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  • 21 Aug, 2019

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German Submarine U-620

German submarine U-620 was a Type VIIC U-boat built for Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine for service during World War II. She was laid down on 19 June 1941 by Blohm & Voss, Hamburg as yard number 596, launched on 9 March 1942 and commissioned on 30 April 1942 under Oberleutnant zur See Heinz Stein.

Design

German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-620 had a displacement of 769 tonnes (757 long tons) when at the surface and 871 tonnes (857 long tons) while submerged. 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).

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). 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-620 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.

Service history

The boat's career began with training at 8th U-boat Flotilla on 30 April 1942, followed by active service on 1 October 1942 as part of the 3rd Flotilla for the remainder of her service.

In 2 patrols she sank 1 merchant ships, for a total of 6,983 gross register tons (GRT).

Wolfpacks

U-620 took part in five wolfpacks, namely:

  • Luchs (27 September – 6 October 1942)
  • Panther (6 – 11 October 1942)
  • Leopard (12 – 19 October 1942)
  • Südwärts (24 – 26 October 1942)
  • Delphin (26 December 1942 – 13 February 1943)

Fate

U-620 was sunk on 13 February 1943 in the North Atlantic in position 39°18′N 11°17′W / 39.300°N 11.283°W / 39.300; -11.283, by depth charges from a Royal Air Force (RAF) Consolidated Catalina of No. 202 Squadron RAF, for the loss of all hands.

Summary of raiding history

Date Ship Name Nationality Tonnage
(GRT)
Fate
11 January 1943 British Dominion  United Kingdom 6,983 Sunk

References

  1. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-620". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 1 September 2014.
  2. ^ Gröner 1991, pp. 43–46.
  3. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U-620". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 1 September 2014.

Bibliography