German submarine U-362

German submarine U-362 was a Type VIIC U-boat built for Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine for service during World War II.

History
Nazi Germany
Name	U-362
Ordered	7 December 1940
Builder	Flensburger Schiffbau-Gesellschaft, Flensburg
Yard number	481
Laid down	9 November 1941
Launched	21 October 1942
Commissioned	4 February 1943
Fate	Sunk on 5 September 1944
General characteristics
Class and 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
Height	9.60 m (31 ft 6 in)
Draught	4.72 m (15 ft 6 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) Calculated crush depth: 250–295 m (820–968 ft)
Complement	44-52 officers and ratings
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) 4 × twin 2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 anti-aircraft guns
Service record
Part of:	8th U-boat Flotilla 4 February 1943 – 29 February 1944 13th U-boat Flotilla 1 March – 5 September 1944
Identification codes:	M 50 254
Commanders:	Oblt.z.S. Ludwig Franz 4 February 1943 – 5 September 1944
Operations:	5 patrols: 1st patrol: a. 6 – 10 February 1944 b. 14 – 28 February 1944 c. 29 February – 1 March 1944 d. 9 – 12 March 1944 e. 5 – 7 April 1944 2nd patrol: 8 – 13 April 1944 3rd patrol: 14 May – 7 June 1944 4th patrol: 14 – 20 July 1944 5th patrol: 2 August – 5 September 1944
Victories:	None

Built by Flensburger Schiffbau-Gesellschaft at Flensburg, the U-boat was laid down 9 November 1941, launched on 21 October 1942, and commissioned on 4 February 1943 with Oberleutnant zur See Ludwig Franz in command.

Design

German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-362 had a displacement of 769 tonnes (757 long tons) when at the surface and 871 tonnes (857 long tons) while submerged. 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).

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). 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-362 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 four twin 2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 anti-aircraft guns. The boat had a complement of between forty-four and sixty.

Service history

Sailing from Kiel on 6 February 1944, U-362 first sailed for northern Norway from where she sortied out into the Norwegian Sea on several patrols, without sinking any ships.

The U-boat sailed from Hammerfest on 2 August 1944, on her fifth and final patrol and headed east across the Barents Sea, north of Russia. On 5 September 1944 in the Kara Sea, she was sunk by depth charges from the T-116 at 75°51′N 89°27′E. All 51 of the crew were lost.

Wolfpacks

U-362 took part in five wolfpacks, namely:

• Werwolf (23 – 27 February 1944)
• Donner (11 – 12 April 1944)
• Trutz (16 – 31 May 1944)
• Grimm (31 May – 6 June 1944)
• Greif (3 August – 5 September 1944)

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. 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). 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.
• Kemp, Paul (1999). U-Boats Destroyed - German Submarine Losses in the World Wars. London: Arms & Armour. ISBN 1-85409-515-3.

External links

• Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-362". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 26 December 2014.
• Hofmann, Markus. "U 362". Deutsche U-Boote 1935-1945 - u-boot-archiv.de (in German). Retrieved 26 December 2014.