German submarine U-613
History | |
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Nazi Germany | |
Name | U-613 |
Ordered | 15 August 1940 |
Builder | Blohm & Voss, Hamburg |
Yard number | 589 |
Laid down | 6 May 1941 |
Launched | 29 January 1942 |
Commissioned | 12 March 1942 |
Fate | Sunk 23 July 1943 in the North Atlantic in position 35°32′N 28°36′W / 35.533°N 28.600°W, by depth charges from USS George E. Badger. |
General characteristics | |
Class and type | Type VIIC submarine |
Displacement |
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Length |
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Beam |
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Draught | 4.74 m (15 ft 7 in) |
Installed power |
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Propulsion |
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Speed |
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Range | |
Test depth |
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Complement | 4 officers, 40–56 enlisted |
Armament |
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Service record[1] | |
Part of: |
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Commanders: |
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Operations: |
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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, 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
- ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-613". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 22 August 2014.
- ^ a b c d Gröner 1991, pp. 43–46.
- ^ 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.
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(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.
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(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.
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(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-613". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 29 December 2014.