German submarine U-532 facts for kids

Quick facts for kids History
Nazi Germany
Name	U-532
Ordered	15 August 1940
Builder	Deutsche Werft, Hamburg
Yard number	347
Laid down	7 January 1942
Launched	26 August 1942
Commissioned	11 November 1942
Fate	Surrendered on 13 May 1945 at Loch Eriboll in Scotland, then Loch Ryan. Sunk on 9 December 1945
General characteristics
Class and type	Type IXC/40 submarine
Displacement	1,144 t (1,126 long tons) surfaced 1,257 t (1,237 long tons) submerged
Length	76.76 m (251 ft 10 in) o/a 58.75 m (192 ft 9 in) pressure hull
Beam	6.86 m (22 ft 6 in) o/a 4.44 m (14 ft 7 in) pressure hull
Height	9.60 m (31 ft 6 in)
Draught	4.67 m (15 ft 4 in)
Installed power	4,400 PS (3,200 kW; 4,300 bhp) (diesels) 1,000 PS (740 kW; 990 shp) (electric)
Propulsion	2 shafts 2 × diesel engines 2 × electric motors
Speed	18.3 knots (33.9 km/h; 21.1 mph) surfaced 7.3 knots (13.5 km/h; 8.4 mph) submerged
Range	13,850 nmi (25,650 km; 15,940 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) surfaced 63 nmi (117 km; 72 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph) submerged
Test depth	230 m (750 ft)
Complement	4 officers, 44 enlisted
Armament	6 × torpedo tubes (4 bow, 2 stern) 22 × 53.3 cm (21 in) torpedoes 1 × 10.5 cm (4.1 in) SK C/32 deck gun (180 rounds) 1 × 3.7 cm (1.5 in) SK C/30 AA gun 1 × twin 2 cm FlaK 30 AA guns
Service record
Part of:	4th U-boat Flotilla 11 November 1942 – 31 March 1943 2nd U-boat Flotilla 1 April 1943 – 30 September 1944 33rd U-boat Flotilla 1 October 1944 – 8 May 1945
Commanders:	F.Kapt. Ottoheinrich Junker 11 November 1942 – 13 May 1945
Operations:	4 patrols: 1st patrol: 25 March – 15 May 1943 2nd patrol: 3 July – 30 October 1943 3rd patrol: a. 4 January – 19 April 1944 b. 17 – 18 May 1944 c. 1 December 1944 4th patrol: 13 January – 13 May 1945
Victories:	8 merchant ships sunk (46,895 GRT) 2 merchant ships damaged (13,128 GRT)

The German submarine U-532 was a powerful U-boat used by Nazi Germany during World War II. It was a Type IXC/40 submarine, known for its long range. The submarine was built in Hamburg, Germany. Its construction began on 7 January 1942. It was launched into the water on 26 August 1942. Finally, it officially joined the German navy on 11 November 1942.

U-532 was commanded by Kapitänleutnant Ottoheinrich Junker. It first served in a training group. Later, it joined different operational groups. The submarine completed four long journeys, called patrols. During these patrols, it sank eight enemy ships. It also damaged two other ships. U-532 was part of three "wolfpacks." A wolfpack was a group of U-boats that hunted enemy ships together.

The submarine surrendered to the Allies on 13 May 1945. This happened in Loch Eriboll, Scotland. It was later moved to Loch Ryan for a special operation. This operation was called Deadlight. U-532 was sunk on 9 December 1945.

Submarine Design and Features

U-532 was a Type IXC/40 U-boat. These submarines were a bit larger than earlier models. When on the surface, U-532 weighed about 1,144 tons. When it was underwater, it weighed 1,257 tons. The submarine was about 76.76 meters (251 feet) long. Its main body, called the pressure hull, was 58.75 meters (192 feet) long.

The submarine was 6.86 meters (22 feet) wide. It stood 9.60 meters (31 feet) tall. The part of the submarine underwater, its draught, was 4.67 meters (15 feet). U-532 used two powerful diesel engines when on the surface. These engines produced 4,400 horsepower. When underwater, it used two electric motors. These motors produced 1,000 horsepower.

The submarine had two propellers to move through the water. It could travel up to 18.3 knots (about 34 km/h) on the surface. Underwater, its top speed was 7.3 knots (about 13.5 km/h). When surfaced, it could travel very far, about 13,850 nautical miles (25,650 km). This was enough to cross oceans. Underwater, it could travel 63 nautical miles (117 km) at a slower speed. The submarine could dive deep, up to 230 meters (750 feet).

The crew of U-532 included 4 officers and 44 other sailors. For weapons, it had six torpedo tubes. Four were at the front and two were at the back. It carried 22 torpedoes. It also had a large deck gun on top. This gun could fire 180 rounds. For defense against airplanes, it had an anti-aircraft gun and a twin anti-aircraft gun.

Service History: U-532's Journeys

U-532 went on four main patrols during the war. Each patrol was a long and dangerous journey.

First Patrol: Into the Atlantic

The submarine left Kiel, Germany, on 25 March 1943. It sailed through the North Sea. Then it passed between Iceland and the Faroe Islands. This area is known as the GIUK gap. Once in the Atlantic Ocean, it met a group of enemy ships. This group was Convoy ONS 5. U-532 was damaged during a 15-hour battle. It then sailed to Lorient, France, arriving on 15 May 1943.

Second Patrol: To the Far East

U-532's second journey was much longer. It left Lorient on 3 July 1943. The submarine sailed all the way around Africa. By 27 September, it was in the Indian Ocean. On 19 September, it sank a ship called Fort Longueuil. This happened southwest of the Chagos Archipelago. Only two crew members from that ship survived. They drifted for 134 days before reaching Sumatra. There, they became prisoners of the Japanese.

U-532 continued its mission. On 1 October 1943, it sank the ship Tashina. This was done using its deck gun. It also damaged the ship British Purpose on 20 October. This ship was hit and fell behind its convoy. Another ship in the convoy accidentally bumped it, but the damage was minor. The submarine finally reached Penang, which is in Malaya (now Malaysia), on 30 October 1943. It was one of the first U-boats in the new Monsun Gruppe. This group operated from Japanese-controlled Penang.

Third Patrol: More Successes

The submarine continued to find targets. On 27 March 1944, it sank the ship Tulagi. This happened northeast of Cape Comorin in southern India. The ship sank very quickly, in less than 30 seconds. After this, U-532 moved from Penang to Singapore in May 1944. Later, in December, it moved to Batavia (now Jakarta in Indonesia).

Fourth Patrol: Final Journey

For its fourth and final patrol, U-532 sank two more ships. It sank the Baron Jedburgh on 10 March 1945. Then, it sank the Oklahoma on 28 March. The submarine began its journey back to Europe in May. This was after Germany had surrendered.

Fate of U-532

U-532, a Type IXC/40 submarine. Photographed entering Gladstone Dock, Liverpool after surrender to the Royal Navy.

U-532 arrived at Liverpool, England, on 10 May 1945. It then moved to Loch Eriboll in Scotland. On 17 May, it was transferred to Loch Ryan, also in Scotland. This was part of Operation Deadlight. This operation involved sinking many surrendered German U-boats. On 9 December 1945, U-532 was sunk. It was hit by a torpedo from the British submarine Tantivy. The sinking happened at coordinates 56°08′N 10°07′W.

Summary of Ships Attacked

This table shows the ships that U-532 sank or damaged.

Date	Ship Name	Nationality	Tonnage (GRT)	Fate
19 September 1943	Fort Longueuil	United Kingdom	7,128	Sunk
29 September 1943	Banffshire	United Kingdom	6,479	Sunk
1 October 1943	Tashina	United Kingdom	7,267	Sunk
11 October 1943	Jalabala	British India	3,610	Sunk
20 October 1943	British Purpose	United Kingdom	5,845	Damaged
11 January 1944	Triona	United Kingdom	7,283	Damaged
25 January 1944	Walter Camp	United States	7,176	Sunk
27 March 1944	Tulagi	United Kingdom	2,281	Sunk
10 March 1945	Baron Jedburgh	United Kingdom	3,656	Sunk
28 March 1945	Oklahoma	United States	9,298	Sunk