German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter
Type VIIB submarines. U-1052 had 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), a
pressure hull length of 50.50 m (165 ft 8 in), a
beam of 6.20 m (20 ft 4 in), a height of 9.60 m (31 ft 6 in), and a
draught of 4.74 m (15 ft 7 in). The submarine was powered by two
Germaniawerft F46 four-stroke, six-cylinder
superchargeddiesel engines producing 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, two
AEG GU 460/8-276
double-acting electric motors producing 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-1052 was fitted with five 53.3 cm (21 in)
torpedo tubes (four fitted at the bow and one at the stern), fourteen
torpedoes or 26 TMA
mines, one
8.8 cm (3.46 in) SK C/35 naval gun, (220 rounds), one
3.7 cm (1.5 in) Flak M42 and two twin
2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 anti-aircraft guns. The boat had a
complement of between 44 — 52 men.[4]
Service history
U-1052 collided with the
coasterSaude on 13 November 1944, south of
Bergen. Saude sank when U-1052 went astern and pulled her bow out of the rupture in Saude's hull.[3]
On 9 May 1945, U-1052 surrendered at Bergen, Norway. She was later transferred to
Loch Ryan, Scotland on 30 May 1945. Of the 156 U-boats that eventually surrendered to the Allied forces at the end of the war, U-1052 was one of 116 selected to take part in
Operation Deadlight. U-1052 was towed out on 9 December 1945, and sunk by aircraft of the
RN's
816 Squadron.[3]
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.
ISBN1-55750-186-6.
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.
ISBN3-8132-0514-2.
Gröner, Erich; Jung, Dieter; Maass, Martin (1991). German Warships 1815–1945, U-boats and Mine Warfare Vessels. Vol. 2. Translated by Thomas, Keith; Magowan, Rachel. London: Conway Maritime Press.
ISBN0-85177-593-4.