German submarine U-605

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History
War ensign of Germany (1938-1945).svg Nazi Germany
NameU-605
Ordered22 May 1940
Builder Blohm & Voss, Hamburg
Yard number581
Laid down12 March 1941
Launched27 November 1941
Commissioned15 January 1942
FateSunk on 14 November 1942 in the Mediterranean Sea in position 36°20′N01°01′W / 36.333°N 1.017°W / 36.333; -1.017 , by depth charges from a RAF Hudson bomber.
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
Height9.60 m (31 ft 6 in)
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 28 117
Commanders:
Operations:
  • 3 patrols:
  • 1st patrol:
  • 28 July – 4 September 1942
  • 2nd patrol:
  • 1 – 14 October 1942
  • 3rd patrol:
  • 21 October – 14 November 1942
Victories: 3 merchant ships sunk
(8,409  GRT)

German submarine U-605 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 581, launched on 27 November 1941 and commissioned on 15 January 1942 under Oberleutnant zur See Herbert-Viktor Schütze.

Contents

Design

German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-605 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-605 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 15 January 1942, followed by active service on 1 August 1942 as part of the 9th Flotilla. Just three months later, she transferred to the 29th Flotilla, operating out of La Spezia, for operations in the Mediterranean Sea for the remainder of her service.

In three patrols she sank three merchant ships, for a total of 8,409  gross register tons  (GRT).

Wolfpacks

U-605 took part in three wolfpacks, namely:

Fate

U-605 was sunk on 14 November 1942 in the Mediterranean Sea in position 36°20′N01°01′W / 36.333°N 1.017°W / 36.333; -1.017 , by depth charges from a RAF Hudson bomber. All hands were lost.

Summary of raiding history

DateShip NameNationalityTonnage
(GRT)
Fate [3]
3 August 1942 Bombay Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 229Sunk
25 August 1942 Katvaldis Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 3,163Sunk
25 August 1942 Sheaf Mount Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 5,017Sunk

See also

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References

  1. Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-605". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 7 August 2014.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Gröner 1991, pp. 43–46.
  3. Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U-605". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 7 August 2014.

Bibliography