Jump to content

German submarine U-613

Coordinates: 35°32′N 28°36′W / 35.533°N 28.600°W / 35.533; -28.600
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Keith D (talk | contribs) at 13:46, 10 April 2020 (Bibliography: Fix harv linkage). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

History
Nazi Germany
NameU-613
Ordered15 August 1940
BuilderBlohm & Voss, Hamburg
Yard number589
Laid down6 May 1941
Launched29 January 1942
Commissioned12 March 1942
FateSunk 23 July 1943 in the North Atlantic in position 35°32′N 28°36′W / 35.533°N 28.600°W / 35.533; -28.600, by depth charges from USS George E. Badger.
General characteristics
Class and typeType VIIC submarine
Displacement
  • 769 tonnes (757 long tons) surfaced
  • 871 t (857 long tons) submerged
Length
Beam
  • 6.20 m (20 ft 4 in) o/a
  • 4.70 m (15 ft 5 in) pressure hull
Draught4.74 m (15 ft 7 in)
Installed power
  • 2,800–3,200 PS (2,100–2,400 kW; 2,800–3,200 bhp) (diesels)
  • 750 PS (550 kW; 740 shp) (electric)
Propulsion
Speed
  • 17.7 knots (32.8 km/h; 20.4 mph) surfaced
  • 7.6 knots (14.1 km/h; 8.7 mph) submerged
Range
  • 8,500 nmi (15,700 km; 9,800 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) surfaced
  • 80 nmi (150 km; 92 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph) submerged
Test depth
  • 230 m (750 ft)
  • Crush depth: 250–295 m (820–968 ft)
Complement4 officers, 40–56 enlisted
Armament
Service record[1]
Part of:
Commanders:
  • Kptlt. Helmut Köppe
  • 12 March 1942 – 23 July 1943
Operations:
  • 1st patrol: 22 October - 27 November 1942
  • 2nd patrol: 9 January - 18 February 1943
  • 3rd patrol: 23 March - 6 May 1943
  • 4th patrol: 10–23 July 1943
Victories: 2 merchant ships sunk (8,087 GRT)

German submarine U-613 was a Type VIIC U-boat built for Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine for service during World War II. She was laid down on 6 May 1941 by Blohm & Voss, Hamburg as yard number 589, launched on 29 January 1942 and commissioned on 12 March 1942 under Kapitänleutnant Helmut Köppe.

Design

German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-613 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-613 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 12 March 1942, followed by active service on 1 November 1942 as part of the 1st Flotilla for the remainder of her service.

In four patrols she sank two merchant ships, for a total of 8,087 gross register tons (GRT).

Wolfpacks

U-613 took part in six wolfpacks, namely

  • Natter (2–8 November 1942)
  • Westwall (8–18 November 1942)
  • Habicht (10–19 January 1943)
  • Haudegen (19 January – 9 February 1943)
  • Adler (7–13 April 1943)
  • Meise (13–25 April 1943)

Fate

U-613 was sunk on 23 July 1943 in the North Atlantic south of the Azores, in position 35°32′N 28°36′W / 35.533°N 28.600°W / 35.533; -28.600, by depth charges from USS George E. Badger. All hands were lost.

Summary of raiding history

Date Name Nationality Tonnage
(GRT)
Fate[3]|-
11 April 1943 Ingerfire  Norway 3,835 Sunk
7 November 1942 Roxby  United Kingdom 4,252 Sunk

References

  1. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-613". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 22 August 2014.
  2. ^ a b c d Gröner 1991, pp. 43–46.
  3. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U-613". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 22 August 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. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
  • 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] (in German). Vol. IV. Hamburg, Berlin, Bonn: Mittler. ISBN 3-8132-0514-2. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help); Invalid |ref=harv (help)
  • 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. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help); Cite has empty unknown parameter: |last-author-amp= (help)
  • Sharpe, Peter (1998). U-Boat Fact File. Great Britain: Midland Publishing. ISBN 1-85780-072-9.