Sixth patrol 2 7 Seventh patrol 2 8 Eighth patrol 3 Summary of raiding history 4 References 5 Bibliography 6 External linksDesign EditGerman Type VIIB submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIA submarines U 52 had a displacement of 753 tonnes 741 long tons when at the surface and 857 tonnes 843 long tons while submerged 2 She had a total length of 66 50 m 218 ft 2 in a pressure hull length of 48 80 m 160 ft 1 in a beam of 6 20 m 20 ft 4 in a height of 9 50 m 31 ft 2 in and a draught of 4 74 m 15 ft 7 in The submarine was powered by two MAN M 6 V 40 46 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 BBC GG UB 720 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 2 The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 17 9 knots 33 2 km h 20 6 mph and a maximum submerged speed of 8 knots 15 km h 9 2 mph 2 When submerged the boat could operate for 90 nautical miles 170 km 100 mi at 4 knots 7 4 km h 4 6 mph when surfaced she could travel 8 700 nautical miles 16 100 km 10 000 mi at 10 knots 19 km h 12 mph U 52 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 2 cm 0 79 in anti aircraft gun The boat had a complement of between forty four and sixty 2 Service history EditFirst patrol Edit U 52 s first patrol began with her departure from Kiel on 19 August 1939 well before the outbreak of war She crossed the North Sea and headed for the Atlantic Ocean via the gap between Iceland and the Faroe Islands The most southerly point of the patrol was reached on 1 September the same day that Germany began the invasion of Poland Second patrol Edit After a series of short trips from Kiel to the German administered island of Helgoland also known as Heligoland and then Wilhelmshaven the boat left Helgoland on 27 February 1940 and arrived at Wilhelmshaven on 4 April Third patrol Edit Three days later U 52 began her third sortie It was very similar to her second but success continued to elude her She crossed the North Sea and swept the area between the Faroes and Shetland Islands Fourth patrol Edit Having sailed in a southerly direction to the west of Ireland the boat sank The Monarch 60 nautical miles 110 km 69 mi west of Belle Ile in the Bay of Biscay on 19 June 1940 Moving further into the Bay U 52 came across the Ville de Namur At first the Germans were under the impression that large wooden structures on deck were for weapons when they were stables for horses Nevertheless the vessel was sunk she went down in five minutes She also sank the Hilda on 21 June and the Thetis A on 14 July The latter vessel had already been attacked but the torpedo used malfunctioned a common occurrence in the early months of the war Fifth patrol Edit SS Geraldine Mary 4 August 1940 Foray number five was in terms of tonnage sunk her most successful she destroyed the Gogovale on 4 August 1940 about 300 nautical miles 560 km 350 mi west southwest of Bloody Foreland County Donegal in Ireland 3 On about the same day the submarine was badly damaged by British escorts repairs took four months to implement Sixth patrol Edit Her tally rose steadily with the demise of the Tasso and the Goodleigh on the same day 2 December 1940 Both ships went to the bottom about 360 nautical miles 670 km 410 mi west of Bloody Foreland Seventh patrol Edit Continuing her hunting in mid Atlantic U 52 sank the Ringhorn on 4 February 1941 and the Canford Chine about 165 nautical miles 306 km 190 mi southwest of Rockall a tiny outcrop on the tenth There were no survivors from the second ship Eighth patrol Edit She sank the Saleier on 10 April 1941 The ship sank in 15 seconds but the whole crew of 63 survived 4 Her last recorded victim was the Ville de Liege a Belgian registered vessel which was successfully attacked about 700 nautical miles 1 300 km 810 mi east of Cape Farewell southern Greenland 5 on 14 April Summary of raiding history EditDate Ship Nationality Tonnage GRT Fate 6 19 June 1940 The Monarch United Kingdom 824 Sunk19 June 1940 Ville de Namur Belgium 7 463 Sunk21 June 1940 Hilda Finland 1 144 Sunk14 July 1940 Thetis A Greece 4 111 Sunk4 August 1940 Geraldine Mary United Kingdom 7 244 Sunk4 August 1940 Gogovale United Kingdom 4 586 Sunk4 August 1940 King Alfred United Kingdom 5 272 Sunk2 December 1940 Goodleigh United Kingdom 5 448 Sunk2 December 1940 Tasso United Kingdom 1 586 Sunk4 February 1941 Ringhorn Norway 1 298 Sunk10 February 1941 Canford Chine United Kingdom 3 364 Sunk10 April 1941 Saleier Netherlands 6 563 Sunk14 April 1941 Ville de Liege Belgium 7 430 SunkReferences Edit a b c d e Helgason Gudmundur The Type VIIB boat U 52 German U boats of WWII uboat net Retrieved 8 December 2014 a b c d Groner 1991 pp 43 44 The Times Atlas of the World Third edition revised 1995 ISBN 0 7230 0809 4 p 9 Salier Uboat Retrieved 30 January 2020 The Times Atlas of the World p 55 Helgason Gudmundur Ships hit by U 52 German U boats of WWII uboat net Retrieved 5 November 2012 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 External links EditHelgason Gudmundur The Type VIIB boat U 52 German U boats of WWII uboat net Retrieved 8 December 2014 Hofmann Markus U 52 Deutsche U Boote 1935 1945 u boot archiv de in German Retrieved 18 February 2015 Portals Military of Germany World War II Coordinates 54 07 N 10 50 E 54 117 N 10 833 E 54 117 10 833 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title German submarine U 52 1938 amp oldid 1104868559, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
