German submarine U-604
| History | |
|---|---|
 Nazi Germany | |
| Name | U-604 |
| Ordered | 22 May 1940 |
| Builder | Blohm & Voss, Hamburg |
| Yard number | 580 |
| Laid down | 27 February 1941 |
| Launched | 16 November 1941 |
| Commissioned | 8 January 1942 |
| Fate | Scuttled on 11 August 1943 at position 04°30′S 21°20′W / 4.500°S 21.333°W in the South Atlantic after being depth charged by two US aircraft, a Ventura and a Liberator. |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Type VIIC submarine |
| Displacement |
|
| Length |
|
| Beam |
|
| Height | 9.60 m (31 ft 6 in) |
| 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:
- 5th U-boat Flotilla
- 8 January 1942 – 31 July 1942 - Training
- 9th U-boat Flotilla
- 1 August 1942 – 11 August 1943
Commanders:
- Kptlt. Horst Höltring
- 8 January 1942 – 11 August 1943
Operations:
- 1st patrol: 4 August – 8 September 1942
- 2nd patrol: 14 October – 5 November 1942
- 3rd patrol: 26 November – 31 December 1942
- 4th patrol: 8 February – 9 March 1943
- 5th patrol: 22–26 April 1943
- 6th patrol: 24 June – 11 August 1943
Victories: 6 merchant ships sunk (39,891 GRT) German submarine U-604 was a Type VIIC U-boat built for Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine for service during World War II. She was laid down on 27 February 1941 by Blohm & Voss in Hamburg as yard number 580, launched on 16 November 1941 and commissioned on 8 January 1942 under Kapitänleutnant Horst Höltring (German Cross in Gold).
Design
German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-604 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-604 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 an anti-aircraft gun. The boat had a complement of between forty-four and sixty.[2]
Service history
The boat's service began on 8 January 1942 for training as part of the 5th U-boat Flotilla. After training was completed she transferred to the 9th flotilla on 1 August 1942 for active service.
In 6 patrols she sank 6 ships for a total of 39,891 gross register tons (GRT).
Wolfpacks
She took part in five wolfpacks, namely,
- Vorwärts (28 August – 1 September 1942)
- Streitaxt (20–31 October 1942)
- Draufgänger (1–11 December 1942)
- Ungestüm (11–22 December 1942)
- Knappen (19–25 February 1943)
Fate
She was scuttled on 11 August 1943 at position 04°30′S 21°20′W / 4.500°S 21.333°W in the South Atlantic after being depth charged by two US aircraft, a Ventura and a Liberator. Her crew was rescued by U-172.
Summary of raiding history
| Date | Name | Nationality | Tonnage (GRT) |
Fate[3] |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 August 1942 | Abbekerk |  Netherlands
|
7,906 | Sunk |
| 27 October 1942 | Anglo Maersk |  United Kingdom
|
7,705 | Sunk |
| 30 October 1942 | Président Doumer | United Kingdom
|
11,898 | Sunk |
| 30 October 1942 | Baron Vernon | United Kingdom
|
3,642 | Sunk |
| 2 December 1942 | Coamo |  United States
|
7,057 | Sunk |
| 23 February 1943 | Stockport | United Kingdom
|
1,683 | Sunk |
References
- ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-604". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 30 April 2014.
- ^ a b c d Gröner 1991, pp. 43–46.
- ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U-604". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 30 April 2014.
Bibliography
- Busch, Rainer; Röll, Hans-Joachim (1999). Deutsche U-Boot-Verluste von September 1939 bis Mai 1945 (in German). Vol. IV. Hamburg, Berlin, Bonn: Mittler. ISBN 3-8132-0514-2.
{{cite book}}:|work=ignored (help); Invalid|ref=harv(help) - Edwards, Bernard (1996). Dönitz and the Wolf Packs – The U-Boats at War. London, UK: Cassell Military Classics. pp. 104, 117, 119, 124, 159. ISBN 0-304-35203-9.
- Gröner, Erich; Jung, Dieter; Maass, Martin (1991). U-boats and Mine Warfare Vessels. Vol. 2. Translated by Thomas, Keith; Magowan, Rachel. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-593-4.
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External links
- Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-604". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 29 December 2014.