U-332

Type

VIIC

Ordered

23 Sep 1939

Laid down

16 Dec 1939

Nordseewerke, Emden (werk 204)

Launched

22 Mar 1941

Commissioned

7 Jun 1941

Kptlt. Johannes Liebe

Commanders

7 Jun 1941	-	27 Jan 1943		Kptlt. Johannes Liebe
27 Jan 1943	-	29 Apr 1943		Oblt. Eberhard Hüttemann

Career
7 patrols

7 Jun 1941	-	1 Oct 1941	3. Flottille (training)
1 Oct 1941	-	29 Apr 1943	3. Flottille (active service)

Successes

8 ships sunk, total tonnage 46,729 GRT
1 ship damaged, total tonnage 5,964 GRT

Fate

Sunk 29 April, 1943 in the Bay of Biscay north of Cape Finisterre, Spain, in position 45.08N, 09.33W, by depth charges from a British Liberator aircraft (Sqdn. 224/D). 45 dead (all hands lost). (Axel Niestlé, November 1989).

Loss position

See the 9 ships hit by U-332 - View the 7 war patrols

Previously recorded fate

Sunk 2 May, 1943 in the Bay of Biscay north of Cape Finisterre, Spain, in position 44.48N, 08.58W, by depth charges from an Australian Sunderland aircraft (Sqdn 461/M). (Postwar assessment)
Notes. This attack accounted for the loss of U-465.

Wolfpack operations

U-332 operated with the following Wolfpacks during its career:
   Störtebecker (17 Nov 1941 - 19 Nov 1941)
   Benecke (19 Nov 1941 - 2 Dec 1941)
   Hartherz (3 Feb 1943 - 7 Feb 1943)
   Ritter (11 Feb 1943 - 23 Feb 1943)
   Sturmbock (23 Feb 1943 - 26 Feb 1943)
   Burggraf (2 Mar 1943 - 5 Mar 1943)
   Westmark (6 Mar 1943 - 11 Mar 1943)
   Drossel (29 Apr 1943 - 29 Apr 1943)

Attacks on this boat

6 Dec 1941
The boat was bombed by a British Catalina aircraft (Sqdn 202, pilot Hugh Garnell) but suffered little damage. The pilot brought in ASW craft but the U-boat managed to slip past them. The boat would be attacked again 3 days later. (Sources: Blair, vol 1, page 402)

9 Dec 1941
The boat was severely damaged by a British aircraft and forced to abort to France. This was the second aircraft attack on the boat in 3 days. (Sources: Blair, vol 1, page 402)

21 Mar 1943
The boat was attacked by a British Leigh Light Wellington bomber (Sqdn 172, pilot I. D. Prebble) north of Corunna, Spain and left unable to dive. A request for assistance from the Luftwaffe brought four Ju 88 bombers to escort U-332 in, but they were attacked by British Beaufighters, two being shot down and the others driven off. This nonetheless gave the crew of U-332 time to make repairs to allow shallow diving, allowing her to return to base at La Pallice. (Sources: Blair, vol 2, page 267)

3 recorded attacks on this boat.

Men lost from U-boats

Unlike many other U-boats, which during their service lost men due to accidents and various other causes, U-332 did not suffer any casualties (we know of) until the time of her loss.