# German submarine U-375

German submarine U-375 was a Type VIIC U-boat built for Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine for service during World War II. She was laid down on 14 March 1940 by Howaldtswerke in Kiel as yard number 6, launched on 7 June 1941 and commissioned on 19 July 1941 under Kapitänleutnant Jürgen Koenenkamp.

## Design

German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-375 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-375 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

The boat's service began on 19 July 1941 with training as part of the 5th U-boat Flotilla. She was transferred to the 3rd Flotilla on 1 November 1941 for active service, followed by a transfer to 29th Flotilla on 1 January 1942 in the Mediterranean.
In 10 patrols she sank 8 merchant ships, for a total of 8,090 GRT, plus 1 warship damaged and another merchant ship written off as a total loss.

### Fate

U-375 has been missing since 25 July 1943 in the Mediterranean Sea south of Sicily. All hands were lost.

### Previously recorded fate

U-375 was thought to have been sunk after being depth charged by USN submarine chaser PC-624 on 30 July 1943 at position 36°40′N 12°28′E﻿ / ﻿36.667°N 12.467°E﻿ / 36.667; 12.467 in the Mediterranean NW of Malta. All hands were lost. This attack was actually against Italian submarine Velella, inflicting no damage.

## Summary of raiding history

| Date | Ship Name | Nationality | Tonnage | Fate |
| 6 July 1942 | Hero | Norway | 1,376 | Sunk |
| 30 July 1942 | Amina | Egypt | 87 | Sunk |
| 30 July 1942 | Ikbal | Egypt | 176 | Sunk |
| 26 August 1942 | Empire Kumari | United Kingdom | 6,288 | Total loss |
| 3 September 1942 | Miriam | Mandatory Palestine | 38 | Sunk |
| 3 September 1942 | Arnon | Mandatory Palestine | 558 | Sunk |
| 3 September 1942 | Salina | Mandatory Palestine | 108 | Sunk |
| 6 September 1942 | Turkian | Egypt | 113 | Sunk |
| 1 December 1942 | HMS Manxman | Royal Navy | 2,650 | Damaged |
| 4 July 1943 | St.Essylt | United Kingdom | 5,634 | Sunk |