German submarine U-606
| History | |
|---|---|
 Nazi Germany
| |
| Name: | U-606 |
| Ordered: | 22 May 1940 |
| Builder: | Blohm & Voss, Hamburg |
| Yard number: | 582 |
| Laid down: | 12 March 1941 |
| Launched: | 27 November 1941 |
| Commissioned: | 22 January 1942 |
| Fate: | Sunk 22 February 1943 in the North Atlantic in position 47°44′N 33°43′W / 47.733°N 33.717°W, by depth charges from USCGC Campbell and Polish destroyer Burza. |
| General characteristics | |
| Class & type: | Type VIIC submarine |
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| Beam: |
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| Height: | 9.60 m (31 ft 6 in) |
| Draught: | 4.74 m (15 ft 7 in) |
| Installed power: |
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| Complement: | 4 officers, 40–56 enlisted |
| Armament: |
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- 5th U-boat Flotilla
- 22 January – 31 August 1942 - Training
- 11th U-boat Flotilla
- 1 September – 31 October 1942
- 9th U-boat Flotilla
- 1 November 1942 – 22 February 1943
- Oblt.z.S. Hans Klatt
- 22 January 1942 – 1 October 1942
- Kptlt. Dietrich von der Esch
- 14 September 1942 – 26 September 1942
- Oblt.z.S. Hans-Heinrich Döhler
- 2 October 1942 – 22 February 1943
- 1st patrol: 14–26 September 1942
- 2nd patrol: 17 October – 5 December 1942
- 3rd patrol: 4 January – 22 February 1943
- 3 merchant ships sunk (20,527 GRT)
- 2 merchant ships damaged (21,925 GRT)
German submarine U-606 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 582, launched on 27 November 1941 and commissioned on 22 January 1942 under Oblt.z.S. Hans Klatt.
Design
German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-606 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-606 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 22 January 1942, followed by active service on 1 September 1942 as part of the 11th Flotilla. After just two months, on 31 October 1942, she transferred to 9th Flotilla.
In three patrols she sank three merchant ships, for a total of 20,527 gross register tons (GRT), plus 2 merchant ships damaged for a total of 21,925 gross register tons (GRT).
Convoy ON 166
Along with U-92, U-186, U-225, U-332, U-529, U-600, U-604, U-623, U-628, U-653 & U-753 she attacked Convoy ON 166 and was very successful sinking the British Empire Redshank plus two US ships Chattanooga City and Expositor on 22 February, before being damaged by depth charges launched from the Polish destroyer ORP Burza
Wolfpacks
U-606 took part in five wolfpacks, namely
- Puma (26–29 October 1942)
- Natter (30 October – 8 November 1942)
- Kreuzotter (8–24 November 1942)
- Falke (8–19 January 1943)
- Haudegen (19 January – 15 February 1943)
Fate
U-606 was sunk on 22 February 1943 in the North Atlantic in position 47°44′N 33°43′W / 47.733°N 33.717°WCoordinates: 47°44′N 33°43′W / 47.733°N 33.717°W, by depth charges from USCGC Campbell and Polish destroyer ORP Burza. There were 36 dead and 11 survivors.
Summary of raiding history
| Date | Name | Nationality | Tonnage (GRT) |
Fate[3]|- | 28 October 1942 | Kosmos II |  Norway |
16,966 | Damaged |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28 October 1942 | Gurney E. Newlin |  United States |
8,225 | Sunk | |||||
| 22 February 1943 | Chattanooga City | United States |
5,687 | Sunk | |||||
| 22 February 1943 | Empire Redshank |  United Kingdom |
6,615 | Sunk | |||||
| 22 February 1943 | Expositor | United States |
4,959 | Damaged |
References
- ↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-606". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 6 July 2014.
- 1 2 3 4 Gröner 1991, pp. 43-46.
- ↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U-606". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 6 July 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.
- Edwards, Bernard (1996). Dönitz and the Wolf Packs - The U-boats at War. pp. 157–159, 162. ISBN 0-304-35203-9.
- 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-606". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 29 December 2014.