**German Submarine U-387**
**Definition:**
German submarine U-387 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany’s Kriegsmarine during World War II. It was primarily engaged in Atlantic naval warfare, conducting multiple patrols before being sunk in 1944.
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## German Submarine U-387
The German submarine U-387 was a Type VIIC U-boat commissioned by Nazi Germany’s Kriegsmarine during the Second World War. As part of the extensive U-boat fleet, U-387 participated in the Battle of the Atlantic, aiming to disrupt Allied shipping and supply lines. Despite its operational efforts, the submarine had a relatively short service life, culminating in its sinking in 1944.
### Design and Specifications
U-387 belonged to the Type VIIC class, which was the workhorse of the German U-boat fleet during World War II. The Type VIIC was an evolution of the earlier Type VIIB, featuring improvements in range, armament, and operational capabilities.
– **Displacement:** Approximately 769 tons surfaced, 871 tons submerged
– **Length:** 67.1 meters (overall), with a pressure hull length of 50.5 meters
– **Beam:** 6.2 meters
– **Height:** 9.6 meters
– **Draught:** 4.74 meters
The submarine was powered by two Germaniawerft F46 four-stroke, six-cylinder supercharged diesel engines for surface propulsion, producing between 2,800 to 3,200 horsepower. For submerged operation, it used two Garbe, Lahmeyer & Co. RP 137/c double-acting electric motors, generating a total of 750 horsepower.
U-387 had a maximum surface speed of 17.7 knots and a submerged speed of 7.6 knots. Its operational range was approximately 8,500 nautical miles at 10 knots when surfaced, and 80 nautical miles at 4 knots when submerged. The boat was capable of operating at depths up to 230 meters.
### Armament
The U-boat was equipped with five 53.3 cm torpedo tubes—four located at the bow and one at the stern—and carried a total of fourteen torpedoes. For surface combat and anti-aircraft defense, it was armed with one 8.8 cm SK C/35 naval gun with 220 rounds and two twin 2 cm C/30 anti-aircraft guns.
### Crew
The typical complement of a Type VIIC U-boat like U-387 ranged between 44 and 52 men, including officers, petty officers, and enlisted sailors. The crew was responsible for operating the vessel, maintaining its systems, and conducting combat operations.
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## Construction and Commissioning
U-387 was ordered on 26 May 1941 and laid down on 15 January 1942 at the Howaldtswerke shipyard in Kiel, Germany, under yard number 24. The submarine was launched on 3 December 1942 and commissioned into service on 21 January 1943 under the command of Kapitänleutnant Wilhelm-Martin Novack.
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## Service History
### Training and Flotilla Assignments
Following commissioning, U-387 underwent training with the 5th U-boat Flotilla, which was responsible for preparing new submarines and crews for operational deployment. After completing training, the boat was assigned to the 9th U-boat Flotilla for front-line service.
### Operational Patrols
U-387 conducted a total of five patrols during its operational career. These patrols primarily took place in the North Atlantic and Arctic waters, targeting Allied convoys and merchant shipping.
– **First Patrol:** The initial patrol began in mid-1943, focusing on the North Atlantic shipping lanes. The submarine operated without notable success, encountering limited enemy vessels.
– **Subsequent Patrols:** Over the next several months, U-387 continued to patrol strategic maritime routes, including areas near Iceland and the Norwegian Sea. Despite several engagements, the submarine did not record any confirmed sinkings.
### Wolfpack Participation
U-387 took part in several wolfpack operations, a tactic employed by the Kriegsmarine to concentrate multiple U-boats against Allied convoys. These coordinated attacks aimed to overwhelm convoy defenses and maximize damage.
The submarine participated in the following wolfpacks:
– **Eisenbart (28 November – 2 December 1943):** A group targeting convoys in the North Atlantic.
– **Isegrim (16 – 27 January 1944):** Focused on disrupting Arctic convoy routes.
– **Werwolf (27 January – 3 February 1944):** Engaged in operations against Allied shipping in northern waters.
Despite these efforts, U-387 did not achieve any confirmed sinkings during its wolfpack engagements.
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## Fate
On 13 March 1944, during its fifth patrol, U-387 was sunk in the Barents Sea northeast of North Cape, Norway. The submarine was attacked by British Fairey Swordfish aircraft from the escort carrier HMS *Campania*. The aircraft deployed depth charges, resulting in the destruction of U-387.
All 51 crew members aboard the submarine perished in the attack; there were no survivors. The loss of U-387 was part of the increasing attrition faced by German U-boats in the later stages of the Battle of the Atlantic, as Allied anti-submarine tactics and technology improved.
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## Legacy
U-387’s operational history reflects the challenges faced by German U-boats during the mid to late years of World War II. Despite the initial successes of the U-boat campaign, increasing Allied air cover, improved convoy tactics, and advances in anti-submarine warfare gradually diminished the effectiveness of submarines like U-387.
The submarine’s sinking underscores the strategic importance of air power in maritime warfare and the vulnerability of submarines operating in contested waters. U-387 remains one of many Type VIIC U-boats that served during the war, contributing to the broader narrative of undersea warfare in the 20th century.
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## Summary
German submarine U-387 was a Type VIIC U-boat commissioned in early 1943 and operated primarily in the North Atlantic and Arctic regions. Despite participating in multiple patrols and wolfpack operations, it did not record any confirmed sinkings. The submarine was sunk by British aircraft in March 1944, with the loss of all hands.
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**Meta Description:**
German submarine U-387 was a World War II Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany’s Kriegsmarine, active in the Atlantic and Arctic before being sunk by British aircraft in 1944. It participated in several patrols and wolfpack operations without confirmed sinkings.