German submarine U-172

U-505, a typical Type IXC boat
History
Nazi Germany
NameU-172
Ordered23 December 1939
BuilderDeSchiMAG AG Weser, Bremen
Yard number1012
Laid down11 December 1940
Launched31 July 1941
Commissioned5 November 1941
FateSunk by USS Clemson
General characteristics
Class & typeType IXC submarine
Displacement
  • 1,120 t (1,100 long tons) surfaced
  • 1,232 t (1,213 long tons) submerged
Length
  • 76.76 m (251 ft 10 in) o/a
  • 58.75 m (192 ft 9 in) pressure hull
Beam
  • 6.76 m (22 ft 2 in) o/a
  • 4.40 m (14 ft 5 in) pressure hull
Height9.60 m (31 ft 6 in)
Draught4.70 m (15 ft 5 in)
Installed power
  • 4,400 PS (3,200 kW; 4,300 bhp) (diesels)
  • 1,000 PS (740 kW; 990 shp) (electric)
Propulsion
Speed
  • 18.3 knots (33.9 km/h; 21.1 mph) surfaced
  • 7.3 knots (13.5 km/h; 8.4 mph) submerged
Range
  • 13,450 nmi (24,910 km; 15,480 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) surfaced
  • 64 nmi (119 km; 74 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph) submerged
Test depth230 m (750 ft)
Complement4 officers, 44 enlisted
Armament
Service record
Part of:
Identification codes: M 29 596
Commanders:
Operations:
  • 6 patrols:
  • 1st patrol:
  • 22 April – 3 May 1943
  • 2nd patrol:
  • 11 May – 21 July 1942
  • 3rd patrol:
  • 19 August – 27 December 1942
  • 4th patrol:
  • 21 February – 17 April 1943
  • 5th patrol:
  • 29 May – 7 September 1943
  • 6th patrol:
  • 22 November – 13 December 1943
Victories: 26 merchant ships sunk
(152,080 GRT)

German submarine U-172 was a Type IXC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. She was first assigned to the 4th U-boat Flotilla for training and on 1 May 1942 was reassigned to the 10th flotilla, an operational long-range organization.