German submarine U-352

	Kapitänleutnant Rathke painted this watercolor of U-352 while held as a POW.
History
Name	U-352
Ordered	9 October 1939
Builder	Flensburger Schiffbau-Gesellschaft, Flensburg
Yard number	471
Laid down	11 March 1940
Launched	7 May 1941
Commissioned	28 August 1941
Fate	Sunk, 9 May 1942
General characteristics
Type	Type VIIC submarine
Displacement	list error: <br /> list (help); 769 tonnes (757 long tons) surfaced; 871 t (857 long tons) submerged
Length	list error: <br /> list (help); 67.1 m (220 ft 2 in) o/a; 50.5 m (165 ft 8 in) pressure hull
Beam	list error: <br /> list (help); 6.2 m (20 ft 4 in) o/a; 4.7 m (15 ft 5 in) pressure hull
Draft	4.74 m (15 ft 7 in)
Propulsion	list error: <br /> list (help); 2 × supercharged Germaniawerft 6-cylinder 4-stroke F46 diesel engines, totalling 2,800–3,200 bhp (2,100–2,400 kW). Max rpm: 470-490; 2 × electric motors, totalling 750 shp (560 kW) and max rpm: 296.
Speed	list error: <br /> list (help); 17.7 knots (32.8 km/h; 20.4 mph) surfaced; 7.6 knots (14.1 km/h; 8.7 mph) submerged
Range	list error: <br /> list (help); 15,170 km (8,190 nmi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) surfaced; 150 km (81 nmi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph) submerged
Test depth	list error: <br /> list (help); 230 m (750 ft); Crush depth: 250–295 m (820–968 ft)
Complement	44–52 officers and ratings
Armament	list error: <br /> list (help); 5 × 53.3 cm (21 in) torpedo tubes (four bow, one stern); 14 × G7e torpedoes or 26 TMA mines; 1 × 8.8 cm (3.46 in) deck gun (220 rounds); Various AA guns
Service record
Part of:	list error: <br /> list (help); 3rd U-boat Flotilla; (28 August 1941–9 May 1942)
Commanders:	list error: <br /> list (help); Kptlt. Hellmut Rathke; (28 August 1941–9 May 1942)
Operations:	list error: <br /> list (help); 1st patrol: 15 January–26 February 1942; 2nd patrol: 7 April–9 May 1942
Victories:	None

German submarine U-352 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. The submarine was laid down on 11 March 1940 at the Flensburger Schiffbau-Gesellschaft yard at Flensburg, launched on 7 May 1941, and commissioned on 28 August 1941 under the command of Kapitänleutnant Hellmut Rathke. She was part of the 3rd U-boat Flotilla, and was ready for front-line service by 1 January 1942.^[1]

Service history

1st patrol

U-352 left Kiel on 15 January 1942, and arrived at Bergen in Norway on the 19th.^[2] She left the next day and patrolled south of Iceland without success before sailing to her new home port at Saint-Nazaire in France by 26 February.^[3]

2nd patrol

U-352 left St. Nazaire on 7 April 1942 and sailed across the Atlantic to the coast of the north-eastern United States.^[4] There on 9 May 1942, she was sunk by depth charges from the U.S. Coast Guard cutter USCGC Icarus, south of Morehead City, North Carolina, in position 34°13.67′N 76°33.89′W / 34.22783°N 76.56483°W / 34.22783; -76.56483.^[1]^[5] Fifteen of the crew were lost, but 33 survived, and spent the remainder of the war as prisoners.^[1]

Dive site

U-352 lies in about 115 feet (35 m) of water, and sits at a 45-degree list to starboard. The wreck scatter is within a 100-m radius of location above on a sand bottom.^[5] This wreck has become an artificial reef that is heavily populated with Hemanthias vivanus.^[5] It is a popular scuba diving spot for advanced divers. A replica of the wreck is on display at the North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores.

Heinz Richter

Heinz Karl Richter, a Maschinengefreiter (equivalent of a Fireman 3rd Class) who survived the sinking, was found living in Canada and was interviewed for Discovery Channel's special coverage of U-352. He said that Captain Rathke was obsessed with receiving a Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross medal for sinking 100,000 tonnes-worth of enemy ships. Richter said that the captain's obsession eventually led to recklessness, ultimately resulting in the boat's sinking. Richter also said he was the last man out of the U-boat before it sank; those still on board were already dead, or perished in the boat as it sank.

Survivors

According to documents from the Naval Department, the following are survivors of the sinking:

Name	Rank	U.S. Navy equivalent
Rathke, Hellmut	Kapitänleutnant	Lieutenant
Bernard, Oskar	Leutnant z. S. (Sonderführer)	Ensign
Kammerer, Ernst	Fähnrich z. S.	Midshipman
Daehn, Arthur	Bootsmaat	Coxswain
Neitsch, Hans	Bootsmaat	Coxswain
Richter, Helmut H.	Bootsmaat	Coxswain
Kruger, Kurt	Funkmaat	Radioman 3 cl.
Sorg, Ludwig	Funkmaat	Radioman 3 cl.
Bollmann, Heinrich	Obermaschinist	Machinist
Grandke, Walter	Obermaschinist	Machinist
Brand, August Michael	Maschinenmaat	Fireman 1 cl.
Reussel, Gerd	Maschinenmaat	Fireman 1 cl.
Schwarzenberger, Heinz	Maschinenmaat	Fireman 1 cl.
Thönnissen, Kurt H.	Maschinenmaat	Fireman 1 cl.
Wesche, Martin Wilhelm	Maschinenmaat	Fireman 1 cl.
Wessoly, Lothar	Maschinenmaat	Fireman 1 cl.
Rusch, Gerhard	Maschinenobergefreiter	Fireman 2 cl.
Stengel, Otto	Maschinenobergefreiter	Fireman 2 cl.
Minzker, Johann	Maschinengefreiter	Fireman 3 cl.
Richter, Heinz Karl	Maschinengefreiter	Fireman 3 cl.
Twirdy, Heinrich	Maschinengefreiter	Fireman 3 cl.
Heinze, Hans	Matrosengefreiter	Seaman 2 cl.
Henschke, Otto	Matrosengefreiter	Seaman 2 cl.
Hering, Gerhard	Matrosengefreiter	Seaman 2 cl.
Herrschaft, Edgar	Matrosengefreiter	Seaman 2 cl.
Kominek, Franz	Matrosengefreiter	Seaman 2 cl.
Mattiz, Hans	Funkgefreiter	Seaman 2 cl.
Pickel, Erhard	Matrosengefreiter	Seaman 2 cl.
Richter, Gerhard	Maschinengefreiter	Seaman 2 cl.
Thiele, Rudolf	Mechanikergefreiter	Seaman 2 cl.
Link, Wilhelm	Matrose	Apprentice Seaman
Staron, Edmund	Matrose	Apprentice Seaman
TOTAL:	33	^[6]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d "The Type VIIC U-boat U-352". uboat.net. Retrieved 1 June 2010.
^ ^a ^b "War Patrols by German U-boat U-352". uboat.net. Retrieved 1 June 2010.
^ "Patrol of U-boat U-352 from 20 Jan 1942 to 26 Feb 1942". uboat.net. Retrieved 1 June 2010.
^ "Patrol of U-boat U-352 from 7 Apr 1942 to 9 May 1942". uboat.net. Retrieved 1 June 2010.
^ ^a ^b ^c Hoyt, JC (2009). "2008 Battle of the Atlantic Survey Methodology". In: Pollock NW, ed. Diving for Science 2009. Proceedings of the American Academy of Underwater Sciences 28th Symposium. Dauphin Island, AL: AAUS; 2009. Retrieved 2013-03-08.
^ "U-boat Archive : FINAL REPORT OF INTERROGATION OF SURVIVORS FROM U-352 SUNK BY U.S.C.G. ICARUS ON MAY 9, 1942". uboatarchive.net. Retrieved 7 October 2007.

External links

Warning: Display title "German submarine<i> U-352</i>" overrides earlier display title "German submarine <i>U-352</i>" (help).

[uboatnet-1] "The Type VIIC U-boat U-352". uboat.net. Retrieved 1 June 2010.

[patrols-2] "War Patrols by German U-boat U-352". uboat.net. Retrieved 1 June 2010.

[3] "Patrol of U-boat U-352 from 20 Jan 1942 to 26 Feb 1942". uboat.net. Retrieved 1 June 2010.

[4] "Patrol of U-boat U-352 from 7 Apr 1942 to 9 May 1942". uboat.net. Retrieved 1 June 2010.

[Hoyt2009-5] Hoyt, JC (2009). "2008 Battle of the Atlantic Survey Methodology". In: Pollock NW, ed. Diving for Science 2009. Proceedings of the American Academy of Underwater Sciences 28th Symposium. Dauphin Island, AL: AAUS; 2009. Retrieved 2013-03-08.

[Final_Report_of_Interrogation_of_Survivors-6] "U-boat Archive : FINAL REPORT OF INTERROGATION OF SURVIVORS FROM U-352 SUNK BY U.S.C.G. ICARUS ON MAY 9, 1942". uboatarchive.net. Retrieved 7 October 2007.

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v t e Type VII submarines
Type VIIA	U-27 U-28 U-29 U-30 U-31 U-32 U-33 U-34 U-35 U-36
Type VIIB	U-45 U-46 U-47 U-48 U-49 U-50 U-51 U-52 U-53 U-54 U-55 U-73 U-74 U-75 U-76 U-83 U-84 U-85 U-86 U-87 U-99 U-100 U-101 U-102
Type VIIC	U-69 U-70 U-71 U-72 U-77 U-78 U-79 U-80 U-81 U-82 U-88 U-89 U-90 U-91 U-92 U-93 U-94 U-95 U-96 U-97 U-98 U-132 U-133 U-134 U-135 U-136 U-201 U-202 U-203 U-204 U-205 U-206 U-207 U-208 U-209 U-210 U-211 U-212 U-221 U-222 U-223 U-224 U-225 U-226 U-227 U-228 U-229 U-230 U-231 U-232 U-235 U-236 U-237 U-238 U-239 U-240 U-241 U-242 U-243 U-244 U-245 U-246 U-247 U-248 U-249 U-250 U-251 U-252 U-253 U-254 U-255 U-256 U-257 U-258 U-259 U-260 U-261 U-262 U-263 U-264 U-265 U-266 U-267 U-268 U-269 U-270 U-271 U-272 U-273 U-274 U-275 U-276 U-277 U-278 U-279 U-280 U-281 U-282 U-283 U-284 U-285 U-286 U-287 U-288 U-289 U-290 U-291 U-301 U-302 U-303 U-304 U-305 U-306 U-307 U-308 U-309 U-310 U-311 U-312 U-313 U-314 U-315 U-316 U-331 U-332 U-333 U-334 U-335 U-336 U-337 U-338 U-339 U-340 U-341 U-342 U-343 U-344 U-345 U-346 U-347 U-348 U-349 U-350 U-351 U-352 U-353 U-354 U-355 U-356 U-357 U-358 U-359 U-360 U-361 U-362 U-363 U-364 U-365 U-366 U-367 U-368 U-369 U-370 U-371 U-372 U-373 U-374 U-375 U-376 U-377 U-378 U-379 U-380 U-381 U-382 U-383 U-384 U-385 U-386 U-387 U-388 U-389 U-390 U-391 U-392 U-393 U-394 U-396 U-397 U-398 U-399 U-400 U-401 U-402 U-403 U-404 U-405 U-406 U-407 U-408 U-409 U-410 U-411 U-412 U-413 U-414 U-415 U-416 U-417 U-418 U-419 U-420 U-421 U-422 U-423 U-424 U-425 U-426 U-427 U-428 U-429 U-430 U-431 U-432 U-433 U-434 U-435 U-436 U-437 U-438 U-439 U-440 U-441 U-442 U-443 U-444 U-445 U-446 U-447 U-448 U-449 U-450 U-451 U-452 U-453 U-454 U-455 U-456 U-457 U-458 U-465 U-466 U-467 U-468 U-469 U-470 U-471 U-472 U-473 U-475 U-476 U-477 U-478 U-479 U-480 U-481 U-482 U-483 U-484 U-485 U-486 U-551 U-552 U-553 U-554 U-555 U-556 U-557 U-558 U-559 U-560 U-561 U-562 U-563 U-564 U-565 U-566 U-567 U-568 U-569 U-570 U-571 U-572 U-573 U-574 U-575 U-576 U-577 U-578 U-579 U-580 U-581 U-582 U-583 U-584 U-585 U-586 U-587 U-588 U-589 U-590 U-591 U-592 U-593 U-594 U-595 U-596 U-597 U-598 U-599 U-600 U-601 U-602 U-603 U-604 U-605 U-606 U-607 U-608 U-609 U-610 U-611 U-612 U-613 U-614 U-615 U-616 U-617 U-618 U-619 U-620 U-621 U-622 U-623 U-624 U-625 U-626 U-627 U-628 U-629 U-630 U-631 U-632 U-633 U-634 U-635 U-636 U-637 U-638 U-639 U-640 U-641 U-642 U-643 U-644 U-645 U-646 U-647 U-648 U-649 U-650 U-651 U-652 U-653 U-654 U-655 U-656 U-657 U-658 U-659 U-660 U-661 U-662 U-663 U-664 U-665 U-666 U-667 U-668 U-669 U-670 U-671 U-672 U-673 U-674 U-675 U-676 U-677 U-678 U-679 U-680 U-681 U-682 U-683 U-701 U-702 U-703 U-704 U-705 U-706 U-707 U-708 U-709 U-710 U-711 U-712 U-713 U-714 U-715 U-716 U-717 U-718 U-719 U-720 U-721 U-722 U-731 U-732 U-733 U-734 U-735 U-736 U-737 U-738 U-739 U-740 U-741 U-742 U-743 U-744 U-745 U-746 U-747 U-748 U-749 U-750 U-751 U-752 U-753 U-754 U-755 U-756 U-757 U-758 U-759 U-760 U-761 U-762 U-763 U-764 U-765 U-766 U-767 U-768 U-771 U-772 U-773 U-774 U-775 U-776 U-777 U-778 U-779 U-821 U-822 U-825 U-826 U-901 U-903 U-904 U-905 U-907 U-921 U-922 U-923 U-924 U-925 U-926 U-927 U-928 U-951 U-952 U-953 U-954 U-955 U-956 U-957 U-958 U-959 U-960 U-961 U-962 U-963 U-964 U-965 U-966 U-967 U-968 U-969 U-970 U-971 U-972 U-973 U-974 U-975 U-976 U-977 U-978 U-979 U-980 U-981 U-982 U-983 U-984 U-985 U-986 U-987 U-988 U-989 U-990 U-991 U-992 U-993 U-994 U-1051 U-1052 U-1053 U-1054 U-1055 U-1056 U-1057 U-1058 U-1101 U-1102 U-1131 U-1132 U-1161 U-1162 U-1191 U-1192 U-1193 U-1194 U-1195 U-1196 U-1197 U-1198 U-1199 U-1200 U-1201 U-1202 U-1203 U-1204 U-1205 U-1206 U-1207 U-1208 U-1209 U-1210
Type VIIC/41	U-292 U-293 U-294 U-295 U-296 U-297 U-298 U-299 U-300 U-317 U-318 U-319 U-320 U-321 U-322 U-323 U-324 U-325 U-326 U-327 U-328 U-691 U-827 U-828 U-929 U-930 U-995 U-997 U-998 U-999 U-1000 U-1001 U-1002 U-1003 U-1004 U-1005 U-1006 U-1007 U-1008 U-1009 U-1010 U-1011 U-1013 U-1014 U-1015 U-1016 U-1017 U-1018 U-1019 U-1020 U-1021 U-1022 U-1023 U-1024 U-1025 U-1063 U-1064 U-1065 U-1103 U-1104 U-1105 U-1106 U-1107 U-1108 U-1109 U-1110 U-1163 U-1164 U-1165 U-1166 U-1167 U-1168 U-1169 U-1170 U-1171 U-1172 U-1271 U-1272 U-1273 U-1274 U-1275 U-1276 U-1277 U-1278 U-1279 U-1301 U-1302 U-1303 U-1304 U-1305 U-1306 U-1307 U-1308
Type VIID	U-213 U-214 U-215 U-216 U-217 U-218
Type VIIF	U-1059 U-1060 U-1061 U-1062
Preceded by: Type II Followed by: Type IX List of U-boats of Germany