Name U-623 Yard number 599 Commissioned 21 May 1942 Launched 31 March 1942 Draft 4.74 m Builder Blohm + Voss | Ordered 15 August 1940 Laid down 15 July 1941 Construction started 15 July 1941 Length 67 m Beam 6.2 m | |
Fate Sunk 21 February 1943 in the North Atlantic in position , by depth charges from a RAF Liberator. Part of 8th U-boat Flotilla, 6th U-boat Flotilla | ||
German submarine U-623 was a Type VIIC U-boat built for Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine for service during World War II. She was laid down on 15 July 1941 by Blohm & Voss, Hamburg as yard number 599, launched on 31 March 1942 and commissioned on 21 May 1942 under Oberleutnant zur See Hermann Schrüder.
Contents
Design
German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-623 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 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).
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-623 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.
Service history
The boat's career began with training at 8th U-boat Flotilla on 21 May 1942, followed by active service on 1 December 1942 as part of the 6th Flotilla for the remainder of her service.
In two patrols she sank no ships.
Wolfpacks
U-623 took part in five wolfpacks, namely
Fate
U-623 was caught while hurrying on the surface to join the attack against Convoy ON 166 and sunk on 21 February 1943 in the North Atlantic, at the position 48°08′N 29°37′W, by depth charges from a RAF Liberator of 120 Squadron. All hands were lost.