German submarine U-562
German World War II submarine
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German submarine U-562 was a Type VIIC U-boat built for Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine for service during World War II. She was laid down on 7 February 1940 by Blohm & Voss in Hamburg as yard number 538, launched on 24 January 1941 and commissioned on 20 March 1941 under Oberleutnant zur See Herwig Collmann.
| History | |
|---|---|
 Nazi Germany | |
| 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 VIIC submarine |
| 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 | |
Design
German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type 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), 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 Brown, Boveri & Cie GG UB 720/8 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).[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), 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.[2]
Service history
The boat's service began on 20 March 1941 with training as part of the 1st U-boat Flotilla. She transferred to the 29th Flotilla on 1 January 1942 for active service, in the Mediterranean.
In ten patrols she sank six merchant ships, for a total of 37,287 gross register tons (GRT), plus one ship damaged.
Fate
U-562 was sunk on 19 February 1943 in the Mediterranean Sea NE of Bengazi in position 32°57′N 20°54′E, by a RAF Wellington bomber of 38 Squadron together with Royal Navy vessels, the destroyer HMS Isis and destroyer escort HMS Hursley. All 49 hands were lost.
Wolfpacks
U-562 took part in two wolfpacks, namely:
- Bosemüller (28 August – 2 September 1941)
- Brandenburg (15 September – 2 October 1941)
Summary of raiding history
| Date | Ship Name | Nationality | Tonnage (GRT) |
Fate[3] |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22 September 1941 | Erna III |  United Kingdom |
1,590 | Sunk |
| 2 October 1941 | Empire Wave | United Kingdom |
7,463 | Sunk |
| 2 December 1941 | Grelhead | United Kingdom |
4,274 | Sunk |
| 29 April 1942 | Alliance | United Kingdom |
81 | Sunk |
| 29 April 1942 | Terpsithea | United Kingdom |
157 | Sunk |
| 14 July 1942 | Adinda |  Netherlands |
3,359 | Damaged |
| 21 December 1942 | Strathallan | United Kingdom |
23,722 | Sunk |