Name U-611 Yard number 587 Commissioned 26 February 1942 Launched 8 January 1942 Draft 4.74 m Builder Blohm + Voss | Ordered 15 August 1940 Laid down 22 April 1941 Construction started 22 April 1941 Length 67 m Beam 6.2 m | |
Fate Sunk 8 December 1942 in the North Atlantic SE of Cape Farewell, Greenland in position , by depth charges from RAF Liberator. Part of 5th U-boat Flotilla, 3rd U-boat Flotilla | ||
German submarine U-611 was a Type VIIC U-boat built for Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine for service during World War II. She was laid down on 22 April 1941 by Blohm & Voss, Hamburg as yard number 587, launched on 8 January 1942 and commissioned on 26 February 1942 under Kapitänleutnant Nikolaus von Jacobs.
Contents
Service history
The boat's career began with training at 5th U-boat Flotilla on 26 February 1942, followed by active service on 1 October 1942 as part of the 3rd Flotilla for the remainder of her service. In one patrol she sank no ships.
Design
German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-611 had a displacement of 769 tonnes (757 long tons) when at the surface and 871 tonnes (857 long tons) while submerged. 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).
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). 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-611 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.
Wolfpacks
U-611 took part in two wolfpacks, namely
Fate
U-611 was sunk on 8 December 1942 in the North Atlantic SE of Cape Farewell, Greenland, in position 57°25′N 35°19′W, by depth charges from a RAF Liberator bomber of 120 Squadron. All hands were lost.