Name U-624 Yard number 600 Commissioned 28 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 6.18 m | |
Fate Sunk 7 February 1943 in the North Atlantic in position , by a RAF Liberator aircraft. Part of 8th U-boat Flotilla, 7th U-boat Flotilla | ||
German submarine U-624 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 in Hamburg as yard number 600, launched on 31 March 1942 and commissioned on 28 May 1942 under Kapitänleutnant Ulrich Graf von Soden-Fraunhofen.
Contents
Design
German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-624 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-624 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 service began on 28 May 1942 with training as part of the 8th U-boat Flotilla. She was transferred to the 7th Flotilla, operating out of St.Nazaire, on 1 October 1942 for active service in the North Atlantic .
In just two patrols she sank five merchant ships, for a total of 39,855 gross register tons (GRT), plus one merchant ship damaged. Three Royal Navy landing craft were also sunk as they were being transported by Kosmos II at the time she was sunk.
Fate
U-624 was sunk on 7 February 1943 in the North Atlantic in position 55°42′N 26°17′W. She was caught unawares on the surface whilst transmitting to base a lengthy report of the previous night's action around Convoy SC 118. A RAF Liberator aircraft of (Sqdn. 220/J), operating out of Londonderry Port, depth charged her 55 nautical miles (102 km; 63 mi) astern of the convoy. All 45 hands were lost.
Wolfpacks
U-624 took part in five wolfpacks, namely.