# German submarine U-752

German submarine U-752 was a Type VIIC U-boat built for Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine for service during World War II.

## Design

German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-752 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 Garbe, Lahmeyer & Co. RP 137/c 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-752 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.

## Service history

She served with 3rd U-boat Flotilla from 24 May 1941 until 23 May 1943 under the command of Korvettenkapitän Karl-Ernst Schroeter. U-752 completed nine wartime patrols and sank nine ships and damaged one.

### Fate

Thirty-two days into her ninth patrol, on 23 May 1943, U-752 was attacked by Fairey Swordfish aircraft attached to the British escort carrier HMS Archer in the mid-Atlantic. A Rocket Spear, a new weapon with a solid cast iron head, entered and left the pressure hull leaving large holes, thus preventing the U-boat from diving. At the arrival of enemy surface craft, the surviving crew of 17 scuttled the boat and abandoned ship. This was the first success of the Rocket Spear. U-752 sank with 30 men. Heinz Krey was one of them.

### Wolfpacks

U-752 took part in ten wolfpacks, namely:
* Westwall (2 – 12 March 1942)
* Hai (3 – 21 July 1942)
* Schlagetot (9 – 21 November 1942)
* Habicht (10 – 19 January 1943)
* Haudegen (19 January – 9 February 1943)
* Amsel 3 (4 – 6 May 1943)
* Rhein (7 – 10 May 1943)
* Elbe 1 (10 – 14 May 1943)
* Oder (17 – 19 May 1943)
* Mosel (19 – 23 May 1943)

## Summary of raiding history

| Date | Ship Name | Nationality | Tonnage (GRT) | Fate |
| 25 August 1941 | T-898 (No 44) | Soviet Navy | 553 | Sunk |
| 27 August 1941 | RT-8 Seld´ | Soviet Union | 608 | Sunk |
| 15 November 1941 | T-889 (No 34) | Soviet Navy | 581 | Sunk |
| 21 April 1942 | West Imboden | United States | 5,751 | Sunk |
| 23 April 1942 | Reinholt | Norway | 4,799 | Damaged |
| 1 May 1942 | Bidevind | Norway | 4,956 | Sunk |
| 23 July 1942 | Garmula | United Kingdom | 5,254 | Sunk |
| 27 July 1942 | Leikanger | Norway | 4,003 | Sunk |
| 9 August 1942 | Menanau | Netherlands | 6,047 | Sunk |
| 13 August 1942 | Cripple Creek | United States | 6,347 | Sunk |