German submarine U-645
| History | |
|---|---|
 Nazi Germany
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| Name: | U-645 |
| Ordered: | 20 January 1941 |
| Builder: | Blohm & Voss, Hamburg |
| Yard number: | 621 |
| Laid down: | 1 December 1941 |
| Launched: | 3 September 1942 |
| Commissioned: | 22 October 1942 |
| Fate: | Sunk 24 December 1943 in the North Atlantic in position 45°20′N 21°40′W / 45.333°N 21.667°WCoordinates: 45°20′N 21°40′W / 45.333°N 21.667°W, by depth charges from USS Schenck. |
| General characteristics | |
| Class & type: | Type VIIC submarine |
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| Height: | 9.60 m (31 ft 6 in) |
| Draught: | 4.74 m (15 ft 7 in) |
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| Complement: | 4 officers, 40–56 enlisted |
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| Victories: | 2 merchant ships sunk (12,788 GRT) |
German submarine U-645 was a Type VIIC U-boat built for Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine for service during World War II. She was laid down on 1 December 1941 by Blohm & Voss, Hamburg as yard number 621, launched on 3 September 1942 and commissioned on 22 October 1942 under Leutnant zur See Otto Ferro.
Design
German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-645 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-645 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
This boat's career began with training at 5th U-boat Flotilla on 22 October 1942, followed by active service on 1 May 1943 as part of the 3rd Flotilla for the remainder of her service. In three patrols she sank two merchant ships, for a total of 12,788 gross register tons (GRT).
Wolfpacks
U-645 took part in eight wolfpacks, namely
- Without name (5–10 May 1943)
- Isar (10–15 May 1943)
- Donau 1 (15–26 May 1943)
- Leuthen (15–24 September 1943)
- Rossbach (24 September – 9 October 1943)
- Coronel 2 (13–14 December 1943)
- Coronel 3 (14–17 December 1943)
- Borkum (18–24 December 1943)
Fate
U-645 was sunk on 24 December 1943 in the North Atlantic in position 45°20′N 21°40′W / 45.333°N 21.667°W, by depth charges from USS Schenck. All hands were lost.
Summary of raiding history
| Date | Name | Nationality | Tonnage (GRT) |
Fate[3] |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 September 1943 | Frederick Douglass |  United States |
7,176 | Sunk |
| 9 October 1943 | Yorkmarr | United States |
5,612 | Sunk |
References
- ↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-645". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 16 August 2014.
- 1 2 3 4 Gröner 1991, pp. 43-46.
- ↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U-645". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 16 August 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. p. 212. 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-645". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 29 December 2014.