U-352

 

U-352 was a Type VIIC U-boat of the Nazi German Kriegsmarine during World War II. U-352 was laid down on 11 March 1940 at the Flensburger Schiffbau-Gesellschaft yard at Flensburg, launched on 7 May 1941. U-352 commissioned on 28 August 1941 under the command of Kapitänleutnant Hellmut Rathke. She was part of the 3rd U-boat Flotilla, and was ready for front-line service by 1 January 1942.

U-352 set from Kiel on 15 January 1942. She arrived at Bergen in Norway on the 19th. She left the next day and patrolled south of Iceland without success before sailing to her new home port at Saint-Nazaire in France by 26 February.

U-352 left from St. Nazaire on 7 April 1942. She sailed across the Atlantic to the coast of the north-eastern United States. There on 9 May 1942, she was sunk by depth charges from the US Coast Guard cutter USCGC Icarus, south of Morehead City, North Carolina, in position 34°21′N 76°35′W Coordinates: 34°21′N 76°35′W. Fifteen of the crew were lost, but 33 survived, and spent the remainder of the war as prisoners.

 

U-352 lies in about 100 feet of water, and sits at a 45-degree list to starboard. This wreck is a popular scuba diving spot for advanced divers. A replica of the wreck is on display at the North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores.

 

Survivors

POW survivors from U-352 eating lunch in June 1942

According to documents from the Naval Department, the following are survivors of the sinking:

Name
Rank
US Navy equivalent

Rathke, Hellmut
Kapitänleutnant
Lieutenant

Bernard, Oskar
Leutnant z. S. (Sonderführer)
Ensign

Kammerer, Ernst
Fähnrich z. S.
Midshipman

Daehn, Arthur
Bootsmaat
Coxswain

Neitsch, Hans
Bootsmaat
Coxswain

Richter, Helmut H.
Bootsmaat
Coxswain

Kruger, Kurt
Funkmaat
Radioman 3 cl.

Sorg, Ludwig
Funkmaat
Radioman 3 cl.

Bollmann, Heinrich
Obermaschinist
Machinist

Grandke, Walter
Obermaschinist
Machinist

Brand, August Michael
Maschinenmaat
Fireman 1 cl.

Reussel, Gerd
Maschinenmaat
Fireman 1 cl.

Schwarzenberger, Heinz
Maschinenmaat
Fireman 1 cl.

Thönnissen, Kurt H.
Maschinenmaat
Fireman 1 cl.

Wesche, Martin Wilhelm
Maschinenmaat
Fireman 1 cl.

Wessoly, Lothar
Maschinenmaat
Fireman 1 cl.

Rusch, Gerhard
Maschinenobergefreiter
Fireman 2 cl.

Stengel, Otto
Maschinenobergefreiter
Fireman 2 cl.

Minzker, Johann
Maschinengefreiter
Fireman 3 cl.

Richter, Heinz Karl
Maschinengefreiter
Fireman 3 cl.

Twirdy, Heinrich
Maschinengefreiter
Fireman 3 cl.

Heinze, Hans
Matrosengefreiter
Seaman 2 cl.

Henschke, Otto
Matrosengefreiter
Seaman 2 cl.

Hering, Gerhard
Matrosengefreiter
Seaman 2 cl.

Herrschaft, Edgar
Matrosengefreiter
Seaman 2 cl.

Kominek, Franz
Matrosengefreiter
Seaman 2 cl.

Mattiz, Hans
Funkgefreiter
Seaman 2 cl.

Pickel, Erhard
Matrosengefreiter
Seaman 2 cl.

Richter, Gerhard
Maschinengefreiter
Seaman 2 cl.

Thiele, Rudolf
Mechanikergefreiter
Seaman 2 cl.

Link, Wilhelm
Matrose
Apprentice Seaman

Staron, Edmund
Matrose
Apprentice Seaman

TOTAL:
33