| German submarine U-623 | |
|---|---|
| Career (Nazi Germany) |  |
| Name: | U-623 |
| Ordered: | 15 August 1940 |
| Builder: | Blohm & Voss, Hamburg |
| Yard number: | 599 |
| Laid down: | 15 July 1941 |
| Launched: | 31 March 1942 |
| Commissioned: | 21 May 1942 |
| Fate: | Sunk 21 February 1943 in the North Atlantic in position 48°08′N 29°37′W / 48.133°N 29.617°WCoordinates: 48°08′N 29°37′W / 48.133°N 29.617°W, by depth charges from a RAF Liberator. |
| General characteristics | |
| Class & type: | Type VIIC submarine |
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| Draught: | 4.74 m (15 ft 7 in) |
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| Complement: | 4 officers, 40–56 enlisted |
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| Victories: | None |
German submarine U-623 was a Type VIIC U-boat built for Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine for service during World War II. She was laid down on 15 July 1941 by Blohm & Voss, Hamburg as yard number 599, launched on 31 March 1942 and commissioned on 21 May 1942 under Oberleutnant zur See Hermann Schrüder.
Design[]
German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-623 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-623 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 8th U-boat Flotilla on 21 May 1942, followed by active service on 1 December 1942 as part of the 6th Flotilla for the remainder of her service.
In two patrols she sank no ships.
Wolfpacks[]
U-623 took part in five wolfpacks, namely
- Drachen (22 November – 3 December 1942)
- Panzer (3–9 December 1942)
- Ungestüm (11–13 December 1942)
- Raufbold (13–18 December 1942)
- Ritter (11–21 February 1943)
Fate[]
U-623 was caught while hurrying on the surface to join the attack against Convoy ON 166 and sunk on 21 February 1943 in the North Atlantic, at the position 48°08′N 29°37′W / 48.133°N 29.617°W, by depth charges from a RAF Liberator of 120 Squadron. All hands were lost.
See also[]
References[]
- ↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-623". http://uboat.net/boats/u623.html. Retrieved 11 November 2014.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Gröner 1991, pp. 43-46.
Bibliography[]
- Busch, Rainer; Röll, Hans-Joachim (1999). German U-boat commanders of World War II : a biographical dictionary. London, Annapolis, Md: Greenhill Books, Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-55750-186-6.
- Busch, Rainer; Röll, Hans-Joachim (1999) (in German). Deutsche U-Boot-Verluste von September 1939 bis Mai 1945. IV. Hamburg, Berlin, Bonn: Mittler. ISBN 3-8132-0514-2.
- Edwards, Bernard (1996). Dönitz and the Wolf Packs - The U-boats at War. pp. 162. ISBN 0-304-35203-9.
- Gröner, ErichExpression error: Unexpected < operator. (1991). U-boats and Mine Warfare Vessels. 2. 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[]
- Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-623". http://uboat.net/boats/u623.html. Retrieved 29 December 2014.
The original article can be found at German submarine U-623 and the edit history here.