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German submarineU-620

Coordinates:39°18′N11°17′W/ 39.300°N 11.283°W/39.300; -11.283
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History
Nazi Germany
NameU-620
Ordered15 August 1940
BuilderBlohm & Voss,Hamburg
Yard number596
Laid down19 June 1941
Launched9 March 1942
Commissioned30 April 1942
FateSunk on 13 February 1943 in theNorth Atlanticin position39°18′N11°17′W/ 39.300°N 11.283°W/39.300; -11.283,by depth charges from a RAFCatalina.
General characteristics
Class and typeType VIICsubmarine
Displacement
Length
Beam
  • 6.20 m (20 ft 4 in) o/a
  • 4.70 m (15 ft 5 in) pressure hull
Draught4.74 m (15 ft 7 in)
Installed power
  • 2,800–3,200 PS (2,100–2,400 kW; 2,800–3,200 bhp) (diesels)
  • 750 PS (550 kW; 740 shp) (electric)
Propulsion
Speed
  • 17.7knots(32.8 km/h; 20.4 mph) surfaced
  • 7.6 knots (14.1 km/h; 8.7 mph) submerged
Range
  • 8,500nmi(15,700km;9,800mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) surfaced
  • 80 nmi (150 km; 92 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph) submerged
Test depth
  • 230 m (750 ft)
  • Crush depth:250–295 m (820–968 ft)
Complement4 officers, 40–56 enlisted
Armament
Service record[1]
Part of:
Identification codes: M 00 459
Commanders:
  • Kptlt.Heinz Stein
  • 30 April 1942 – 13 February 1943
Operations:
  • 2 patrols:
  • 1st patrol:
  • 12 September – 12 November 1942
  • 2nd patrol:
  • a. 13 – 14 December 1942
  • b. 19 December 1942 – 13 February 1943
Victories: 1 merchant ship sunk
(6,983GRT)

German submarineU-620was aType VIICU-boatbuilt forNazi Germany'sKriegsmarinefor service duringWorld War II. She waslaid downon 19 June 1941 byBlohm & Voss,Hamburgas yard number 596,launchedon 9 March 1942 andcommissionedon 30 April 1942 underOberleutnant zur SeeHeinz Stein.

Design

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German Type VIIC submarineswere preceded by the shorterType VIIB submarines.U-620had 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), apressure hulllength of 50.50 m (165 ft 8 in), abeamof 6.20 m (20 ft 4 in), a height of 9.60 m (31 ft 6 in), and adraughtof 4.74 m (15 ft 7 in). The submarine was powered by twoGermaniawerftF46 four-stroke, six-cylindersuperchargeddiesel enginesproducing 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, twoBrown, Boveri & CieGG UB 720/8double-acting electric motorsproducing 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-620was fitted with five 53.3 cm (21 in)torpedo tubes(four fitted at the bow and one at the stern), fourteentorpedoes,one8.8 cm (3.46 in) SK C/35 naval gun,220 rounds, and a2 cm (0.79 in) C/30anti-aircraft gun. The boat had acomplementof between forty-four and sixty.[2]

Service history

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The boat's career began with training at8th U-boat Flotillaon 30 April 1942, followed by active service on 1 October 1942 as part of the3rd Flotillafor the remainder of her service.

In 2 patrols she sank 1 merchant ships, for a total of 6,983gross register tons(GRT).

Wolfpacks

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U-620took part in fivewolfpacks,namely:

  • Luchs (27 September – 6 October 1942)
  • Panther (6 – 11 October 1942)
  • Leopard (12 – 19 October 1942)
  • Südwärts (24 – 26 October 1942)
  • Delphin (26 December 1942 – 13 February 1943)

Fate

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U-620was sunk on 13 February 1943 in theNorth Atlanticin position39°18′N11°17′W/ 39.300°N 11.283°W/39.300; -11.283,by depth charges from aRoyal Air Force(RAF)Consolidated CatalinaofNo. 202 Squadron RAF,for the loss of all hands.[1]

Summary of raiding history

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Date Ship Name Nationality Tonnage
(GRT)
Fate[3]
11 January 1943 British Dominion United Kingdom 6,983 Sunk

References

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  1. ^abHelgason, Guðmundur."The Type VIIC boat U-620".German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net.Retrieved1 September2014.
  2. ^abcdGröner 1991,pp. 43–46.
  3. ^Helgason, Guðmundur."Ships hit by U-620".German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net.Retrieved1 September2014.

Bibliography

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