German submarine U-368

German submarine U-368 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

She carried out no patrols. She did not sink or damage any ships.

She was sunk after Germany's surrender as part of Operation Deadlight on 17 December 1945.

Design
German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-368 had a displacement of 769 t when at the surface and 871 t while submerged. She had a total length of 67.10 m, a pressure hull length of 50.50 m, a beam of 6.20 m, a height of 9.60 m, and a draught of 4.74 m. The submarine was powered by two Germaniawerft F46 four-stroke, six-cylinder supercharged diesel engines producing a total of 2800 to 3200 PS for use while surfaced, two AEG GU 460/8–27 double-acting electric motors producing a total of 750 PS for use while submerged. She had two shafts and two 1.23 m propellers. The boat was capable of operating at depths of up to 230 m.

The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 17.7 kn and a maximum submerged speed of 7.6 kn. When submerged, the boat could operate for 80 nmi at 4 kn; when surfaced, she could travel 8500 nmi at 10 kn. U-368 was fitted with five 53.3 cm torpedo tubes (four fitted at the bow and one at the stern), fourteen torpedoes, one 8.8 cm SK C/35 naval gun, 220 rounds, and two twin 2 cm C/30 anti-aircraft guns. The boat had a complement of between forty-four and sixty.

Service history
The submarine was laid down on 20 August 1942 at the Flensburger Schiffbau-Gesellschaft yard at Flensburg as yard number 491, launched on 16 November 1943 and commissioned on 7 January 1944 under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Wolfgang Schäfer.

She served with the 21st U-boat Flotilla from 7 January 1944 and the 31st flotilla from 1 March 1945.

Fate
U-368 surrendered at the German-occupied island of Heligoland on 5 May 1945. She moved to Wilhelmshaven and was transferred to Loch Ryan in Scotland for Operation Deadlight on 23 June. She was sunk by naval gunfire on 17 December.