German submarine U-762


German submarine U-762 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.
She was ordered on 9 October 1939, and was laid down on 2 January 1941, at Kriegsmarinewerft, Wilhelmshaven, as yard number 145. She was launched on 21 November 1942, and commissioned under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Wolfgang Hille on 30 January 1943.

Design

German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-762 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-762 was fitted with five torpedo tubes, fourteen torpedoes or 26 TMA mines, one SK C/35 naval gun, 220 rounds, and two twin C/30 anti-aircraft guns. The boat had a complement of between 44 — 52 men.

Service history

U-762 participated in two war patrols that yielded no ships sunk or damaged.
On 8 October 1943, eleven days into U-762s first war patrol, she was spotted and attacked by a British B-24 Liberator of 120 Squadron, pilotted by Bryan W. Turnbull. U-762 dove to avoid the attack, which was joined by a destroyer, and managed to escape with only two men wounded and one of her diesel engines damaged.
On 8 February 1944, U-762 was sunk by depth charges dropped by British sloops and. Oblt.z.S. Walter Pietschmann and all 50 crewmen were lost.
The wreck now lies at.

Wolfpacks

U-762 took part in six wolfpacks, namely: