German Submarine U-658
Design
German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-658 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 Siemens-Schuckert GU 343/38-8 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-658 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 5 November 1941, followed by active service on 1 August 1942 as part of the 6th Flotilla for the remainder of her service.
In two patrols she sank three merchant ships, for a total of 12,146 gross register tons (GRT) and damaged one other.
Wolfpacks
U-658 took part in two wolfpacks, namely:
- Panther (13 – 20 October 1942)
- Veilchen (20 – 30 October 1942)
Fate
U-658 was sunk on 30 October 1942 in the North Atlantic east of Newfoundland, in position 50°32′N 46°32′W / 50.533°N 46.533°W, by depth charges from RCAF Hudson bomber from 145 Squadron. There were no survivors.
Summary of raiding history
Date | Ship Name | Nationality | Tonnage (GRT) |
Fate |
---|---|---|---|---|
13 August 1942 | Medea | Netherlands | 1,311 | Sunk |
17 August 1942 | Fort la Reine | United Kingdom | 7,133 | Sunk |
17 August 1942 | Laguna | United Kingdom | 6,466 | Damaged |
17 August 1942 | Samir | Egypt | 3,702 | Sunk |
References
- ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-658". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 13 September 2014.
- ^ Gröner 1991, pp. 43–46.
- ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U-658". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 13 September 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). Der U-Boot-Krieg, 1939-1945: 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.
- Gröner, Eric; Jung, Dieter; Maass, Martin (1991). German Warships 1815-1945: U-boats and Mine Warfare Vessels. Vol. 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-658". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 29 December 2014.