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German submarine U-72 (1940)

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For other ships with the same name, see German submarine U-72.

German submarine U-72 was a Type VIIC submarine of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

History
Nazi Germany
NameU-72
Ordered25 January 1939
BuilderGermaniawerft, Kiel
Yard number619
Laid down28 December 1939
Launched22 November 1940
Commissioned4 January 1941
FateSunk by bombing, 30 March 1945
General characteristics
Class and typeType VIIC submarine
Displacement
Length
Beam
  • 6.20 m (20 ft 4 in) o/a
  • 4.70 m (15 ft 5 in) pressure hull
Height9.60 m (31 ft 6 in)
Draught4.74 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
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)
Complement4 officers, 40–56 enlisted
Armament
Service record[1]
Part of:
Identification codes: M 21 325
Commanders:
  • K.Kapt. Hans-Werner Neumann
  • 4 January – September 1941
  • Oblt.z.S. Helmut Köster
  • September – 1 December 1941
  • Kptlt. Waldemar Mehl
  • 2 December 1941 – 6 May 1942
  • Oblt.z.S. Hans-Martin Scheibe
  • 7 May – 19 November 1942
  • Oblt.z.S. Helmut Lange
  • 20 November 1942 – 14 December 1943
  • Oblt.z.S. Paul Sander
  • 15 December 1943 – 19 May 1944
  • Oblt.z.S. Karl-Theodor Mayer
  • 20 May 1944 – 30 March 1945
Operations: None
Victories: None

U-72 was launched on 22 November 1940 and commissioned on 4 January 1941. U-72 served with 24th U-boat Flotilla (a training unit), and later with 21st U-boat Flotilla (also a training unit), from 2 July 1941 to 30 March 1945. U-72 was used throughout World War II as a training boat until it was sunk in a daylight American bombing raid on 30 March 1945.[1]

Design

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German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-72 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 460/8-276 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-72 was fitted with two 53.3 cm (21 in) torpedo tubes at the bow, fourteen torpedoes, one 8.8 cm (3.46 in) SK C/35 naval gun, 220 rounds, and one 2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 anti-aircraft gun. The boat had a complement of between forty-four and sixty.[2]

Wreck Site

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The U 72 was found off the coast of Fla in 1971 by divers from Diver Haven, between the second and third reef. It is now in the area of the "Graveyard of ships in North Carolina.

UPDATE: According to information found on the uboat.net site "Sunk on 30 March 1945 at Bremen in the shipyard of Deschimag AG Weser, in position 53.08N, 08.46E, by bombs during US air raid (8th AF).

Wreck raised until 2 July 1947 and broken up.

References

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  1. ^ a b Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-72". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 23 December 2009.
  2. ^ a b c d Gröner 1991, pp. 43–46.

Bibliography

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  • 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. ISBN 1-55750-186-6.
  • 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. ISBN 3-8132-0514-2.
  • Gröner, Erich; 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.
  • Bishop, Chris (2006). Kriegsmarine U-Boats, 1939-45. London: Amber Books. ISBN 978-1-904687-96-2.
edit
  • Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-72". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 24 December 2014.
  • Hofmann, Markus. "U 72". Deutsche U-Boote 1935-1945 - u-boot-archiv.de (in German). Retrieved 26 December 2014.
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