German submarine U-372

German submarine U-372 was a Type VIIC U-boat built for Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine for service during World War II. She was laid down on 17 November 1939 by Kriegsmarinewerft Kiel as construction number 3, launched on 8 March 1941 and commissioned on 19 April 1941 under Kapitänleutnant Heinz-Joachim Neumann.

History
Nazi Germany
Name	U-372
Ordered	23 September 1939
Builder	Kriegsmarinewerft Kiel, Kiel
Yard number	3
Laid down	17 November 1939
Launched	8 March 1941
Commissioned	19 April 1941
Fate	Sunk on 4 August 1942
General characteristics
Class & type	Type VIIC submarine
Displacement	769 tonnes (757 long tons) surfaced 871 t (857 long tons) submerged
Length	67.10 m (220 ft 2 in) o/a 50.50 m (165 ft 8 in) pressure hull
Beam	6.20 m (20 ft 4 in) o/a 4.70 m (15 ft 5 in) pressure hull
Draught	4.74 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	2 shafts 2 × diesel engines 2 × electric motors
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)
Complement	4 officers, 40–56 enlisted
Armament	5 × 53.3 cm (21 in) torpedo tubes (4 bow, 1 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 gun
Service record[1]
Part of:	1st U-boat Flotilla 19 April – 13 December 1941 29th U-boat Flotilla 14 December 1941 – 4 August 1942
Identification codes:	M 41 556
Commanders:	Kptlt. Heinz-Joachim Neumann 19 April 1941 – 4 August 1942
Operations:	6 patrols: 1st patrol: 9 July – 13 August 1941 2nd patrol: 10 September – 13 October 1941 3rd patrol: 13 November – 16 December 1941 4th patrol: 17 – 31 January 1942 5th patrol: 15 June – 12 July 1942 6th patrol: 27 July – 4 August 1942
Victories:	3 merchant ships sunk (11,751 GRT) 1 auxiliary warship sunk (14,650 GRT)

Design

German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-372 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 AEG GU 460/8–27 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-372 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

The boat's career began with training at 1st U-boat Flotilla on 19 April 1941, followed by active service on 1 July 1941 as part of the 1st Flotilla until 13 December 1941, when she joined 29th U-boat Flotilla for operations in the Mediterranean.

In 6 patrols she sank 3 merchant ships, for a total of 11,751 gross register tons (GRT), and HMS Medway, a 14,650 GRT, Royal Navy submarine depot ship.

Fate

U-372 was sunk on 4 August 1942 in the Mediterranean Sea, southwest of Haifa, in position 32°28′N 34°37′E, by depth charges from the Royal Navy destroyers HMS Sikh, HMS Zulu, HMS Croome, HMS Tetcott and a Royal Air Force Wellington bomber aircraft. The entire crew survived.

Wolfpacks

U-372 took part in three wolfpacks, namely:

• Brandenburg (15 September – 1 October 1941)
• Störtebecker (16 – 19 November 1941)
• Steuben (19 November – 2 December 1941)

Summary of raiding history

Date	Ship Name	Nationality	Tonnage[Note 1]	Fate[3]
5 August 1941	Belgravian	United Kingdom	3,136	Sunk
5 August 1941	Swiftpool	United Kingdom	5,205	Sunk
19 September 1941	Baron Pentland	United Kingdom	3,410	Sunk
30 June 1942	HMS Medway	Royal Navy	14,650	Sunk

See also

• Mediterranean U-boat Campaign (World War II)