Editing German submarine U-462

{{Short description|German World War II submarine}}
{|{{Infobox ship begin}}
{{Infobox ship image
|Ship image=U-462 kreisend.jpg
|Ship image size=300px
|Ship caption=''U-462'' and ''U-461'' taking evasive action during an air attack on 30 July 1943
}}
{{Infobox ship career
|Hide header=
|Ship country=[[Nazi Germany]]
|Ship flag={{Shipboxflag|Nazi Germany|naval}}
|Ship name=''U-462''
|Ship ordered=14 May 1940
|Ship builder=[[Deutsche Werke]], [[Kiel]]
|Ship yard number=293
|Ship laid down=2 January 1941
|Ship launched=29 November 1941
|Ship commissioned=5 March 1942
|Ship homeport=
|Ship motto=
|Ship nickname=
|Ship fate= Sunk on 30 July 1943{{sfn|Kemp|1999|pp=136-7}}
|Ship notes=
}}
{{Infobox ship characteristics
|Hide header=
|Header caption=
|Ship class=[[Type XIV submarine|Type XIV]] ocean-going submarine tanker
|Ship displacement=
*{{convert|1688|t|LT|lk=on|abbr=on}} surfaced
*{{convert|1932|t|LT|abbr=on}} submerged
|Ship length=
*{{convert|67.10|m|ftin|lk=on|abbr=on}} [[o/a]]
*{{convert|48.51|m|ftin|abbr=on}} [[pressure hull]]
|Ship beam=
*{{convert|9.35|m|ftin|abbr=on}} o/a
*{{convert|4.90|m|ftin|abbr=on}} pressure hull
|Ship height={{convert|11.70|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
|Ship draught={{convert|6.51|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
|Ship power=
*{{convert|2800|–|3200|PS|kW bhp|abbr=on}} (diesels)
*{{convert|750|PS|kW shp|abbr=on}} (electric)
|Ship propulsion=
*2 shafts
*2 × [[diesel engine]]s
*2 × [[Motor-generator|electric motors]]
|Ship speed=
*{{convert|14.4|-|14.9|kn|lk=in}} surfaced
*{{convert|6.2|kn}} submerged
|Ship range=
*{{convert|12,350|nmi|lk=in|abbr=on}} at {{convert|10|kn}} surfaced
*{{convert|55|nmi|abbr=on}} at {{convert|4|kn}} submerged
|Ship test depth={{convert|240|m|ft|abbr=on}}
|Ship complement=6 officers and 47 enlisted
|Ship armament=
*2 × [[3.7 cm SK C/30|{{convert|3.7|cm|in|sp=us|abbr=on}} SK C/30]] [[anti-aircraft gun]]s
*1 × [[2 cm FlaK 30|{{convert|2|cm|in|sp=us|abbr=on}} C/30]] AA gun
|Ship notes=
}}
{{Infobox service record
|is_ship=yes
|label=Service record<ref name="uboatnet">{{cite web
 |url=http://uboat.net/boats/u462.htm
 |title=The Type XIV boat U-462
 |last=Helgason
 |first=Guðmundur
 |website=German U-boats of WWII – uboat.net
 |access-date=2009-12-07
}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
 |url=http://uboat.net/boats/patrols/u462.html
 |title=War Patrols by German U-boat U-462
 |last=Helgason
 |first=Guðmundur
 |website=German U-boats of WWII – uboat.net
 |access-date=2009-12-07
}}</ref>
|partof=
*[[4th U-boat Flotilla]]
*5 March – 31 July 1942
*[[10th U-boat Flotilla]]
*1 August – 31 October 1942
*[[12th U-boat Flotilla]]
*1 November 1942 – 30 July 1943
|codes=M 26 839
|commanders=
*''[[Lt.z.S.]]'' Bruno Vowe
*5 March 1942 – 30 July 1943
|operations=*8 patrols:
*1st patrol:
*23 July – 21 September 1942
*2nd patrol:
*18 October – 7 December 1942
*3rd patrol:
*20 – 22 January 1943
*4th patrol:
*19 February – 11 March 1943
*5th patrol:
*1 – 24 April 1943
*6th patrol:
*17 – 23 June 1943
*7th patrol:
*28 June – 6 July 1943
*8th patrol:
*27 – 30 July 1943	
|victories=None
}}
|}

'''German submarine ''U-462''''' was a [[German Type XIV submarine|Type XIV]] supply and replenishment [[U-boat]] ("''Milchkuh''") of [[Nazi Germany]]'s ''[[Kriegsmarine]]'' during [[World War II]].

Her keel was [[Keel laying|laid down]] on 2 January 1941, by [[Deutsche Werke]] in [[Kiel]]. She was [[Ceremonial ship launching|launched]] on 29 November 1941 and [[Ship commissioning|commissioned]] on 5 March 1942 with ''[[Oberleutnant zur See]]'' Bruno Vowe in command. Vowe commanded the boat until she was lost.<ref name="uboatnet"/> She served, first as part of the [[4th U-boat Flotilla]] while carrying out training, then as part of the [[10th U-boat Flotilla|10th]] and [[12th U-boat Flotilla|12th]] flotillas while taking part in operations.

==Design==
[[German Type XIV submarine]]s were shortened versions of the [[German Type IX submarine|Type IXD]]s they were based on.‘’U-462’’ had a displacement of {{convert|1688|t|LT}} when at the surface and {{convert|1932|t|LT}} while submerged.{{sfn|Gröner|1991|p=79}} The U-boat had a total length of {{convert|67.10|m|ftin|abbr=on}}, a [[pressure hull]] length of {{convert|48.51|m|ftin|abbr=on}}, a [[beam (nautical)|beam]] of {{convert|9.35|m|ftin|abbr=on}}, a height of {{convert|11.70|m|ftin|abbr=on}}, and a [[draught (ship)|draught]] of {{convert|6.51|m|ftin|abbr=on}}. The submarine was powered by two [[Germaniawerft]] [[supercharged]] four-stroke, six-cylinder [[diesel engine]]s producing a total of {{convert|2800|-|3200|PS|kW shp|-1}} for use while surfaced, two [[Siemens-Schuckert]] 2 GU 345/38-8 [[Motor–generator|double-acting electric motors]] producing a total of {{convert|750|PS|kW shp|-1}} for use while submerged. She had two shafts and two [[propeller]]s. The boat was capable of operating at depths of up to {{convert|240|m}}.{{sfn|Gröner|1991|p=79}}

The submarine had a maximum surface speed of {{convert|14.4|-|14.9|kn}} and a maximum submerged speed of {{convert|6.2|kn}}.{{sfn|Gröner|1991|p=79}} When submerged, the boat could operate for {{convert|120|nmi}} at {{convert|2|kn}}; when surfaced, she could travel {{convert|12350|nmi}} at {{convert|10|kn}}. ‘’U-462’’ was not fitted with [[torpedo tube]]s or [[deck gun]]s, but had two [[3.7 cm SK C/30|{{convert|3.7|cm|in|sp=us|abbr=on}} SK C/30]] anti-aircraft guns with 2500 rounds as well as a [[2 cm FlaK 30|{{convert|2|cm|in|sp=us|abbr=on}} C/30]] guns with 3000 rounds. The boat had a [[Ship's company|complement]] of fifty-three.{{sfn|Gröner|1991|p=79}}

==Operational career==
''U-462'' conducted eight patrols. As a supply boat, she avoided combat.<ref name="uboatnet"/>

===First patrol===
For her first patrol, ''U-462'' departed Kiel on 23 July 1942 and arrived at [[St. Nazaire]] in occupied France on 21 September of the same year, having travelled by way of the [[GIUK gap|gap]] between [[Iceland]] and the [[Faeroe Islands]] and out into the Atlantic. The latter part of the voyage took her past the [[Azores]] on her way to her new base.

===Second and third patrols===
The U-boat's second effort took her to a point west-southwest of the [[Cape Verde Islands]] which she reached on 9 November 1942. She arrived back at St. Nazaire on 7 December 1942.

Her third outing was very short. She left Bordeaux on 20 January 1943, but returned on the 22nd.

===Fourth and fifth patrols===
The submarine's fourth sortie took her out into the Atlantic once again. The most westerly spot of this patrol was recorded on 27 February 1943. She returned to France, but this time it was to [[Bordeaux]], on 11 March.

The boat's fifth patrol was also routine.

===Sixth patrol===
She did not leave the [[Bay of Biscay]], being attacked by [[De Havilland Mosquito|Mosquito]] aircraft of [[No. 151 Squadron RAF|151]] and [[No. 156 Squadron RAF|156]] squadrons, RAF on 21 June 1943. One man was killed (''[[Gefreiter|Matrosengefreiter]]'' Ferdinand Brunnbaur), and four more were wounded. The patrol was aborted, the boat returned to Bordeaux on the 23rd.<ref name="uboatnet"/>

===Seventh patrol===
''U-462''{{'}}s seventh patrol was also cut short. She had barely cleared the northwest Spanish coast when she was attacked by a British [[B-24 Liberator]] of [[No. 224 Squadron RAF|224 squadron]], RAF. After sustaining sufficient damage to force a return, she entered Bordeaux harbour on 6 July 1943.

===Loss===
On 30 July 1943, ''U-462'' was sunk by a British [[Handley Page Halifax|Halifax]] bomber of [[No. 502 Squadron RAF|502 Squadron]] RAF and gunfire from the British {{sclass|Black Swan|sloop|0}} [[Sloop-of-war|sloops]] {{HMS|Wren|U28|6}}, {{HMS|Kite|U87|2}}, {{HMS|Woodpecker|U08|2}}, {{HMS|Wild Goose|U45|2}} and {{HMS|Woodcock|U90|2}}, in the Bay of Biscay. One of these ships, ''Kite'', registered a hit at {{convert|13,050|yards|m|abbr=on}}.{{sfn|Kemp|1999|p= 137}} One crewman was killed; the other 64 survived.<ref name="uboatnet"/>

===Wolfpacks===
''U-462'' took part in one [[Wolfpack (naval tactic)|wolfpack]], namely:
* [[Wolfpack Lohs|Lohs]] (29 August – 2 September 1942)

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Bibliography==
{{Refbegin}}

*{{cite book | last1 = Busch | first1 = Rainer | last2 = Röll | first2 = Hans-Joachim | translator-last = Brooks | translator-first = Geoffrey | title = German U-boat commanders of World War II : a biographical dictionary | publisher = Greenhill Books, Naval Institute Press | location = London, Annapolis, Md | year = 1999 | isbn = 1-55750-186-6 }}
*{{cite book
|last1=Busch
|first1=Rainer
|last2=Röll
|first2=Hans-Joachim
|title=Deutsche U-Boot-Verluste von September 1939 bis Mai 1945
|trans-title=German U-boat losses from September 1939 to May 1945
|series=Der U-Boot-Krieg
|volume=IV
|publisher=Mittler
|location=Hamburg, Berlin, Bonn
|year=1999
|isbn=3-8132-0514-2
|language=de
}}
* {{cite book
|last=Edwards
|first=Bernard
|title=Dönitz and the Wolf Packs – The U-boats at War
|year=1996
|isbn=0-304-35203-9
|pages=103, 153, 154
|publisher=Cassell Military Classics
|ref={{sfnRef|Edwards}}
}}
*{{cite book
|last1=Gröner
|first1=Erich
|last2=Jung
|first2=Dieter
|last3=Maass
|first3=Martin
|translator-last1=Thomas
|translator-first1=Keith
|translator-last2=Magowan
|translator-first2=Rachel
|year=1991
|title=U-boats and Mine Warfare Vessels
|volume=2
|series=German Warships 1815–1945
|location=London
|publisher=Conway Maritime Press
|isbn=0-85177-593-4
|ref=CITEREFGröner1991
}}
*{{cite book
|last=Kemp
|first=Paul
|title=U-Boats Destroyed – German Submarine Losses in the World Wars
|location=London
|year=1999
|publisher=Arms & Armour
|isbn=1-85409-515-3
}}

{{Refend}}

==External links==
* {{Cite web
 |url= http://uboat.net/boats/u462.htm
 |title= The Type XIV boat U-462
 |last=Helgason
 |first=Guðmundur
 |website=German U-boats of WWII – uboat.net
 |access-date= 6 December 2014
}}

{{German Type XIV submarines}}
{{July 1943 shipwrecks}}

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{{use dmy dates|date=December 2014}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:U0462}}
[[Category:German Type XIV submarines]]
[[Category:U-boats commissioned in 1942]]
[[Category:U-boats sunk in 1943]]
[[Category:World War II submarines of Germany]]
[[Category:Shipwrecks in the Bay of Biscay]]
[[Category:1941 ships]]
[[Category:World War II shipwrecks in the Atlantic Ocean]]
[[Category:Ships built in Kiel]]
[[Category:U-boats sunk by British aircraft]]
[[Category:U-boats sunk by British warships]]
[[Category:Maritime incidents in July 1943]]