German submarine U-462
German submarine U-462 was a Type XIV supply and replenishment U-boat ("Milchkuh") of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.
Her keel was laid down on 2 January 1941, by Deutsche Werke in Kiel. She was launched on 29 November 1941 and commissioned on 5 March 1942 with Oberleutnant zur See Bruno Vowe in command. Vowe commanded the boat until she was lost.<ref name="uboatnet"/> She served, first as part of the 4th U-boat Flotilla while carrying out training, then as part of the 10th and 12th flotillas while taking part in operations.
DesignEdit
German Type XIV submarines were shortened versions of the Type IXDs they were based on.‘’U-462’’ had a displacement of Template:Convert when at the surface and Template:Convert while submerged.Template:Sfn The U-boat had a total length of Template:Convert, a pressure hull length of Template:Convert, a beam of Template:Convert, a height of Template:Convert, and a draught of Template:Convert. The submarine was powered by two Germaniawerft supercharged four-stroke, six-cylinder diesel engines producing a total of Template:Convert for use while surfaced, two Siemens-Schuckert 2 GU 345/38-8 double-acting electric motors producing a total of Template:Convert for use while submerged. She had two shafts and two propellers. The boat was capable of operating at depths of up to Template:Convert.Template:Sfn
The submarine had a maximum surface speed of Template:Convert and a maximum submerged speed of Template:Convert.Template:Sfn When submerged, the boat could operate for Template:Convert at Template:Convert; when surfaced, she could travel Template:Convert at Template:Convert. ‘’U-462’’ was not fitted with torpedo tubes or deck guns, but had two [[3.7 cm SK C/30|Template:Convert SK C/30]] anti-aircraft guns with 2500 rounds as well as a [[2 cm FlaK 30|Template:Convert C/30]] guns with 3000 rounds. The boat had a complement of fifty-three.Template:Sfn
Operational careerEdit
U-462 conducted eight patrols. As a supply boat, she avoided combat.<ref name="uboatnet"/>
First patrolEdit
For her first patrol, U-462 departed Kiel on 23 July 1942 and arrived at St. Nazaire in occupied France on 21 September of the same year, having travelled by way of the gap between Iceland and the Faeroe Islands and out into the Atlantic. The latter part of the voyage took her past the Azores on her way to her new base.
Second and third patrolsEdit
The U-boat's second effort took her to a point west-southwest of the Cape Verde Islands which she reached on 9 November 1942. She arrived back at St. Nazaire on 7 December 1942.
Her third outing was very short. She left Bordeaux on 20 January 1943, but returned on the 22nd.
Fourth and fifth patrolsEdit
The submarine's fourth sortie took her out into the Atlantic once again. The most westerly spot of this patrol was recorded on 27 February 1943. She returned to France, but this time it was to Bordeaux, on 11 March.
The boat's fifth patrol was also routine.
Sixth patrolEdit
She did not leave the Bay of Biscay, being attacked by Mosquito aircraft of 151 and 156 squadrons, RAF on 21 June 1943. One man was killed (Matrosengefreiter Ferdinand Brunnbaur), and four more were wounded. The patrol was aborted, the boat returned to Bordeaux on the 23rd.<ref name="uboatnet"/>
Seventh patrolEdit
U-462Template:'s seventh patrol was also cut short. She had barely cleared the northwest Spanish coast when she was attacked by a British B-24 Liberator of 224 squadron, RAF. After sustaining sufficient damage to force a return, she entered Bordeaux harbour on 6 July 1943.
LossEdit
On 30 July 1943, U-462 was sunk by a British Halifax bomber of 502 Squadron RAF and gunfire from the British Template:Sclass sloops Template:HMS, Template:HMS, Template:HMS, Template:HMS and Template:HMS, in the Bay of Biscay. One of these ships, Kite, registered a hit at Template:Convert.Template:Sfn One crewman was killed; the other 64 survived.<ref name="uboatnet"/>
WolfpacksEdit
U-462 took part in one wolfpack, namely:
- Lohs (29 August – 2 September 1942)
ReferencesEdit
BibliographyEdit
External linksEdit
- {{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation
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Template:German Type XIV submarines Template:July 1943 shipwrecks