U-372

Type

VIIC

Ordered

23 Sep 1939

Laid down

17 Nov 1939

Howaldtswerke AG, Kiel (werk 3)

Launched

8 Mar 1941

Commissioned

19 Apr 1941

Kptlt. Heinz-Joachim Neumann

Commanders

19 Apr 1941

4 Aug 1942

Kptlt. Heinz-Joachim Neumann

Career
6 patrols

19 Apr 1941	-	1 Jul 1941	1. Flottille (training)
1 Jul 1941	-	13 Dec 1941	1. Flottille (active service)
14 Dec 1941	-	4 Aug 1942	29. Flottille (active service)

Successes

3 ships sunk, total tonnage 11,751 GRT
1 auxiliary warship sunk, total tonnage 14,650 GRT

Fate

Sunk on 4 August 1942 in the Mediterranean Sea south-west of Haifa, in position 32.28N, 34.37E, by depth charges from the British destroyers HMS Sikh and HMS Zulu, the British escort destroyers HMS Croome and HMS Tetcott and a British Wellington aircraft (221 Sqn RAF/M). 48 survivors (no casualties).

Loss position

See the 4 ships hit by U-372 - View the 6 war patrols

Wolfpack operations

U-372 operated with the following Wolfpacks during its career:
   Brandenburg (15 Sep 1941 - 1 Oct 1941)
   Störtebecker (16 Nov 1941 - 19 Nov 1941)
   Steuben (19 Nov 1941 - 2 Dec 1941)

Attacks on this boat and other events

5 Aug 1941
After sinking two ships from the heavily escorted convoy SL 81 the boat was attacked in turn by its third intended victim, the British freighter Volturo, which also brought in the escort corvette HMS Zinnia, which fired on U-372 and made to ram her. The boat managed to dive, and escaped unscathed. (Sources: Blair, vol 1, page 333)

12 Aug 1941
08.55 hrs, Bay of Biscay, inbound: Blenheim Z5959 (1404 Met Flt RAF/C, pilot Flt Lt D.F. Wykeham-Martin, RAFVR) attempted to surprise U-372 by carrying out a dive bomb attack from cloud cover, but she evaded by turning towards the attacker and then immediately crash-diving. A first 250lb A/S bomb detonated about 35 yards off the port bow and a second was dropped shortly after the U-boat submerged. Although the boat was not damaged, it seems there were some difficulties diving, as the aircrew observed her stern remain visible above water until it disappeared in an oily patch left by a large air bubble. (Sources: KTB U-372/ADM 199-1781)

2 recorded attacks on this boat.