German submarine U-752 was a Type VIIC U-boat built for Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine for service during World War II.
German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-752 had a displacement of 769t when at the surface and 871t while submerged. She had a total length of 67.1m (220.1feet), a pressure hull length of 50.5m (165.7feet), a beam of 6.2m (20.3feet), a height of 9.6m (31.5feet), and a draught of 4.74m (15.55feet). The submarine was powered by two Germaniawerft F46 four-stroke, six-cylinder supercharged diesel engines producing a total of NaNPS for use while surfaced, two Garbe, Lahmeyer & Co. RP 137/c double-acting electric motors producing a total of 750PS for use while submerged. She had two shafts and two 1.23abbr=onNaNabbr=on 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-752 was fitted with five 53.30NaN0 torpedo tubes (four fitted at the bow and one at the stern), fourteen torpedoes, one 8.82NaN2 SK C/35 naval gun, 220 rounds, and a 2sp=usNaNsp=us C/30 anti-aircraft gun. The boat had a complement of between forty-four and sixty.
She served with 3rd U-boat Flotilla from 24 May 1941 until 23 May 1943 under the command of Korvettenkapitän Karl-Ernst Schroeter.[1] U-752 completed nine[2] wartime patrols and sank nine ships and damaged one.
Thirty-two days into her ninth patrol, on 23 May 1943, U-752 was attacked by Fairey Swordfish aircraft attached to the British escort carrier in the mid-Atlantic. A Rocket Spear, a new weapon with a solid cast iron head,[3] entered and left the pressure hull leaving large holes, thus preventing the U-boat from diving. At the arrival of enemy surface craft, the surviving crew of 17 scuttled the boat and abandoned ship. This was the first success of the Rocket Spear. U-752 sank with 30 men. Heinz Krey was one of them.
U-752 took part in ten wolfpacks, namely:
| Date | Ship Name | Nationality | Tonnage (GRT) | Fate[4] | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 August 1941 | T-898 (No 44) | 553 | Sunk | ||
| 27 August 1941 | RT-8 Seld´ | 608 | Sunk | ||
| 15 November 1941 | T-889 (No 34) | 581 | Sunk | ||
| 21 April 1942 | West Imboden |  United States | 5,751 | Sunk | |
| 23 April 1942 | Reinholt |  Norway | 4,799 | Damaged | |
| 1 May 1942 | Bidevind | Norway | 4,956 | Sunk | |
| 23 July 1942 | Garmula |  United Kingdom | 5,254 | Sunk | |
| 27 July 1942 | Leikanger | Norway | 4,003 | Sunk | |
| 9 August 1942 | Menanau |  Netherlands | 6,047 | Sunk | |
| 13 August 1942 | Cripple Creek | United States | 6,347 | Sunk |