German submarine U-292

History
Nazi Germany
Name:	U-292
Ordered:	14 October 1941
Builder:	Vegesacker Werft, Bremen-Vegesack
Yard number:	57
Laid down:	12 November 1942
Launched:	20 July 1943
Commissioned:	25 August 1943
Fate:	Sunk 27 May 1944 west of Trondheim by a British aircraft
General characteristics
Class & type:	Type VIIC/41 submarine
Displacement:	759 tonnes (747 long tons) surfaced 860 t (846 long tons) submerged
Length:	67.10 m (220 ft 2 in) o/a 50.50 m (165 ft 8 in) pressure hull
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:	2 shafts 2 × diesel engines 2 × electric motors
Speed:	17.7 knots (32.8 km/h; 20.4 mph) surfaced 7.6 knots (14.1 km/h; 8.7 mph) submerged
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:	250 m (820 ft) Crush depth: 275–325 m (902–1,066 ft)
Complement:	44–60 officers and ratings
Armament:	5 × 53.3 cm (21 in) torpedo tubes (four bow, one stern) 14 × torpedoes 1 × 8.8 cm (3.46 in) deck gun (220 rounds) various AA guns
Service record
Part of:	8th U-boat Flotilla 25 August 1943 – 30 April 1944 1st U-boat Flotilla 1 May 1944 – 27 May 1944
Commanders:	Oblt.z.S. Werner Schmidt 25 August 1943 – 27 May 1944
Operations:	One: 24–27 May 1944
Victories:	None

German submarine U-292 was a Type VIIC/41 U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

She was laid down on 12 November 1942 by the Vegesacker Werft (yard) at Bremen-Vegesack as yard number 57, launched on 20 July 1943, and commissioned on 25 August with Oberleutnant zur See Werner Schmidt in command.

She was sunk by a British aircraft, west of Trondheim in May 1944.

In one patrol, she sank or damaged no ships.

Design

German Type VIIC/41 submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-292 had a displacement of 759 tonnes (747 long tons) when at the surface and 860 tonnes (850 long tons) while submerged. 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 AEG GU 460/8–27 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).

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). 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-292 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.

Service history

The boat's service life began with training with the 8th U-boat Flotilla in August 1943. She was then transferred to the 1st flotilla for operations on 1 May 1944.

Patrol and loss

Having carried out a series of short voyages from Kiel and Larvik in Norway, the submarine departed Bergen (also in Norway) on 24 May 1944. On the 27th, she was sunk by depth charges dropped from Liberator S of No. 59 Squadron RAF west of Trondheim in position .

Fifty-one men died; there were no survivors.

See also

• Battle of the Atlantic (1939-1945)