German submarine U-952

German submarine U-952 was a Type VIIC U-boat built for Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine for service during World War II. She was laid down on 1 February 1942 by Blohm & Voss, Hamburg as yard number 152, launched on 14 October 1942 and commissioned on 10 December 1942 under Oberleutnant zur See Oskar Curio.

History
Nazi Germany
Name	U-952
Ordered	10 April 1941
Builder	Blohm & Voss, Hamburg
Yard number	152
Laid down	1 February 1942
Launched	14 October 1942
Commissioned	10 December 1942
Decommissioned	12 July 1944
Fate	Broken up in 1946
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 (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 gun
Service record[1]
Part of:	5th U-boat Flotilla 10 December 1942 – 30 April 1943 3rd U-boat Flotilla 1 May 1943 – 31 January 1944 29th U-boat Flotilla 1 February – 12 July 1944
Identification codes:	M 49 527
Commanders:	Oblt.z.S. / Kptlt. Oskar Curio 10 December 1942 – 12 July 1944
Operations:	5 patrols: 1st patrol: a. 27 April – 31 May 1943 b. 2 August 1943 c. 26 August – 5 September 1943 2nd patrol: 6 September – 23 October 1943 3rd patrol: a. 11 – 15 December 1943 b. 16 December 1943 – 15 January 1944 4th patrol: a. 17 February – 20 March 1944 b. 3 – 7 May 1944 5th patrol: 8 May – 21 June 1944
Victories:	2 merchant ships sunk (13,374 GRT) 1 warship sunk (925 tons) 1 merchant ship damaged (7,176 GRT)

Design

German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-952 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 Brown, Boveri & Cie 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-952 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.^[2]

Service history

The boat's career began with training at 5th U-boat Flotilla on 10 December 1942, followed by active service on 1 May 1943 as part of the 3rd Flotilla for the next seven months. On 1 February 1944 she transferred to serve with 29th Flotilla, based in La Spezia, for Mediterranean operations.

In five patrols she sank two merchant ships, for a total of 13,374 gross register tons (GRT), as well as one warship and also damaged a merchant ship.

Wolfpacks

U-952 took part in five wolfpacks, namely:

• Without name (5 – 10 May 1943)
• Isar (10 – 15 May 1943)
• Donau 1 (15 – 26 May 1943)
• Leuthen (15 – 24 September 1943)
• Rossbach (27 September – 6 October 1943)

Fate

U-952 was decommissioned on 12 July 1944 after being badly damaged on 5 July 1944 by US air raid. Her wreck was captured by French and broken up in 1946.

Previously recorded fate

U-952 was sunk on 6 August 1944 in the Military port of Toulon, France, in position 43°07′N 05°55′E, during an air raid by US Liberator bombers.

Summary of raiding history

Date	Ship Name	Nationality	Tonnage[Note 1]	Fate[3]
21 September 1943	HMS Polyanthus	Royal Navy	925	Sunk
23 September 1943	Steel Voyager	United States	6,198	Sunk
23 September 1943	James Gordon Bennett	United States	7,176	Damaged
10 March 1944	William B. Woods	United States	7,176	Sunk

See also

• Mediterranean U-boat Campaign (World War II)