German submarine U-602

History
Nazi Germany
Name:	U-602
Ordered:	22 May 1940
Builder:	Blohm & Voss, Hamburg
Yard number:	578
Laid down:	8 February 1941
Launched:	30 October 1941
Commissioned:	29 December 1941
Fate:	Missing since 19 April 1943 in the Mediterranean in position 36°50′N 00°00′W / 36.833°N -0.000°E.
General characteristics
Class & type:	Type VIIC submarine
Displacement:	769 tonnes (757 long tons) surfaced 871 t (857 long tons) submerged
Length:	67.10 m (220 ft 2 in) o/a 50.50 m (165 ft 8 in) pressure hull
Beam:	6.20 m (20 ft 4 in) o/a 4.70 m (15 ft 5 in) pressure hull
Draught:	4.74 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:	2 shafts 2 × diesel engines 2 × electric motors
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)
Complement:	4 officers, 40–56 enlisted
Armament:	5 × 53.3 cm (21 in) torpedo tubes (four bow, one stern) 14 × torpedoes or 26 TMA mines 1 × 8.8 cm (3.46 in) deck gun (220 rounds) various AA guns
Service record[1]
Part of:	5th U-boat Flotilla 29 December 1941 – 30 September 1942 - Training 7th U-boat Flotilla 1 October – 31 December 1942 29th U-boat Flotilla 1 January – 19 April 1943
Commanders:	Oblt.z.S. Philipp Schüler 29 December 1941 – 19 April 1943
Operations:	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.

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 an 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

• Panther (6–16 October 1942)
• Puma (16–29 October 1942)

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′N 00°00′W / 36.833°N -0.000°ECoordinates: 36°50′N 00°00′W / 36.833°N -0.000°E. All hands were lost.

Summary of raiding history

Date	Name	Nationality	Tonnage (GRT)	Fate[3]
9 December 1942	HMS Porcupine	Royal Navy	1,540	Total loss

See also

• Mediterranean U-boat Campaign (World War II)

References

1. Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-602". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 12 September 2014.
2. 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

• Busch, Rainer; Röll, Hans-Joachim (1999). Deutsche U-Boot-Verluste von September 1939 bis Mai 1945. Der U-Boot-Krieg (in German) IV (Hamburg, Berlin, Bonn: Mittler). ISBN 3-8132-0514-2.
• 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-602". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 29 December 2014.