German submarineU-342

History
Nazi Germany
Name	U-342
Ordered	20 January 1941
Builder	Nordseewerke,Emden
Yard number	214
Laid down	7 December 1941
Launched	10 November 1942
Commissioned	12 January 1943
Fate	Sunk by a Canadian aircraft on 17 April 1944
General characteristics
Class and type	Type VIICsubmarine
Displacement	769tonnes(757long tons) surfaced; 871 t (857 long tons) submerged;
Length	67.10 m (220 ft 2 in)o/a; 50.50 m (165 ft 8 in)pressure hull;
Beam	6.20 m (20 ft 4 in) o/a; 4.70 m (15 ft 5 in) pressure hull;
Height	9.60 m (31 ft 6 in)
Draught	4.74 m (15 ft 7 in)
Installed power	2,800–3,200 PS (2,100–2,400 kW; 2,800–3,200 bhp) (diesels); 750 PS (550 kW; 740 shp) (electric);
Propulsion	2 shafts; 2 ×diesel engines; 2 ×electric motors;
Speed	17.7 knots (32.8 km/h; 20.4 mph) surfaced; 7.6 knots (14.1 km/h; 8.7 mph) submerged;
Range	8,500nmi(15,700km;9,800mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) surfaced; 80 nmi (150 km; 92 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph) submerged;
Test depth	230 m (750 ft); Crush depth:250–295 m (820–968 ft);
Complement	4 officers, 40–56 enlisted
Armament	5 × 53.3 cm (21 in)torpedo tubes(four bow, one stern); 14 ×torpedoesor26 TMAmines; 1 ×8.8 cm (3.46 in) deck gun(220 rounds); 2 × twin2 cm (0.79 in) C/30anti-aircraft guns;
Service record
Part of:	8th U-boat Flotilla; 12 January 1943 – 28 February 1944; 7th U-boat Flotilla; 1 March – 17 April 1944;
Identification codes:	M 50 454
Commanders:	Oblt.z.S.Albert Hossenfelder; 12 January 1943 – 17 April 1944;
Operations:	1 patrol:; 3 – 17 April 1944;
Victories:	None

German submarineU-342was aType VIIC U-boatofNazi Germany'sKriegsmarineduringWorld War II.

She was on her first patrol when she was sunk by a Canadian aircraft, Canso patrol flying boats, on 17 April 1944, with 51 casualties, lost with all hands.

She did not sink or damage any ships.

Design

German Type VIIC submarineswere preceded by the shorterType VIIB submarines.U-342had a displacement of 769 tonnes (757 long tons) when at the surface and 871 tonnes (857 long tons) while submerged.^[4]She had a total length of 67.10 m (220 ft 2 in), apressure hulllength of 50.50 m (165 ft 8 in), abeamof 6.20 m (20 ft 4 in), a height of 9.60 m (31 ft 6 in), and adraughtof 4.74 m (15 ft 7 in). The submarine was powered by twoGermaniawerftF46 four-stroke, six-cylindersupercharged diesel enginesproducing a total of 2,800 to 3,200 metric horsepower (2,060 to 2,350 kW; 2,760 to 3,160 shp) for use while surfaced, twoAEGGU 460/8–27double-acting electric motorsproducing a total of 750 metric horsepower (550 kW; 740 shp) for use while submerged. She had two shafts and two 1.23 m (4 ft)propellers.The boat was capable of operating at depths of up to 230 metres (750 ft).^[4]

The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 17.7 knots (32.8 km/h; 20.4 mph) and a maximum submerged speed of 7.6 knots (14.1 km/h; 8.7 mph).^[4]When submerged, the boat could operate for 80 nautical miles (150 km; 92 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph); when surfaced, she could travel 8,500 nautical miles (15,700 km; 9,800 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph).U-342was fitted with five 53.3 cm (21 in)torpedo tubes(four fitted at the bow and one at the stern), fourteentorpedoes,one8.8 cm (3.46 in) SK C/35 naval gun,220 rounds, and two twin2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 anti-aircraft guns.The boat had acomplementof between forty-four and sixty.^[4]

Service history

The submarine waslaid downon 7 December 1941 at theNordseewerkeyard atEmdenas yard number 214,launchedon 10 November 1942 andcommissionedon 12 January 1943 under the command ofOberleutnant zur SeeAlbert Hossenfelder.

U-342served with the8th U-boat Flotilla,for training and then with the7th flotillafor operations from 1 March 1944.

Patrol

U-342had sailed fromKielin Germany toBergenin Norway in March 1944, but her patrol began when she departed Bergen on 3 April and headed for the Atlantic Ocean. She had passed through thegapbetweenIcelandand theFaroe Islands,but was attacked and sunk by a CanadianCanso(PBY Catalina) ofNo. 162 Squadron RCAFsouthwest of Iceland on 17 April.^[1]

Fifty-one men died; there were no survivors.^[5]

References

^^a ^bKemp 1999,p. 184.
^Helgason, Guðmundur."The Type VIIC boat U-342".German U-boats of WWII – uboat.net.Retrieved22 August2012.
^Helgason, Guðmundur."War Patrols by German U-boat U-342".German U-boats of WWII – uboat.net.Retrieved22 August2012.
^^a ^b ^c ^dGröner 1991,pp. 43–46.
^Hofmann, Markus."U 342".Deutsche U-Boote 1935–1945 – u-boot-archiv.de(in German).Retrieved26 December2014.

Bibliography

Busch, Rainer; Röll, Hans-Joachim (1999).German U-boat commanders of World War II: a biographical dictionary.Translated by Brooks, Geoffrey. London, Annapolis, Md: Greenhill Books, Naval Institute Press.ISBN 1-55750-186-6.
Busch, Rainer; Röll, Hans-Joachim (1999).Deutsche U-Boot-Verluste von September 1939 bis Mai 1945[German U-boat losses from September 1939 to May 1945]. Der U-Boot-Krieg (in German). Vol. IV. Hamburg, Berlin, Bonn: Mittler.ISBN 3-8132-0514-2.
Gröner, Erich; Jung, Dieter; Maass, Martin (1991).U-boats and Mine Warfare Vessels.German Warships 1815–1945. Vol. 2. Translated by Thomas, Keith; Magowan, Rachel. London: Conway Maritime Press.ISBN 0-85177-593-4.
Kemp, Paul (1999).U-Boats Destroyed – German Submarine Losses in the World Wars.London: Arms & Armour.ISBN 1-85409-515-3.

External links

Helgason, Guðmundur."The Type VIIC boat U-342".German U-boats of WWII – uboat.net.Retrieved26 December2014.
Hofmann, Markus."U 342".Deutsche U-Boote 1935–1945 – u-boot-archiv.de(in German).Retrieved26 December2014.

60°32′N29°20′W/ 60.533°N 29.333°W/60.533; -29.333

[FOOTNOTEKemp1999184-1] Kemp 1999,p. 184.

[uboatnet-2] Helgason, Guðmundur."The Type VIIC boat U-342".German U-boats of WWII – uboat.net.Retrieved22 August2012.

[patrols-3] Helgason, Guðmundur."War Patrols by German U-boat U-342".German U-boats of WWII – uboat.net.Retrieved22 August2012.

[FOOTNOTEGröner199143–46-4] Gröner 1991,pp. 43–46.

[5] Hofmann, Markus."U 342".Deutsche U-Boote 1935–1945 – u-boot-archiv.de(in German).Retrieved26 December2014.

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v t e Type VII submarines
Type VIIA	U-27 U-28 U-29 U-30 U-31 U-32 U-33 U-34 U-35 U-36
Type VIIB	U-45 U-46 U-47 U-48 U-49 U-50 U-51 U-52 U-53 U-54 U-55 U-73 U-74 U-75 U-76 U-83 U-84 U-85 U-86 U-87 U-99 U-100 U-101 U-102
Type VIIC	U-69 U-70 U-71 U-72 U-77 U-78 U-79 U-80 U-81 U-82 U-88 U-89 U-90 U-91 U-92 U-93 U-94 U-95 U-96 U-97 U-98 U-132 U-133 U-134 U-135 U-136 U-201 U-202 U-203 U-204 U-205 U-206 U-207 U-208 U-209 U-210 U-211 U-212 U-221 U-222 U-223 U-224 U-225 U-226 U-227 U-228 U-229 U-230 U-231 U-232 U-235 U-236 U-237 U-238 U-239 U-240 U-241 U-242 U-243 U-244 U-245 U-246 U-247 U-248 U-249 U-250 U-251 U-252 U-253 U-254 U-255 U-256 U-257 U-258 U-259 U-260 U-261 U-262 U-263 U-264 U-265 U-266 U-267 U-268 U-269 U-270 U-271 U-272 U-273 U-274 U-275 U-276 U-277 U-278 U-279 U-280 U-281 U-282 U-283 U-284 U-285 U-286 U-287 U-288 U-289 U-290 U-291 U-301 U-302 U-303 U-304 U-305 U-306 U-307 U-308 U-309 U-310 U-311 U-312 U-313 U-314 U-315 U-316 U-331 U-332 U-333 U-334 U-335 U-336 U-337 U-338 U-339 U-340 U-341 U-342 U-343 U-344 U-345 U-346 U-347 U-348 U-349 U-350 U-351 U-352 U-353 U-354 U-355 U-356 U-357 U-358 U-359 U-360 U-361 U-362 U-363 U-364 U-365 U-366 U-367 U-368 U-369 U-370 U-371 U-372 U-373 U-374 U-375 U-376 U-377 U-378 U-379 U-380 U-381 U-382 U-383 U-384 U-385 U-386 U-387 U-388 U-389 U-390 U-391 U-392 U-393 U-394 U-396 U-397 U-398 U-399 U-400 U-401 U-402 U-403 U-404 U-405 U-406 U-407 U-408 U-409 U-410 U-411 U-412 U-413 U-414 U-415 U-416 U-417 U-418 U-419 U-420 U-421 U-422 U-423 U-424 U-425 U-426 U-427 U-428 U-429 U-430 U-431 U-432 U-433 U-434 U-435 U-436 U-437 U-438 U-439 U-440 U-441 U-442 U-443 U-444 U-445 U-446 U-447 U-448 U-449 U-450 U-451 U-452 U-453 U-454 U-455 U-456 U-457 U-458 U-465 U-466 U-467 U-468 U-469 U-470 U-471 U-472 U-473 U-475 U-476 U-477 U-478 U-479 U-480 U-481 U-482 U-483 U-484 U-485 U-486 U-551 U-552 U-553 U-554 U-555 U-556 U-557 U-558 U-559 U-560 U-561 U-562 U-563 U-564 U-565 U-566 U-567 U-568 U-569 U-570 U-571 U-572 U-573 U-574 U-575 U-576 U-577 U-578 U-579 U-580 U-581 U-582 U-583 U-584 U-585 U-586 U-587 U-588 U-589 U-590 U-591 U-592 U-593 U-594 U-595 U-596 U-597 U-598 U-599 U-600 U-601 U-602 U-603 U-604 U-605 U-606 U-607 U-608 U-609 U-610 U-611 U-612 U-613 U-614 U-615 U-616 U-617 U-618 U-619 U-620 U-621 U-622 U-623 U-624 U-625 U-626 U-627 U-628 U-629 U-630 U-631 U-632 U-633 U-634 U-635 U-636 U-637 U-638 U-639 U-640 U-641 U-642 U-643 U-644 U-645 U-646 U-647 U-648 U-649 U-650 U-651 U-652 U-653 U-654 U-655 U-656 U-657 U-658 U-659 U-660 U-661 U-662 U-663 U-664 U-665 U-666 U-667 U-668 U-669 U-670 U-671 U-672 U-673 U-674 U-675 U-676 U-677 U-678 U-679 U-680 U-681 U-682 U-683 U-701 U-702 U-703 U-704 U-705 U-706 U-707 U-708 U-709 U-710 U-711 U-712 U-713 U-714 U-715 U-716 U-717 U-718 U-719 U-720 U-721 U-722 U-731 U-732 U-733 U-734 U-735 U-736 U-737 U-738 U-739 U-740 U-741 U-742 U-743 U-744 U-745 U-746 U-747 U-748 U-749 U-750 U-751 U-752 U-753 U-754 U-755 U-756 U-757 U-758 U-759 U-760 U-761 U-762 U-763 U-764 U-765 U-766 U-767 U-768 U-771 U-772 U-773 U-774 U-775 U-776 U-777 U-778 U-779 U-821 U-822 U-825 U-826 U-901 U-903 U-904 U-905 U-907 U-921 U-922 U-923 U-924 U-925 U-926 U-927 U-928 U-951 U-952 U-953 U-954 U-955 U-956 U-957 U-958 U-959 U-960 U-961 U-962 U-963 U-964 U-965 U-966 U-967 U-968 U-969 U-970 U-971 U-972 U-973 U-974 U-975 U-976 U-977 U-978 U-979 U-980 U-981 U-982 U-983 U-984 U-985 U-986 U-987 U-988 U-989 U-990 U-991 U-992 U-993 U-994 U-1051 U-1052 U-1053 U-1054 U-1055 U-1056 U-1057 U-1058 U-1101 U-1102 U-1131 U-1132 U-1161 U-1162 U-1191 U-1192 U-1193 U-1194 U-1195 U-1196 U-1197 U-1198 U-1199 U-1200 U-1201 U-1202 U-1203 U-1204 U-1205 U-1206 U-1207 U-1208 U-1209 U-1210
Type VIIC/41	U-292 U-293 U-294 U-295 U-296 U-297 U-298 U-299 U-300 U-317 U-318 U-319 U-320 U-321 U-322 U-323 U-324 U-325 U-326 U-327 U-328 U-691 U-827 U-828 U-929 U-930 U-995 U-997 U-998 U-999 U-1000 U-1001 U-1002 U-1003 U-1004 U-1005 U-1006 U-1007 U-1008 U-1009 U-1010 U-1011 U-1013 U-1014 U-1015 U-1016 U-1017 U-1018 U-1019 U-1020 U-1021 U-1022 U-1023 U-1024 U-1025 U-1063 U-1064 U-1065 U-1103 U-1104 U-1105 U-1106 U-1107 U-1108 U-1109 U-1110 U-1163 U-1164 U-1165 U-1166 U-1167 U-1168 U-1169 U-1170 U-1171 U-1172 U-1271 U-1272 U-1273 U-1274 U-1275 U-1276 U-1277 U-1278 U-1279 U-1301 U-1302 U-1303 U-1304 U-1305 U-1306 U-1307 U-1308
Type VIID	U-213 U-214 U-215 U-216 U-217 U-218
Type VIIF	U-1059 U-1060 U-1061 U-1062
Preceded by:Type II Followed by:Type IX List of U-boats of Germany

v t e Shipwrecks and maritime incidents in April 1944
Shipwrecks	2 Apr:U-360 3 Apr:U-288 4 Apr:I-169 6 Apr:U-302,U-455 7 Apr:I-2,U-856 8 Apr:U-2,U-962 9 Apr:U-515 10 Apr:USSSC-497,U-68 11 Apr:Akigumo,U-108 12 Apr:I-174 13 Apr:Ikazuchi 14 Apr:Fort Stikine,U-448 15 Apr:No. 7 16 Apr:U-550 17 Apr:U-342,U-986 18 Apr:USSGudgeon,Pan-Pennsylvania 19 Apr:U-974 20 Apr:USSLansdale,Paul Hamilton,Voorbode 21 Apr:M 553 22 Apr:U-311 23 Apr:Amagiri 26 Apr:V 606Fladengrund,I-180,U-488,Yoshida Maru No. 1 27 Apr:U-803,Yūbari 28 Apr:USSLST-507 29 Apr:HMCSAthabaskan,I-183,USSPT-346,Sirène,U-421 30 Apr:Ro-45 Unknown date:U-193,U-355
Other incidents	2 Apr:I-46,Ro-46 10 Apr:USSHolder 11 Apr:USSCero 13 Apr:USSBashaw 14 Apr:Bombay explosion,HMHSChantilly 16 Apr:Pan-Pennsylvania 20 Apr:Bergen explosion 24 Apr:LST-407 27 Apr:USSEtamin 29 Apr:USSSeahorse
194319441945 March 1944May 1944