German submarine U-252
German submarine U-252 was a German [Type VII submarine#Type VIIC|Type VIIC] U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. The submarine was laid down on 1 November 1940 at the Vegesacker Werft at Bremen as yard number 17, launched on 14 August 1941 and commissioned on 4 October under the command of Kapitänleutnant Gunter Schiebusch.
Schiebusch was replaced by Kapitänleutnant Kai Lerchen on 21 December 1941. After training with the 6th [U-boat Flotilla] at Kiel, U-252 was deemed to be ready for front-line service and sailed on her first patrol on 1 April 1942.
On 6 April 1942, U-252 landed espionage agent Ib Riis in Iceland.
U-252 is thought to have sunk the 1,355 GRT Norwegian Fanefield on 9 April. Five days later she encountered convoy OG 82, and was attacked and sunk by depth charges from the sloop and the corvette on 14 April 1942.
Design
were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-252 had a displacement of when at the surface and while submerged. She had a total length of, a pressure hull length of, a beam of, a height of, and a draught of. The submarine was powered by two Germaniawerft F46 four-stroke, six-cylinder supercharged diesel engines producing a total of for use while surfaced, two AEG GU 460/8-276 double-acting electric motors producing a total of for use while submerged. She had two shafts and two propellers. The boat was capable of operating at depths of up to.The submarine had a maximum surface speed of and a maximum submerged speed of. When submerged, the boat could operate for at ; when surfaced, she could travel at. U-252 was fitted with five torpedo tubes, fourteen torpedoes, one SK C/35 naval gun, 220 rounds, and two twin C/30 anti-aircraft guns. The boat had a complement of between forty-four and sixty.