German submarine U-462

U-462 and U-461 taking evasive action during an air attack on 30 July 1943
History
Nazi Germany
Name:	U-462
Ordered:	14 May 1940
Builder:	Deutsche Werke, Kiel
Yard number:	293
Laid down:	2 January 1941
Launched:	29 November 1941
Commissioned:	5 March 1942
Fate:	Sunk, 30 July 1943
General characteristics
Type:	Ocean-going submarine tanker
Displacement:	1,688 t (1,661 long tons) surfaced 1,932 t (1,901 long tons) submerged
Length:	67.10 m (220 ft 2 in) o/a 48.51 m (159 ft 2 in) pressure hull
Beam:	9.35 m (30 ft 8 in) o/a 4.90 m (16 ft 1 in) pressure hull
Height:	11.70 m (38 ft 5 in)
Draught:	6.51 m (21 ft 4 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:	14.4–14.9 knots (26.7–27.6 km/h; 16.6–17.1 mph) surfaced 6.2 knots (11.5 km/h; 7.1 mph) submerged
Range:	12,350 nmi (22,870 km; 14,210 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) surfaced 55 nmi (102 km; 63 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph) submerged
Test depth:	240 m (790 ft)
Complement:	6 officers and 47 enlisted
Armament:	2 × 3.7 cm (1.5 in) anti-aircraft guns 1 × 2 cm (0.8 in) AA gun
Service record
Part of:	4th U-boat Flotilla 5 March – 31 July 1942 10th U-boat Flotilla 1 August – 31 October 1942 12th U-boat Flotilla 1 November 1942 – 30 July 1943
Commanders:	Lt.z.S. Bruno Vowe 5 March 1942 – 30 July 1943
Operations:	1st patrol: 23 July – 21 September 1942 2nd patrol: 18 October – 7 December 1942 3rd patrol: 20–22 January 1943 4th patrol: 19 February – 11 March 1943 5th patrol: 1–24 April 1943 6th patrol: 17–23 June 1943 7th patrol: 28 June – 6 July 1943 8th patrol: 27–30 July 1943
Victories:	None

German submarine U-462 was a Type XIV supply and replenishment U-boat ("Milchkuh") of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

Her keel was laid down on 2 January 1941, by Deutsche Werke in Kiel. She was launched on 29 November 1941 and commissioned on 5 March 1942 with Oberleutnant zur See Bruno Vowe in command. Vowe commanded the boat until she was lost. She served, first as part of the 4th U-boat Flotilla while carrying out training, then as part of the 10th and 12th flotillas while taking part in operations.

German Type XIV submarines were shortened versions of the Type IXDs they were based on.‘’U-462’’ had a displacement of 1,688 tonnes (1,661 long tons) when at the surface and 1,932 tonnes (1,901 long tons) while submerged. The U-boat had a total length of 67.10 m (220 ft 2 in), a pressure hull length of 48.51 m (159 ft 2 in), a beam of 9.35 m (30 ft 8 in), a height of 11.70 m (38 ft 5 in), and a draught of 6.51 m (21 ft 4 in). The submarine was powered by two Germaniawerft supercharged four-stroke, six-cylinder diesel engines producing a total of 2,800–3,200 metric horsepower (2,060–2,350 kW; 2,760–3,160 shp) for use while surfaced, two Siemens-Schuckert 2 GU 345/38-8 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 propellers. The boat was capable of operating at depths of up to 240 metres (790 ft).