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German submarineU-650

Coordinates:49°51′6″N5°29′9″W/ 49.85167°N 5.48583°W/49.85167; -5.48583
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History
Nazi Germany
NameU-650
Ordered10 April 1941
BuilderBlohm & Voss,Hamburg
Yard number626
Laid down9 January 1942
Launched1 October 1942
Commissioned26 November 1942
FateSunk on 7 January 1945 at49°51′6″N5°29′9″W/ 49.85167°N 5.48583°W/49.85167; -5.48583
General characteristics
Class and typeType VIICsubmarine
Displacement
  • 769t(757long tons) surfaced
  • 871 t (857 long tons) submerged
Length
Beam
  • 6.20 m (20 ft 4 in) (o/a)
  • 4.70 m (15 ft 5 in) (pressure hull)
Height9.60 m (31 ft 6 in)
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(15,700 km; 9,800 mi) 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
Part of:
Identification codes: M 50 801
Commanders:
  • Oblt.z.S.Ernst von Witzendorff
  • 26 November 1942 – 13 July 1943
  • Kptlt.Otto Tinschert
  • 14 July – 26 November 1943
  • Oblt.z.S.Ernst von Witzendorff
  • 27 November 1943 – 30 June 1944
  • Oblt.z.S.Ernst-August Gerke (acting)
  • 30 June – 20 July 1944
  • Oblt.z.S.Rudolf Zorn
  • 20 July 1944 – 7 January 1945
Operations:
  • 7 patrols:
  • 1st patrol:
  • 18 April – 28 June 1943
  • 2nd patrol:
  • a. 25 – 27 December 1943
  • b. 29 – 31 December 1943
  • c. 1 January – 2 March 1944
  • 3rd patrol:
  • 6 – 16 June 1944
  • 4th patrol:
  • 12 – 17 August 1944
  • 5th patrol:
  • 22 August – 22 September 1944
  • 6th patrol:
  • 26 November – 3 December 1944
  • 7th patrol:
  • 9 December 1944 – 7 January 1945
Victories: None

German submarineU-650was aType VIICU-boatofNazi Germany'sKriegsmarineduringWorld War II.The submarine waslaid downon 9 January 1942 at theBlohm & Vossyard atHamburg,launchedon 1 October 1942, andcommissionedon 26 November 1942 under the command ofOberleutnant zur SeeErnst von Witzendorff.

Attached to5th U-boat Flotillabased atKiel,U-650completed her training period on 30 April 1943 and was assigned to front-line service.

Design

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German Type VIIC submarineswere preceded by the shorterType VIIB submarines.U-650had a displacement of 769 tonnes (757 long tons) when at the surface and 871 tonnes (857 long tons) while submerged.[1]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).[1]

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).[1]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-650was 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 one twin2 cm (0.79 in) C/30anti-aircraft gun.The boat had acomplementof between forty-four and sixty.[1]

Service history

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While on patrol in the North Atlantic,U-650was detected by Allied vessels and sunk byhedgehogoff the coast of Cornwall on 7 January 1945.[2]

References

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  1. ^abcdGröner 1991,pp. 43–46.
  2. ^Helgason, Guðmundur."The Type VIIC boat U-650".German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net.Retrieved21 July2015.

Bibliography

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