German submarine U-442

History
Nazi Germany
NameU-442
Ordered5 January 1940
BuilderSchichau-Werke, Danzig
Yard number1493
Laid down19 October 1940
Launched17 January 1942
Commissioned21 March 1942
FateSunk on 12 February 1943
General characteristics
Class & typeType VIIC submarine
Displacement
Length
Beam
  • 6.20 m (20 ft 4 in) o/a
  • 4.70 m (15 ft 5 in) pressure hull
Height9.60 m (31 ft 6 in)
Draught4.74 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
Speed
  • 17.7 knots (32.8 km/h; 20.4 mph) surfaced
  • 7.6 knots (14.1 km/h; 8.7 mph) submerged
Range
  • 8,500 nmi (15,700 km; 9,800 mi) 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)
Complement4 officers, 40–56 enlisted
Armament
Service record
Part of:
Identification codes: M 41 243
Commanders:
  • F.Kapt. Hans-Joachim Hesse
  • 21 March 1942 – 12 February 1943
Operations:
  • 2 patrols:
  • 1st patrol:
  • 17 September – 16 November 1942
  • 2nd patrol:
  • 20 December 1942 – 12 February 1943
Victories: 4 merchant ships sunk
(25,417 GRT)

German submarine U-442 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

The submarine was laid down on 19 October 1940 at the Schichau-Werke in Danzig as yard number 1493, launched on 17 January 1942, and commissioned on 21 March 1942 under the command of Fregattenkapitän Hans-Joachim Hesse.

U-442 first served with the 5th U-boat Flotilla, a training unit, and then operationally with the 7th flotilla from 1 October 1942 until the time of her loss.