German submarine U-88 (1941)

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For other ships with the same name, see German submarine U-88.
History
Nazi Germany
Name: U-88
Ordered: 25 January 1939
Builder: Flender Werke, Lübeck
Yard number: 292
Laid down: 1 July 1940
Launched: 16 August 1941
Commissioned: 15 October 1941
Fate: Sunk 12 September 1942 south of Svalbard by a British warship[1]
General characteristics
Class & type: Type VIIC submarine
Displacement:
  • 769 tonnes (757 long tons) surfaced
  • 871 t (857 long tons) submerged
Length:
Beam:
  • 6.20 m (20 ft 4 in) o/a
  • 4.70 m (15 ft 5 in) pressure hull
Height: 9.60 m (31 ft 6 in)
Draught: 4.74 m (15 ft 7 in)
Installed power:
  • 2,800–3,200 PS (2,100–2,400 kW; 2,800–3,200 bhp) (diesels)
  • 750 PS (550 kW; 740 shp) (electric)
Propulsion:
Range:
  • 8,500 nmi (15,700 km; 9,800 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) surfaced
  • 80 nmi (150 km; 92 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph) submerged
Test depth:
  • 230 m (750 ft)
  • Crush depth: 250–295 m (820–968 ft)
Complement: 4 officers, 40–56 enlisted
Armament:
Service record
Part of:
Identification codes: M 27 945
Commanders: Kptlt. Heino Bohmann
Operations:
  • Three
  • 1st patrol: 29 April – 3 May 1942
  • 2nd patrol: 17 June – 11 July 1942
  • 3rd patrol: 25 August – 12 September 1942
Victories: Two ships, totalling (12,304 GRT) sunk

German submarine U-88 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

She was laid down at the Flender Werke in Lübeck as yard number 292, launched on 16 August 1941 and commissioned on 15 October with Kapitänleutnant Heino Bohmann in command.

She was a fairly successful boat, succeeding in sinking over 12,000 tons of Allied shipping in a career lasting just one year over three patrols.

Design

German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-88 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 MAN M 6 V 40/46 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-88 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 an anti-aircraft gun. The boat had a complement of between forty-four and sixty.[2]

Service history

1st patrol

Having moved from Kiel to Kirkenes in Norway in April 1942, U-88 departed for her first patrol on the 29th. She returned on 3 May.

2nd patrol

The boat moved from Kirkenes to Narvik in early May and set-off for what was to be her most successful patrol on 17 June 1942. She sank two American ships, part of the ill-fated Convoy PQ-17, on 5 July. After a three hour pursuit, the Carlton was hit by a torpedo which did not detonate. A second torpedo did explode on impact, the ship sank in ten minutes. U-88's second victim was the Daniel Morgan which had already been attacked by German aircraft. Two 'eels' (U-boat slang for torpedoes), sent her to the bottom. Three men died, there were 51 survivors.

3rd patrol and loss

U-88 left Narvik for the last time on 25 August 1942. She was sunk south of Spitzbergen at Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. by depth charges from the British destroyer HMS Faulknor on 12 September.

46 men died; there were no survivors.

Wolfpacks

U-88 took part in three wolfpacks, namely.

  • Strauchritter (29 April - 2 May 1942)
  • Eisteufel (21 June - 11 July 1942)
  • Trägertod (12 September 1942)

Summary of raiding history

Date Ship Nationality Tonnage Fate[3]
5 July 1942 Carlton  United States 5,127 Sunk
5 July 1942 Daniel Morgan  United States 7,177 Sunk

See also

References

  1. ↑ Kemp 1999, p. 89.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Gröner 1991, pp. 43-46.
  3. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

Bibliography

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External links

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