German submarine U-602

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History
War ensign of Germany (1938-1945).svg Nazi Germany
NameU-602
Ordered22 May 1940
Builder Blohm & Voss, Hamburg
Yard number578
Laid down8 February 1941
Launched30 October 1941
Commissioned29 December 1941
FateMissing since 19 April 1943 in the Mediterranean in position 36°50′N00°00′W / 36.833°N -0.000°E / 36.833; -0.000 .
General characteristics
Class and type Type VIIC submarine
Displacement
Length
Beam
  • 6.20 m (20 ft 4 in) o/a
  • 4.70 m (15 ft 5 in) pressure hull
Draught4.74 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)
Complement4 officers, 40–56 enlisted
Armament
Service record [1]
Part of:
Identification codes: M 47 187
Commanders:
Operations:
  • 4 patrols:
  • 1st patrol:
  • 26 September - 6 November 1942
  • 2nd patrol:
  • 1 – 21 December 1942
  • 3rd patrol:
  • 6 February – 9 March 1943
  • 4th patrol:
  • 6 – 19 April 1943
Victories: 1 warship total loss
(1,540 tons)

German submarine U-602 was a Type VIIC U-boat built for Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine for service during World War II. She was laid down on 8 February 1941 by Blohm & Voss, Hamburg as yard number 578, launched on 30 October 1941 and commissioned on 29 December 1941 under Oberleutnant zur See Philipp Schüler.

Contents

Design

German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-602 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-602 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 29 December 1941, followed by active service on 1 October 1942 as part of the 7th Flotilla. She later transferred for operations in the Mediterranean with 29th Flotilla for the remainder of her service.

In four patrols she was credited with the total loss of one warship (1,540 tons).

Wolfpacks

U-602 took part in two wolfpacks, namely:

Fate

U-602 went missing in the Mediterranean. She left the Military port of Toulon on 11 April 1943, and sent the last radio message on 19 April 1943 at position 36°50′N00°00′W / 36.833°N -0.000°E / 36.833; -0.000 . All hands were lost.

Previously recorded fate

U-602 was originally thought to have been sunk on April 23, 1943 at position 36°10′N00°30′W / 36.167°N 0.500°W / 36.167; -0.500 by depth charges from a British Hudson aircraft of RAF 500/N. This attack was actually against U-453, inflicting no damage.

Summary of raiding history

DateShip NameNationalityTonnage [Note 1] Fate [3]
9 December 1942 HMS Porcupine Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Navy 1,540Total loss

See also

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References

Notes

  1. ↑ Merchant ship tonnages are in gross register tons. Military vessels are listed by tons displacement.

Citations

  1. ↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-602". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 12 September 2014.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Gröner 1991, pp. 43–46.
  3. ↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U-602". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 12 September 2014.

Bibliography

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