German submarine U-92 (1942)

History
Nazi Germany
NameU-92
Ordered25 January 1939
BuilderFlender Werke, Lübeck
Cost4,714,000 Reichsmark
Yard number296
Laid down25 November 1940
Launched10 January 1942
Commissioned3 March 1942
Decommissioned12 October 1944
FateDamaged by bombing, broken up in 1944 – 45
General characteristics
Class and typeType VIIC submarine
Displacement
Length
Beam
  • 6.20 m (20 ft 4 in) o/a
  • 4.70 m (15 ft 5 in) pressure hull
Height9.60 m (31 ft 6 in)
Draught4.74 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
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)
Complement4 officers, 40–56 enlisted
Armament
Service record
Part of:
Identification codes: M 34 053
Commanders:
  • Oblt.z.S. / Kptlt. Adolf Oelrich
  • 3 March 1942 – August 1943
  • Kptlt. Horst-Thilo Queck
  • August 1943 – 27 June 1944
  • Oblt.z.S. Wilhelm Brauel
  • 28 June – 12 October 1944
Operations:
  • 6 patrols:
  • 1st patrol:
  • 12 August – 25 September 1942
  • 2nd patrol:
  • 24 October – 28 December 1942
  • 3rd patrol:
  • 6 February – 5 March 1943
  • 4th patrol:
  • a. 12 April – 26 June 1943
  • b. 16 – 17 September 1943
  • 5th patrol:
  • 25 September – 7 October 1943
  • 6th patrol:
  • 21 November 1943 – 18 January 1944
  • 7th patrol:
  • 5 March – 10 May 1944
  • 8th patrol:
  • 8 – 10 July 1944
  • 9th patrol:
  • 17 August – 29 September 1944
Victories:
  • 2 merchant ships sunk
    (17,612 GRT)
  • 1 warship total loss
    (1,625 tons)
  • 1 merchant ship damaged
    (9,348 GRT)

German submarine U-92 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 296, launched on 10 January 1942 and commissioned on 3 March 1942. On 4 October 1944, U-92 was damaged by aerial bombing off Bergen at 60°24′N 5°19′E / 60.400°N 5.317°E / 60.400; 5.317. The boat was put out of service on 12 October 1944, and eventually broken up in 1944 – 45.

Design

German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-92 had a displacement of 769 tonnes (757 long tons) when at the surface and 871 tonnes (857 long tons) while submerged.[1] 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).[1]

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).[1] 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-92 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.[1]

Summary of raiding history

Date Ship Nationality Tonnage[Note 1] Fate[2]
19 November 1942 Clan Mactaggart  United Kingdom 7,622 Sunk
21 February 1943 Empire Trader  United Kingdom 9,990 Sunk
22 February 1943 NT Nielsen-Alonso  Norway 9,348 Damaged
27 August 1944 USS LST-327  United States Navy 1,625 Total loss

References

Notes

  1. ^ Merchant ship tonnages are in gross register tons. Military vessels are listed by tons displacement.

Citations

  1. ^ a b c d Gröner 1991, pp. 43–46.
  2. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U-92". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 11 December 2013.

Bibliography

  • Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-92". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 26 December 2014.
  • Hofmann, Markus. "U 92". Deutsche U-Boote 1935-1945 - u-boot-archiv.de (in German). Retrieved 26 December 2014.