| History | |
|---|---|
| Name | U-562 |
| Ordered | 16 October 1939 |
| Builder | Blohm & Voss,Hamburg |
| Yard number | 538 |
| Laid down | 7 February 1940 |
| Launched | 24 January 1941 |
| Commissioned | 20 March 1941 |
| Fate | Sunk on 19 February 1943 |
| 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 40 608 |
| Commanders: |
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| Operations: |
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| Victories: | |
German submarineU-562 was aType VIICU-boat built forNazi Germany'sKriegsmarine for service duringWorld War II.She waslaid down on 7 February 1940 byBlohm & Voss inHamburg as yard number 538,launched on 24 January 1941 andcommissioned on 20 March 1941 underOberleutnant zur See Herwig Collmann.
German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorterType VIIB submarines.U-562 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, twoBrown, Boveri & Cie GG UB 720/8double-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-562 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 20 March 1941 with training as part of the1st U-boat Flotilla. She transferred to the29th Flotilla on 1 January 1942 for active service, in theMediterranean.
In ten patrols she sank six merchant ships, for a total of 37,287 gross register tons (GRT), plus one ship damaged.
U-562 was sunk on 19 February 1943 in theMediterranean Sea NE ofBengazi in position32°57′N20°54′E / 32.950°N 20.900°E /32.950; 20.900, by a RAFWellington bomber of38 Squadron together with Royal Navy vessels, the destroyerHMS Isis and destroyer escortHMS Hursley. All 49 hands were lost.
U-562 took part in twowolfpacks, namely:
| Date | Ship Name | Nationality | Tonnage (GRT) | Fate[3] |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22 September 1941 | Erna III | 1,590 | Sunk | |
| 2 October 1941 | Empire Wave | 7,463 | Sunk | |
| 2 December 1941 | Grelhead | 4,274 | Sunk | |
| 29 April 1942 | Alliance | 81 | Sunk | |
| 29 April 1942 | Terpsithea | 157 | Sunk | |
| 14 July 1942 | Adinda | 3,359 | Damaged | |
| 21 December 1942 | Strathallan | 23,722 | Sunk |