German submarine U-952

History
Nazi Germany
Name:	U-952
Ordered:	10 April 1941
Builder:	Blohm & Voss, Hamburg
Yard number:	152
Laid down:	1 February 1942
Launched:	14 October 1942
Commissioned:	10 December 1942
Fate:	Sunk 6 August 1944 in the Toulon in position ; bombed by US Liberators.
General characteristics
Class & type:	Type VIIC submarine
Displacement:	769 tonnes (757 long tons) surfaced 871 t (857 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
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:	230 m (750 ft) Crush depth: 250–295 m (820–968 ft)
Complement:	4 officers, 40–56 enlisted
Armament:	5 × 53.3 cm (21 in) torpedo tubes (four bow, one stern) 14 × torpedoes or 26 TMA mines 1 × 8.8 cm (3.46 in) deck gun (220 rounds) various AA guns
Service record
Part of:	5th U-boat Flotilla 10 December 1942 – 30 April 1943 - Training 3rd U-boat Flotilla 1 May 1943 – 31 January 1944 29th U-boat Flotilla 1 February - 6 August 1944
Commanders:	Oblt.z.S. Oskar Curio 10 December 1942 - 6 August 1944
Operations:	1st patrol: 27 April – 31 May 1943 2nd patrol: 6 September – 23 October 1943 3rd patrol: 11–15 December 1943 4th patrol: 17 February – 20 March 1944 5th patrol: 8 May – 21 June 1944
Victories:	2 merchant ships sunk (13,374 GRT) 1 merchant ship damaged (7,176 GRT) 1 warship sunk (925 tons)

German submarine U-952 was a Type VIIC U-boat built for Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine for service during World War II. She was laid down on 1 February 1942 by Blohm & Voss, Hamburg as yard number 152, launched on 14 October 1942 and commissioned on 10 December 1942 under Oberleutnant zur See Oskar Curio.

Design

German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-952 had a displacement of 769 tonnes (757 long tons) when at the surface and 871 tonnes (857 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 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).

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-952 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 career began with training at 5th U-boat Flotilla on 10 December 1942, followed by active service on 1 May 1943 as part of the 3rd Flotilla for the next seven months. On 1 February 1944 she transferred to serve with 29th Flotilla, based in La Spezia, for Mediterranean operations.

In 5 patrols she sank two merchant ships, for a total of 13,374 gross register tons (GRT), plus one warship sunk and a further merchant ship damaged.

Wolfpacks

U-952 took part in five wolfpacks, namely

• Without name (5–10 May 1943)
• Isar (10–15 May 1943)
• Donau 1 (15–26 May 1943)
• Leuthen (15–24 September 1943)
• Rossbach (27 September – 6 October 1943)

Fate

U-952 was sunk on 6 August 1944 in the Military port of Toulon, France, in position , during an air raid by US Liberator bombers.

Summary of raiding history

Date	Name	Nationality	Tonnage	Fate
21 September 1943	HMS Polyanthus	Royal Navy	925	Sunk
23 September 1943	Steel Voyager	United States	6,198	Sunk
23 September 1943	James Gordon Bennett	United States	7,176	Damaged
10 March 1944	William B. Woods	United States	7,176	Sunk

See also

• Mediterranean U-boat Campaign (World War II)