German submarineU-615

History
Nazi Germany
Name	U-615
Ordered	15 August 1940
Builder	Blohm & Voss,Hamburg
Yard number	591
Laid down	20 May 1941
Launched	8 February 1942
Commissioned	26 March 1942
Fate	Sunk in the Caribbean Sea on 7 August 1943
General characteristics
Class and type	Type VIICsubmarine
Displacement	769t(757long tons); 871 t (857 long tons) submerged; 1,070 t (1,053 long tons) total;
Length	67.10 m (220 ft 2 in) total; 50.50 m (165 ft 8 in) pressure hull;
Beam	6.20 m (20 ft 4 in) total; 4.70 m (15 ft 5 in) pressure hull;
Draught	4.74 m (15 ft 7 in)
Propulsion	Diesel-electric; 3,200 PS (2,354 kW; 3,156 shp) surfaced; 750 PS (552 kW; 740 shp) submerged;
Speed	17.7 knots (32.8 km/h; 20.4 mph) surfaced; 7.66 knots (14.19 km/h; 8.81 mph) submerged;
Range	13,700nmi(25,400 km; 15,800 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) surfaced; 125 nmi (232 km; 144 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph) submerged;
Test depth	220 m (721 ft 9 in)
Complement	4 officers, 40–56 enlisted44-52 men
Armament	5 × 53.3 cm (21 in)torpedo tubes(four bow, one stern); 14 ×torpedoesor26 TMAmines; 1 ×8.8 cm (3.46 in) deck gun(220 rounds); 1 x2 cm (0.79 in) C/30AA gun;
Service record
Part of:	8th U-boat Flotilla; 26 March – 31 August 1942; 3rd U-boat Flotilla; 1 September 1942 – 7 August 1943;
Identification codes:	M 45 089
Commanders:	Kptlt.Ralph Kapitzky; 26 March 1942 – 7 August 1943;
Operations:	4 patrols:; 1st patrol:; 5 September – 30 October 1942; 2nd patrol:; 25 November 1942 – 9 January 1943; 3rd patrol:; 18 February – 20 April 1943; 4th patrol:; 12 June – 7 August 1943;
Victories:	4 merchant ships sunk; (27,231GRT)

German submarineU-615was aType VIIC U-boatof the German Navy (Kriegsmarine) for service duringWorld War II.^[2]

Commissioned on 26 March 1942, and commanded byKapitänleutnantRalph Kapitzky, she was depth charged and sunk in the Caribbean Sea, north ofPorlamaron 7 August 1943,^[3]in position12°38′N64°15′W/ 12.633°N 64.250°W/12.633; -64.250,by US 6Marinerand 1Venturaaircraft. It was the largest aircraft hunt ever mounted for a single U-boat. Of her crew 4 (including her captain) were killed, and 43 survived.

Design

German Type VIIC submarineswere preceded by the shorterType VIIB submarines.U-615had a displacement of 769 tonnes (757 long tons) when at the surface and 871 tonnes (857 long tons) while submerged.^[4]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-cylindersupercharged diesel 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, twoBBCGG 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).^[4]

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).^[4]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-615was 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.^[4]

Wolfpacks

U-615took part in 10wolfpacks,namely:

Pfeil(12 – 22 September 1942)
Blitz (22 – 26 September 1942)
Tiger (26 – 30 September 1942)
Wotan (5 – 19 October 1942)
Draufgänger (1 – 11 December 1942)
Ungestüm(11 – 30 December 1942)
Burggraf (25 February – 5 March 1943)
Raubgraf(7 – 20 March 1943)
Seewolf(24 – 30 March 1943)
Adler (7 – 13 April 1943)

Summary of raiding history

Date	Ship Name	Nationality	Tonnage (GRT)	Fate^[5]
11 October 1942	El Lago	Panama	4,221	Sunk
23 October 1942	Empire Star	United Kingdom	12,656	Sunk
11 April 1943	Edward B. Dudley	United States	7,177	Sunk
28 July 1943	Rosalia	Netherlands	3,177	Sunk

References

^Helgason, Guðmundur."The Type VIIC boat U-615".German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net.Retrieved1 September2014.
^Kelshell, Gaylord T. M. (2003),"Ralph Kapitsky – Battle in the Caribbean and the Death of U-615",in Savas, Theodore P. (ed.),Contemporary Conflict Resolution,Naval Institute Press, pp. 43–73,ISBN 1591148170.
^Heden, Karl E. (2006),Sunken Ships World War II: US Naval Chronology, Including Submarine Losses of the United States, England, Germany, Japan, Italy,Branden Books, p. 76,ISBN 0828321183.
^^a ^b ^c ^dGröner 1991,pp. 43–46.
^Helgason, Guðmundur."Ships hit by U-615".German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net.Retrieved6 February2014.

Bibliography

Busch, Rainer; Röll, Hans-Joachim (1999).German U-boat commanders of World War II: a biographical dictionary.Translated by Brooks, Geoffrey. London, Annapolis, Md: Greenhill Books, Naval Institute Press.ISBN 1-55750-186-6.
Busch, Rainer; Röll, Hans-Joachim (1999).Der U-Boot-Krieg, 1939-1945: Deutsche U-Boot-Verluste von September 1939 bis Mai 1945[German U-boat losses from September 1939 to May 1945] (in German). Vol. IV. Hamburg, Berlin, Bonn: Mittler.ISBN 3-8132-0514-2.
Edwards, Bernard (1996).Dönitz and the Wolf Packs - The U-boats at War.Cassell Military Classics. p. 139.ISBN 0-304-35203-9.
Gröner, Eric; Jung, Dieter; Maass, Martin (1991).German Warships 1815-1945: U-boats and Mine Warfare Vessels.Vol. 2. Translated by Thomas, Keith; Magowan, Rachel. London: Conway Maritime Press.ISBN 0-85177-593-4.

External links

Helgason, Guðmundur."The Type VIIC boat U-615".German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net.Retrieved29 December2014.

[uboatnet-1] Helgason, Guðmundur."The Type VIIC boat U-615".German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net.Retrieved1 September2014.

[Kelshell2003-2] Kelshell, Gaylord T. M. (2003),"Ralph Kapitsky – Battle in the Caribbean and the Death of U-615",in Savas, Theodore P. (ed.),Contemporary Conflict Resolution,Naval Institute Press, pp. 43–73,ISBN 1591148170.

[Heden2006-3] Heden, Karl E. (2006),Sunken Ships World War II: US Naval Chronology, Including Submarine Losses of the United States, England, Germany, Japan, Italy,Branden Books, p. 76,ISBN 0828321183.

[FOOTNOTEGröner199143–46-4] Gröner 1991,pp. 43–46.

[5] Helgason, Guðmundur."Ships hit by U-615".German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net.Retrieved6 February2014.

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v t e Type VII submarines
Type VIIA	U-27 U-28 U-29 U-30 U-31 U-32 U-33 U-34 U-35 U-36
Type VIIB	U-45 U-46 U-47 U-48 U-49 U-50 U-51 U-52 U-53 U-54 U-55 U-73 U-74 U-75 U-76 U-83 U-84 U-85 U-86 U-87 U-99 U-100 U-101 U-102
Type VIIC	U-69 U-70 U-71 U-72 U-77 U-78 U-79 U-80 U-81 U-82 U-88 U-89 U-90 U-91 U-92 U-93 U-94 U-95 U-96 U-97 U-98 U-132 U-133 U-134 U-135 U-136 U-201 U-202 U-203 U-204 U-205 U-206 U-207 U-208 U-209 U-210 U-211 U-212 U-221 U-222 U-223 U-224 U-225 U-226 U-227 U-228 U-229 U-230 U-231 U-232 U-235 U-236 U-237 U-238 U-239 U-240 U-241 U-242 U-243 U-244 U-245 U-246 U-247 U-248 U-249 U-250 U-251 U-252 U-253 U-254 U-255 U-256 U-257 U-258 U-259 U-260 U-261 U-262 U-263 U-264 U-265 U-266 U-267 U-268 U-269 U-270 U-271 U-272 U-273 U-274 U-275 U-276 U-277 U-278 U-279 U-280 U-281 U-282 U-283 U-284 U-285 U-286 U-287 U-288 U-289 U-290 U-291 U-301 U-302 U-303 U-304 U-305 U-306 U-307 U-308 U-309 U-310 U-311 U-312 U-313 U-314 U-315 U-316 U-331 U-332 U-333 U-334 U-335 U-336 U-337 U-338 U-339 U-340 U-341 U-342 U-343 U-344 U-345 U-346 U-347 U-348 U-349 U-350 U-351 U-352 U-353 U-354 U-355 U-356 U-357 U-358 U-359 U-360 U-361 U-362 U-363 U-364 U-365 U-366 U-367 U-368 U-369 U-370 U-371 U-372 U-373 U-374 U-375 U-376 U-377 U-378 U-379 U-380 U-381 U-382 U-383 U-384 U-385 U-386 U-387 U-388 U-389 U-390 U-391 U-392 U-393 U-394 U-396 U-397 U-398 U-399 U-400 U-401 U-402 U-403 U-404 U-405 U-406 U-407 U-408 U-409 U-410 U-411 U-412 U-413 U-414 U-415 U-416 U-417 U-418 U-419 U-420 U-421 U-422 U-423 U-424 U-425 U-426 U-427 U-428 U-429 U-430 U-431 U-432 U-433 U-434 U-435 U-436 U-437 U-438 U-439 U-440 U-441 U-442 U-443 U-444 U-445 U-446 U-447 U-448 U-449 U-450 U-451 U-452 U-453 U-454 U-455 U-456 U-457 U-458 U-465 U-466 U-467 U-468 U-469 U-470 U-471 U-472 U-473 U-475 U-476 U-477 U-478 U-479 U-480 U-481 U-482 U-483 U-484 U-485 U-486 U-551 U-552 U-553 U-554 U-555 U-556 U-557 U-558 U-559 U-560 U-561 U-562 U-563 U-564 U-565 U-566 U-567 U-568 U-569 U-570 U-571 U-572 U-573 U-574 U-575 U-576 U-577 U-578 U-579 U-580 U-581 U-582 U-583 U-584 U-585 U-586 U-587 U-588 U-589 U-590 U-591 U-592 U-593 U-594 U-595 U-596 U-597 U-598 U-599 U-600 U-601 U-602 U-603 U-604 U-605 U-606 U-607 U-608 U-609 U-610 U-611 U-612 U-613 U-614 U-615 U-616 U-617 U-618 U-619 U-620 U-621 U-622 U-623 U-624 U-625 U-626 U-627 U-628 U-629 U-630 U-631 U-632 U-633 U-634 U-635 U-636 U-637 U-638 U-639 U-640 U-641 U-642 U-643 U-644 U-645 U-646 U-647 U-648 U-649 U-650 U-651 U-652 U-653 U-654 U-655 U-656 U-657 U-658 U-659 U-660 U-661 U-662 U-663 U-664 U-665 U-666 U-667 U-668 U-669 U-670 U-671 U-672 U-673 U-674 U-675 U-676 U-677 U-678 U-679 U-680 U-681 U-682 U-683 U-701 U-702 U-703 U-704 U-705 U-706 U-707 U-708 U-709 U-710 U-711 U-712 U-713 U-714 U-715 U-716 U-717 U-718 U-719 U-720 U-721 U-722 U-731 U-732 U-733 U-734 U-735 U-736 U-737 U-738 U-739 U-740 U-741 U-742 U-743 U-744 U-745 U-746 U-747 U-748 U-749 U-750 U-751 U-752 U-753 U-754 U-755 U-756 U-757 U-758 U-759 U-760 U-761 U-762 U-763 U-764 U-765 U-766 U-767 U-768 U-771 U-772 U-773 U-774 U-775 U-776 U-777 U-778 U-779 U-821 U-822 U-825 U-826 U-901 U-903 U-904 U-905 U-907 U-921 U-922 U-923 U-924 U-925 U-926 U-927 U-928 U-951 U-952 U-953 U-954 U-955 U-956 U-957 U-958 U-959 U-960 U-961 U-962 U-963 U-964 U-965 U-966 U-967 U-968 U-969 U-970 U-971 U-972 U-973 U-974 U-975 U-976 U-977 U-978 U-979 U-980 U-981 U-982 U-983 U-984 U-985 U-986 U-987 U-988 U-989 U-990 U-991 U-992 U-993 U-994 U-1051 U-1052 U-1053 U-1054 U-1055 U-1056 U-1057 U-1058 U-1101 U-1102 U-1131 U-1132 U-1161 U-1162 U-1191 U-1192 U-1193 U-1194 U-1195 U-1196 U-1197 U-1198 U-1199 U-1200 U-1201 U-1202 U-1203 U-1204 U-1205 U-1206 U-1207 U-1208 U-1209 U-1210
Type VIIC/41	U-292 U-293 U-294 U-295 U-296 U-297 U-298 U-299 U-300 U-317 U-318 U-319 U-320 U-321 U-322 U-323 U-324 U-325 U-326 U-327 U-328 U-691 U-827 U-828 U-929 U-930 U-995 U-997 U-998 U-999 U-1000 U-1001 U-1002 U-1003 U-1004 U-1005 U-1006 U-1007 U-1008 U-1009 U-1010 U-1011 U-1013 U-1014 U-1015 U-1016 U-1017 U-1018 U-1019 U-1020 U-1021 U-1022 U-1023 U-1024 U-1025 U-1063 U-1064 U-1065 U-1103 U-1104 U-1105 U-1106 U-1107 U-1108 U-1109 U-1110 U-1163 U-1164 U-1165 U-1166 U-1167 U-1168 U-1169 U-1170 U-1171 U-1172 U-1271 U-1272 U-1273 U-1274 U-1275 U-1276 U-1277 U-1278 U-1279 U-1301 U-1302 U-1303 U-1304 U-1305 U-1306 U-1307 U-1308
Type VIID	U-213 U-214 U-215 U-216 U-217 U-218
Type VIIF	U-1059 U-1060 U-1061 U-1062
Preceded by:Type II Followed by:Type IX List of U-boats of Germany

v t e Shipwrecks and maritime incidents in August 1943
Shipwrecks	1 Aug:U-383,U-454 2 Aug:USSPT-109,U-106,V 420Alcyon 3 Aug:U-335,U-572,U-706 4 Aug:Catania,Fort La Montee,Lombardia,U-489 5 Aug:USSPlymouth,U-34 6 Aug:Arashi,Hagikaze,Kawakaze 7 Aug:S-1,U-84,U-117,U-615 9 Aug:U-664 11 Aug:U-468,U-525,U-604 12 Aug:Clan Macarthur 13 Aug:USSJohn Penn 14 Aug:HMSSaracen 15 Aug:LST-414 16 Aug:Empire Kestrel 18 Aug:Cha-5,Cha-12,U-403 19 August:I-17 20 Aug:U-197,U-670 23 Aug:USSCrow,Riilahti,USSSC-694 24 Aug:Erg,U-134,U-185 25 Aug:Ro-35,U-523 27 Aug:HMSEgret,U-847 28 Aug:U-639 29 Aug:Niels Juel 30 Aug:U-634 Unknown date:HMSParthian,SA 7
Other incidents	4 Aug:HMSArrow,Kembu Maru 10 Aug:USSBrant 11 Aug:USSRaton 18 Aug:USSAbner Read 30 Aug:USSCod 31 Aug:USSStingray
194219431944 July 1943September 1943