German submarine U-375


German submarine U-375 was a [German German Type VIIC submarine|Type VIIC submarine|Type VIIC] U-boat built for Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine for service during World War II.
She was laid down on 14 March 1940 by Howaldtswerke in Kiel as yard number 6, launched on 7 June 1941 and commissioned on 19 July 1941 under Kapitänleutnant Jürgen Koenenkamp.

Design

German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-375 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 Garbe, Lahmeyer & Co. RP 137/c 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-375 was fitted with five torpedo tubes, fourteen torpedoes, one SK C/35 naval gun, 220 rounds, and a C/30 anti-aircraft gun. The boat had a complement of between forty-four and sixty.

Service history

The boat's service began on 19 July 1941 with training as part of the 5th U-boat Flotilla. She was transferred to the 3rd Flotilla on 1 November 1941 for active service, followed by a transfer to 29th Flotilla on 1 January 1942 in the Mediterranean.
In 10 patrols she sank 8 merchant ships, for a total of, plus 1 warship damaged and another merchant ship written off as a total loss.

Fate

U-375 has been missing since 25 July 1943 in the Mediterranean Sea south of Sicily. All hands were lost.

Previously recorded fate

U-375 was thought to have been sunk after being depth charged by USN submarine chaser PC-624 on 30 July 1943 at position in the Mediterranean NW of Malta. All hands were lost. This attack was actually against Italian submarine Velella, inflicting no damage.