| History | |
|---|---|
| Name | U-375 |
| Ordered | 16 October 1939 |
| Builder | Howaldtswerke,Kiel |
| Yard number | 6 |
| Laid down | 14 March 1940 |
| Launched | 7 June 1941 |
| Commissioned | 19 July 1941 |
| Fate | Missing since 25 July 1943 in the Mediterranean Sea south of Sicily. No explanation for her loss. |
| General characteristics | |
| Class & type | Type VIICsubmarine |
| Displacement | |
| Length |
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| Beam |
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| Height | 9.60 m (31 ft 6 in) |
| Draught | 4.74 m (15 ft 7 in) |
| Installed power |
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| Propulsion |
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| Speed |
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| Range | |
| Test depth |
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| Complement | 4 officers, 40–56 enlisted |
| Armament |
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| Service record[1] | |
| Part of: |
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| Identification codes: | M 00 016 |
| Commanders: |
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| Operations: |
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| Victories: | |
German submarineU-375 was aType VIICU-boat built forNazi Germany'sKriegsmarine for service duringWorld War II.She waslaid down on 14 March 1940 byHowaldtswerke inKiel as yard number 6,launched on 7 June 1941 andcommissioned on 19 July 1941 underKapitänleutnant Jürgen Koenenkamp.
German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorterType 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.[2] She had a total length of 67.10 m (220 ft 2 in), apressure hull length of 50.50 m (165 ft 8 in), abeam of 6.20 m (20 ft 4 in), a height of 9.60 m (31 ft 6 in), and adraught of 4.74 m (15 ft 7 in). The submarine was powered by twoGermaniawerft F46 four-stroke, six-cylindersuperchargeddiesel 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, twoGarbe, Lahmeyer & Co. RP 137/cdouble-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-375 was fitted with five 53.3 cm (21 in)torpedo tubes (four fitted at the bow and one at the stern), fourteentorpedoes, one8.8 cm (3.46 in) SK C/35 naval gun, 220 rounds, and a2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 anti-aircraft gun. The boat had acomplement of between forty-four and sixty.[2]
The boat's service began on 19 July 1941 with training as part of the5th U-boat Flotilla. She was transferred to the3rd Flotilla on 1 November 1941 for active service, followed by a transfer to29th Flotilla on 1 January 1942 in theMediterranean.
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.
U-375 has been missing since 25 July 1943 in the Mediterranean Sea south of Sicily. All hands were lost.[1]
U-375 was thought to have been sunk after being depth charged by USN submarine chaser PC-624 on 30 July 1943 at position36°40′N12°28′E / 36.667°N 12.467°E /36.667; 12.467 in theMediterranean NW ofMalta. All hands were lost. This attack was actually against Italian submarineVelella, inflicting no damage.
| Date | Ship Name | Nationality | Tonnage[Note 1] | Fate[3] |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 July 1942 | Hero | 1,376 | Sunk | |
| 30 July 1942 | Amina | 87 | Sunk | |
| 30 July 1942 | Ikbal | 176 | Sunk | |
| 26 August 1942 | Empire Kumari | 6,288 | Total loss | |
| 3 September 1942 | Miriam | 38 | Sunk | |
| 3 September 1942 | Arnon | 558 | Sunk | |
| 3 September 1942 | Salina | 108 | Sunk | |
| 6 September 1942 | Turkian | 113 | Sunk | |
| 1 December 1942 | HMS Manxman | 2,650 | Damaged | |
| 4 July 1943 | St.Essylt | 5,634 | Sunk |