German submarine U-562 was a Type VIIC U-boat built for Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine for service during World War II.She was laid down on 7 February 1940 by Blohm & Voss in Hamburg as yard number 538, launched on 24 January 1941 and commissioned on 20 March 1941 under Oberleutnant zur See Herwig Collmann.
German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-562 had a displacement of 769t when at the surface and 871t while submerged. She had a total length of 67.1m (220.1feet), a pressure hull length of 50.5m (165.7feet), a beam of 6.2m (20.3feet), a height of 9.6m (31.5feet), and a draught of 4.74m (15.55feet). The submarine was powered by two Germaniawerft F46 four-stroke, six-cylinder supercharged diesel engines producing a total of NaNPS for use while surfaced, two Brown, Boveri & Cie GG UB 720/8 double-acting electric motors producing a total of 750PS for use while submerged. She had two shafts and two 1.23abbr=onNaNabbr=on propellers. The boat was capable of operating at depths of up to .
The submarine had a maximum surface speed of and a maximum submerged speed of . When submerged, the boat could operate for at ; when surfaced, she could travel at . U-562 was fitted with five 53.30NaN0 torpedo tubes (four fitted at the bow and one at the stern), fourteen torpedoes, one 8.82NaN2 SK C/35 naval gun, 220 rounds, and a 2sp=usNaNsp=us C/30 anti-aircraft gun. The boat had a complement of between forty-four and sixty.
The boat's service began on 20 March 1941 with training as part of the 1st U-boat Flotilla. She transferred to the 29th Flotilla on 1 January 1942 for active service, in the Mediterranean.
In ten patrols she sank six merchant ships, for a total of, plus one ship damaged.
U-562 was sunk on 19 February 1943 in the Mediterranean Sea NE of Bengazi in position 32.95°N 74°W, by a RAF Wellington bomber of 38 Squadron together with Royal Navy vessels, the destroyer and destroyer escort . All 49 hands were lost.
U-562 took part in two wolfpacks, namely:
| Date | Ship Name | Nationality | Tonnage (GRT) | Fate[1] | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22 September 1941 | Erna III |  United Kingdom | 1,590 | Sunk | |
| 2 October 1941 | Empire Wave | United Kingdom | 7,463 | Sunk | |
| 2 December 1941 | Grelhead | United Kingdom | 4,274 | Sunk | |
| 29 April 1942 | Alliance | United Kingdom | 81 | Sunk | |
| 29 April 1942 | Terpsithea | United Kingdom | 157 | Sunk | |
| 14 July 1942 | Adinda |  Netherlands | 3,359 | Damaged | |
| 21 December 1942 | Strathallan | United Kingdom | 23,722 | Sunk |