German submarine U-72 (1940)

U-72 was a Type VIIC submarine built for the Kriegsmarine. She carried the pennant number 1940. Her keel was laid at Germaniawerft, Kiel on 28 December 1939. She entered service on 4 January 1941, having been launched on 22 November 1940.

She was one of 612 ships of her class. The class followed the Type UB III, Vetehinen class and was succeeded by the Type XXI (Late-war replacement).

The boat displaced 757 long tons surfaced and 857 long tons submerged. She measured 67.1 m (220 ft) long with a beam of 6.2 m (20 ft). Her designed speed was 17.7 knots.

Her main battery was one 88 mm (3.5 in) guns.

She was in commission for 1,544 days of the Second World War.

She was sunk on 30 March 1945 by aircraft. The wreck survives.

Written from the harvested record. Every figure above is sourced; the wording is this site's own.