German submarine U-620
German submarine U-620 was a Type VIIC U-boat built for Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine for service during World War II. She was laid down on 19 June 1941 by Blohm & Voss, Hamburg as yard number 596, launched on 9 March 1942 and commissioned on 30 April 1942 under Oberleutnant zur See Heinz Stein.
History | |
---|---|
Nazi Germany | |
Name | U-620 |
Ordered | 15 August 1940 |
Builder | Blohm & Voss, Hamburg |
Yard number | 596 |
Laid down | 19 June 1941 |
Launched | 9 March 1942 |
Commissioned | 30 April 1942 |
Fate | Sunk on 13 February 1943 in the North Atlantic in position 39°18′N 11°17′W, by depth charges from a RAF Catalina. |
General characteristics | |
Class and type | Type VIIC submarine |
Displacement |
|
Length |
|
Beam |
|
Draught | 4.74 m (15 ft 7 in) |
Installed power |
|
Propulsion |
|
Speed |
|
Range | |
Test depth |
|
Complement | 4 officers, 40–56 enlisted |
Armament |
|
Service record[1] | |
Part of: |
|
Commanders: |
|
Operations: |
|
Victories: |
1 merchant ship sunk (6,983 GRT) |
Design
German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-620 had a displacement of 769 tonnes (757 long tons) when at the surface and 871 tonnes (857 long tons) while submerged.[2] She had a total length of 67.10 m (220 ft 2 in), a pressure hull length of 50.50 m (165 ft 8 in), a beam of 6.20 m (20 ft 4 in), a height of 9.60 m (31 ft 6 in), and a draught of 4.74 m (15 ft 7 in). The submarine was powered by two Germaniawerft F46 four-stroke, six-cylinder supercharged diesel engines producing a total of 2,800 to 3,200 metric horsepower (2,060 to 2,350 kW; 2,760 to 3,160 shp) for use while surfaced, two Brown, Boveri & Cie GG UB 720/8 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 1.23 m (4 ft) propellers. The boat was capable of operating at depths of up to 230 metres (750 ft).[2]
The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 17.7 knots (32.8 km/h; 20.4 mph) and a maximum submerged speed of 7.6 knots (14.1 km/h; 8.7 mph).[2] When submerged, the boat could operate for 80 nautical miles (150 km; 92 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph); when surfaced, she could travel 8,500 nautical miles (15,700 km; 9,800 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph). U-620 was fitted with five 53.3 cm (21 in) torpedo tubes (four fitted at the bow and one at the stern), fourteen torpedoes, one 8.8 cm (3.46 in) SK C/35 naval gun, 220 rounds, and a 2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 anti-aircraft gun. The boat had a complement of between forty-four and sixty.[2]
Service history
The boat's career began with training at 8th U-boat Flotilla on 30 April 1942, followed by active service on 1 October 1942 as part of the 3rd Flotilla for the remainder of her service.
In 2 patrols she sank 1 merchant ships, for a total of 6,983 gross register tons (GRT).
Wolfpacks
U-620 took part in five wolfpacks, namely:
- Luchs (27 September – 6 October 1942)
- Panther (6 – 11 October 1942)
- Leopard (12 – 19 October 1942)
- Südwärts (24 – 26 October 1942)
- Delphin (26 December 1942 – 13 February 1943)
Fate
U-620 was sunk on 13 February 1943 in the North Atlantic in position 39°18′N 11°17′W, by depth charges from a Royal Air Force (RAF) Consolidated Catalina of No. 207 Squadron RAF, for the loss of all hands.
Summary of raiding history
Date | Ship Name | Nationality | Tonnage (GRT) |
Fate[3] |
---|---|---|---|---|
11 January 1943 | British Dominion | United Kingdom | 6,983 | Sunk |
References
- Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-620". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 1 September 2014.
- Gröner 1991, pp. 43–46.
- Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U-620". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 1 September 2014.
Bibliography
- Busch, Rainer; Röll, Hans-Joachim (1999). German U-boat commanders of World War II : a biographical dictionary. Translated by Brooks, Geoffrey. London, Annapolis, Md: Greenhill Books, Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-55750-186-6.
- Busch, Rainer; Röll, Hans-Joachim (1999). Deutsche U-Boot-Verluste von September 1939 bis Mai 1945 [German U-boat losses from September 1939 to May 1945]. ISBN 3-8132-0514-2.
{{cite book}}
:|work=
ignored (help) - Gröner, Erich; Jung, Dieter; Maass, Martin (1991). U-boats and Mine Warfare Vessels. ISBN 0-85177-593-4.
{{cite book}}
:|work=
ignored (help) - Sharpe, Peter (1998). U-Boat Fact File. Great Britain: Midland Publishing. ISBN 1-85780-072-9.
External links
- Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-620". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 29 December 2014.