German submarine U-605

History
Nazi Germany
Name: U-605
Ordered: 22 May 1940
Builder: Blohm & Voss, Hamburg
Yard number: 581
Laid down: 12 March 1941
Launched: 27 November 1941
Commissioned: 15 January 1942
Fate: Sunk 14 November 1942 in the Mediterranean Sea in position 36°20′N 01°01′W / 36.333°N 1.017°W / 36.333; -1.017, by depth charges from a RAF Hudson bomber.
General characteristics
Class and type: Type 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
Height: 9.60 m (31 ft 6 in)
Draught: 4.74 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)
Complement: 4 officers, 40–56 enlisted
Armament:
Service record[1]
Part of:
Commanders:
  • Oblt.z.S. Herbert-Viktor Schütze
  • 15 January – 14 November 1942
Operations:
  • 1st patrol: 28 July – 4 September 1942
  • 2nd patrol: 1–14 October 1942
  • 3rd patrol: 21 October – 14 November 1942
Victories: 3 merchant ships sunk (8,409 GRT)

German submarine U-605 was a Type VIIC U-boat built for Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine for service during World War II. She was laid down on 12 March 1941 by Blohm & Voss, Hamburg as yard number 581, launched on 27 November 1941 and commissioned on 15 January 1942 under Oberleutnant zur See Herbert-Viktor Schütze.

Design

German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-605 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-605 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 career began with training at 5th U-boat Flotilla on 15 January 1942, followed by active service on 1 August 1942 as part of the 9th Flotilla. Just three months later, she transferred to the 29th Flotilla, operating out of La Spezia, for operations in the Mediterranean Sea for the remainder of her service.

In three patrols she sank three merchant ships, for a total of 8,409 gross register tons (GRT).

Wolfpacks

U-605 took part in two wolfpacks, namely

Fate

U-605 was sunk on 14 November 1942 in the Mediterranean Sea in position 36°20′N 01°01′W / 36.333°N 1.017°W / 36.333; -1.017Coordinates: 36°20′N 01°01′W / 36.333°N 1.017°W / 36.333; -1.017, by depth charges from a RAF Hudson bomber. All hands were lost.

Summary of raiding history

Date Name Nationality Tonnage
(GRT)
Fate[3]
3 August 1942 Bombay  United Kingdom 229 Sunk
25 August 1942 Katvaldis  United Kingdom 3,163 Sunk
25 August 1942 Sheaf Mount  United Kingdom 5,017 Sunk

See also

References

  1. Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-605". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 7 August 2014.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Gröner 1991, pp. 43-46.
  3. Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U-605". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 7 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. 
  • 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]. Der U-Boot-Krieg (in German). IV. Hamburg, Berlin, Bonn: Mittler. ISBN 3-8132-0514-2. 
  • Gröner, Erich; Jung, Dieter; Maass, Martin (1991). U-boats and Mine Warfare Vessels. German Warships 1815–1945. 2. Translated by Thomas, Keith; Magowan, Rachel. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-593-4. 
  • Sharpe, Peter (1998). U-Boat Fact File. Great Britain: Midland Publishing. ISBN 1-85780-072-9. 

External links

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