German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-572 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 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 720/8 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 17.7 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-572 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 historyedit
U-572 undertook nine patrols before it was sunk by an Allied marine aircraft in the Mid Atlantic in 1943.
The boat made an attempt to enter the Mediterranean but the commander gave up after a long period submerged in the heavy defences at Gibraltar and stated that he considered that his boat had been damaged and therefore he could not continue. However, Kapitänleutnant Heinz Hirsacker was reported by his senior watch officer for alleged cowardice. He was found guilty of "cowardice in the presence of the enemy" by courts marshall. On 24 April 1943 he committed suicide shortly before his execution.[3] The U Boat was depth charged and sunk by a US Martin PBM Mariner from VP-205 NE of Trinidad on 3 August 1943, in position 11°35′N54°05′W / 11.583°N 54.083°W / 11.583; -54.083. All 47 crew members died.
^"Uboat.net - Heinz Hirsacker". www.uboat.net. Retrieved 13 September 2019.
^Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U-572". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 3 February 2014.
Bibliographyedit
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). Der U-Boot-Krieg, 1939-1945: Deutsche U-Boot-Verluste von September 1939 bis Mai 1945 [German U-boat losses from September 1939 to May 1945] (in German). Vol. IV. Hamburg, Berlin, Bonn: Mittler. ISBN3-8132-0514-2.
Gröner, Eric; Jung, Dieter; Maass, Martin (1991). German Warships 1815-1945: U-boats and Mine Warfare Vessels. Vol. 2. Translated by Thomas, Keith; Magowan, Rachel. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN0-85177-593-4.
german, submarine, type, viic, boat, built, nazi, germany, kriegsmarine, service, during, world, keel, laid, down, june, 1940, blohm, voss, yard, hamburg, yard, number, launched, april, 1941, commissioned, historynazi, germanynameu, 572ordered24, october, 1939. German submarine U 572 was a Type VIIC U boat built for Nazi Germany s Kriegsmarine for service during World War II Her keel was laid down 15 June 1940 at the Blohm amp Voss yard in Hamburg as yard number 548 She was launched on 5 April 1941 and commissioned on 29 May HistoryNazi GermanyNameU 572Ordered24 October 1939BuilderBlohm amp Voss of HamburgYard number548Laid down15 June 1940Launched5 April 1941Commissioned29 May 1941FateSunk on 3 August 1943 off TrinidadGeneral 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 motorsSpeed17 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 x 2 cm 0 79 in C 30 AA gunService record 1 Part of 3rd U boat Flotilla 29 May 1941 3 August 1943Identification codes M 42 493Commanders Kptlt Heinz Hirsacker 29 May 1941 18 December 1942 Oblt z S Heinz Kummetat 18 December 1942 3 August 1943Operations 9 patrols 1st patrol 2 September 2 October 1941 2nd patrol 30 October 29 November 1941 3rd patrol 7 January 10 February 1942 4th patrol 14 March 14 May 1942 5th patrol 30 June 3 September 1942 6th patrol 12 October 22 November 1942 7th patrol 23 December 1942 11 February 1943 8th patrol 10 March 18 April 1943 9th patrol 2 June 3 August 1943Victories 6 merchant ships sunk 19 323 GRT 1 merchant ship damaged 6 207 GRT Contents 1 Design 2 Service history 2 1 Wolfpacks 3 Summary of raiding history 4 References 4 1 Notes 4 2 Citations 5 Bibliography 6 External linksDesign editGerman Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines U 572 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 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 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 572 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 editU 572 undertook nine patrols before it was sunk by an Allied marine aircraft in the Mid Atlantic in 1943 The boat made an attempt to enter the Mediterranean but the commander gave up after a long period submerged in the heavy defences at Gibraltar and stated that he considered that his boat had been damaged and therefore he could not continue However Kapitanleutnant Heinz Hirsacker was reported by his senior watch officer for alleged cowardice He was found guilty of cowardice in the presence of the enemy by courts marshall On 24 April 1943 he committed suicide shortly before his execution 3 The U Boat was depth charged and sunk by a US Martin PBM Mariner from VP 205 NE of Trinidad on 3 August 1943 in position 11 35 N 54 05 W 11 583 N 54 083 W 11 583 54 083 All 47 crew members died Wolfpacks edit U 572 took part in eleven wolfpacks namely Brandenburg 15 September 1 October 1941 Stortebecker 5 19 November 1941 Godecke 19 26 November 1941 Hai 3 21 July 1942 Streitaxt 20 October 2 November 1942 Schlagetot 9 16 November 1942 Falke 28 December 1942 19 January 1943 Landsknecht 19 28 January 1943 Hartherz 3 7 February 1943 Seeteufel 21 30 March 1943 Lowenherz 1 10 April 1943 Summary of raiding history editDate Ship Name Nationality Tonnage Note 1 Fate 4 4 April 1942 Ensis nbsp United Kingdom 6 207 Damaged16 April 1942 Desert Light nbsp Panama 2 368 Sunk20 April 1942 Empire Dryden nbsp United Kingdom 7 164 Sunk7 August 1942 Delfshaven nbsp Netherlands 5 281 Sunk22 June 1943 Lot nbsp Free French Naval Forces 4 220 Sunk14 July 1943 Harvard nbsp United Kingdom 114 Sunk15 July 1943 Gilbert B Walters nbsp United Kingdom 176 SunkReferences editNotes edit Merchant ship tonnages are in gross register tons Military vessels are listed by tons displacement Citations edit Helgason Gudmundur The Type VIIC boat U 572 German U boats of WWII uboat net Retrieved 15 October 2014 a b c d Groner 1991 pp 43 46 Uboat net Heinz Hirsacker www uboat net Retrieved 13 September 2019 Helgason Gudmundur Ships hit by U 572 German U boats of WWII uboat net Retrieved 3 February 2014 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 Der U Boot Krieg 1939 1945 Deutsche U Boot Verluste von September 1939 bis Mai 1945 German U boat losses from September 1939 to May 1945 in German Vol IV Hamburg Berlin Bonn Mittler ISBN 3 8132 0514 2 Groner Eric Jung Dieter Maass Martin 1991 German Warships 1815 1945 U boats and Mine Warfare Vessels Vol 2 Translated by Thomas Keith Magowan Rachel London Conway Maritime Press ISBN 0 85177 593 4 Sharpe Peter 1998 U Boat Fact File Earl Shilton Midland Counties ISBN 1 85780 072 9 External links editHelgason Gudmundur The Type VIIC boat U 572 German U boats of WWII uboat net Retrieved 29 December 2014 11 35 N 54 05 W 11 583 N 54 083 W 11 583 54 083 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title German submarine U 572 amp oldid 1213321037, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
