German submarine U-615
| History | |
|---|---|
 Nazi Germany
| |
| Name: | U-615 |
| Ordered: | 15 August 1940 |
| Builder: | Blohm & Voss, Hamburg |
| Laid down: | 20 May 1941 |
| Launched: | 8 February 1942 |
| Commissioned: | 26 March 1942 |
| Fate: | Sunk in the Caribbean Sea, 7 August 1943 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class & type: | Type VIIC submarine |
| Displacement: |
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| Length: |
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| Beam: |
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| Draught: | 4.74 m (15 ft 7 in) |
| Propulsion: |
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| Speed: |
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| Range: |
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| Test depth: | 220 m (721 ft 9 in) |
| Complement: | 4 officers, 40–56 enlisted44-52 men |
| Armament: |
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| Service record | |
| Commanders: | Kptlt. Ralph Kapitzky |
German submarine U-615 was a Type VIIC U-boat built for Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine for service during World War II.[1]
Commissioned in 1942, and commanded by Kptlt. Ralph Kapitzky, she was depth charged and sunk in the Caribbean Sea, north of Porlamar, on 7 August 1943,[2] in position 12°38′N 64°15′W / 12.633°N 64.250°WCoordinates: 12°38′N 64°15′W / 12.633°N 64.250°W, by US 6 Mariner and 1 Ventura aircraft. It was the largest aircraft hunt ever mounted for a single U-boat. Of her crew 4 (including her captain) were killed, and 43 survived.
Design
German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-615 had a displacement of 769 tonnes (757 long tons) when at the surface and 871 tonnes (857 long tons) while submerged.[3] 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 BBC 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).[3]
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).[3] 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-615 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.[3]
Wolfpacks
U-615 took part in 10 wolfpacks, namely.
- Pfeil (12–22 September 1942)
- Blitz (22–26 September 1942)
- Tiger (26–30 September 1942)
- Wotan (5–19 October 1942)
- Draufgänger (1–11 December 1942)
- Ungestüm (11–30 December 1942)
- Burggraf (25 February – 5 March 1943)
- Raubgraf (7–20 March 1943)
- Seewolf (24–30 March 1943)
- Adler (7–13 April 1943)
Summary of raiding history
| Date | Ship Name | Nationality | Tonnage (GRT) | Fate[4] |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 October 1942 | El Lago |  Panama |
4,221 | Sunk |
| 23 October 1942 | Empire Star |  United Kingdom |
12,656 | Sunk |
| 11 April 1943 | Edward B. Dudley |  United States |
7,177 | Sunk |
| 28 July 1943 | Rosalia |  Netherlands |
3,177 | Sunk |
References
- ↑ Kelshell, Gaylord T. M. (2003), "Ralph Kapitsky – Battle in the Caribbean and the Death of U-615", in Savas, Theodore P., Contemporary Conflict Resolution, Naval Institute Press, pp. 43–73, ISBN 1591148170.
- ↑ Heden, Karl E. (2006), Sunken Ships World War II: US Naval Chronology, Including Submarine Losses of the United States, England, Germany, Japan, Italy, Branden Books, p. 76, ISBN 0828321183.
- 1 2 3 4 Gröner 1991, pp. 43-46.
- ↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "U-615". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 6 February 2014.
- 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. Cassell Military Classics. p. 139. 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.
External links
- Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-615". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 29 December 2014.