German submarine U-606
History | |
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Nazi Germany | |
Name: | U-606 |
Ordered: | 22 May 1940 |
Builder: | Blohm & Voss, Hamburg |
Yard number: | 582 |
Laid down: | 12 March 1941 |
Launched: | 27 November 1941 |
Commissioned: | 22 January 1942 |
Fate: | Sunk 22 February 1943 in the North Atlantic in position 47°44′N 33°43′W / 47.733°N 33.717°W / 47.733; -33.717, by depth charges from USCGC Campbell and Polish destroyer Burza. |
General characteristics | |
Class and type: | Type VIIC submarine |
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Beam: |
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Height: | 9.60 m (31 ft 6 in) |
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: |
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Test depth: |
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Complement: | 4 officers, 40–56 enlisted |
Armament: |
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Service record[1] | |
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German submarine U-606 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 582, launched on 27 November 1941 and commissioned on 22 January 1942 under Oblt.z.S. Hans Klatt.
Contents
1 Design
2 Service history
2.1 Convoy ON 166
2.2 Wolfpacks
2.3 Fate
3 Summary of raiding history
4 References
5 Bibliography
6 External links
Design
German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-606 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-606 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 5th U-boat Flotilla on 22 January 1942, followed by active service on 1 September 1942 as part of the 11th Flotilla. After just two months, on 31 October 1942, she transferred to 9th Flotilla.
In three patrols she sank three merchant ships, for a total of 20,527 gross register tons (GRT), plus 2 merchant ships damaged for a total of 21,925 gross register tons (GRT).
Convoy ON 166
Along with U-92, U-186, U-225, U-332, U-529, U-600, U-604, U-623, U-628, U-653 and U-753 she attacked Convoy ON 166 and was very successful sinking the British Empire Redshank and US ship Chattanooga City and damaging US ship Expositor (finished by U-303) on 22 February, before being damaged by depth charges launched from the destroyer ORP Burza.[3]
Wolfpacks
U-606 took part in five wolfpacks, namely
- Puma (26–29 October 1942)
- Natter (30 October – 8 November 1942)
Kreuzotter (8–24 November 1942)- Falke (8–19 January 1943)
- Haudegen (19 January – 15 February 1943)
Fate
U-606 was sunk on 22/23 February 1943 in the North Atlantic in position 47°44′N 33°43′W / 47.733°N 33.717°W / 47.733; -33.717Coordinates: 47°44′N 33°43′W / 47.733°N 33.717°W / 47.733; -33.717. She was damaged and forced to submerge by depth charges from Polish destroyer Burza, then she was found by USCGC Campbell and attacked with depth charges and gunfire.[3] Older publications claimed, that the Campbell also rammed U-606, but apparently some U-Boot had just collided with the Campbell, and it is not clear if it was U-606.[3] There were 36 dead and 12 survivors (5 on the Campbell and 7 on the Burza).[3] U-606 finally sunk on 23 February near dawn.[3]
Summary of raiding history
Date | Name | Nationality | Tonnage (GRT) | Fate[4]|- | 28 October 1942 | Kosmos II | Norway | 16,966 | Damaged |
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28 October 1942 | Gurney E. Newlin | United States | 8,225 | Sunk | |||||
22 February 1943 | Chattanooga City | United States | 5,687 | Sunk | |||||
22 February 1943 | Empire Redshank | United Kingdom | 6,615 | Sunk | |||||
22 February 1943 | Expositor | United States | 4,959 | Damaged |
References
^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-606". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 6 July 2014.
^ abcd Gröner 1991, pp. 43-46.
^ abcde Rafał Mariusz Kaczmarek. Burza, U 606 i konwój ON 166. "Morze, Statki i Okręty" Nr. 3/2013. p.56-60 (in Polish)
^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U-606". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 6 July 2014.
Bibliography
.mw-parser-output .refbeginfont-size:90%;margin-bottom:0.5em.mw-parser-output .refbegin-hanging-indents>ullist-style-type:none;margin-left:0.mw-parser-output .refbegin-hanging-indents>ul>li,.mw-parser-output .refbegin-hanging-indents>dl>ddmargin-left:0;padding-left:3.2em;text-indent:-3.2em;list-style:none.mw-parser-output .refbegin-100font-size:100%
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.
Edwards, Bernard (1996). Dönitz and the Wolf Packs - The U-boats at War. pp. 157–159, 162. ISBN 0-304-35203-9.
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
Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-606". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 29 December 2014.