History | |
---|---|
![]() | |
Name | U-388 |
Ordered | 21 November 1940 |
Builder | Howaldtswerke,Kiel |
Yard number | 19 |
Laid down | 12 September 1941 |
Launched | 12 November 1942 |
Commissioned | 31 December 1942 |
Fate | Sunk on 20 June 1943[1] |
General characteristics | |
Class and type | Type VIICsubmarine |
Displacement | |
Length |
|
Beam |
|
Height | 9.60 m (31 ft 6 in) |
Draught | 4.74 m (15 ft 7 in) |
Installed power |
|
Propulsion |
|
Speed |
|
Range | |
Test depth |
|
Complement | 4 officers, 40–56 enlisted |
Armament |
|
Service record[2][3] | |
Part of: |
|
Identification codes: | M 49 299 |
Commanders: |
|
Operations: |
|
Victories: | None |
German submarineU-388 was aType VIICU-boat ofNazi Germany'sKriegsmarine during World War II.
The submarine waslaid down on 12 September 1941 at theHowaldtswerke yard inKiel,launched on 12 November 1942 andcommissioned on 31 December 1942 under the command ofOberleutnant zur See Peter Sues.[2]
German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorterType VIIB submarines.U-388 had a displacement of 769 tonnes (757 long tons) when at the surface and 871 tonnes (857 long tons) while submerged.[4] 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).[4]
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).[4] 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-388 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 two twin2 cm (0.79 in) C/30anti-aircraft guns. The boat had acomplement of between forty-four and sixty.[4]
U-388 conducted her training as part of the5th U-boat Flotilla, before being attached to the9th U-boat Flotilla for front-line service on 1 June 1943.[2]
U-388 sailed fromKiel on 8 June 1943 on her first patrol in the Atlantic. On 20 June, she was sunk south-east ofCape Farewell,Greenland, in position57°36′N31°20′W / 57.600°N 31.333°W /57.600; -31.333, bydepth charges from aPBY Catalina aircraft of United States Navy Patrol SquadronVP-84, and was lost with all 47 men on board.[2]