Commissioned on 26 March 1942, and commanded by Kapitänleutnant Ralph Kapitzky, she was depth charged and sunk in the Caribbean Sea, north of Porlamar on 7 August 1943,[3] in position 12°38′N64°15′W / 12.633°N 64.250°W / 12.633; -64.250, by US 6 Mariner and 1 Ventura aircraft. 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.
German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-615 had 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), 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 superchargeddiesel 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 BBC 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).[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-615 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 a 2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 anti-aircraft gun. The boat had a complement of between forty-four and sixty.[4]
^Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-615". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 1 September 2014.
^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, ISBN1591148170.
^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, ISBN0828321183.
^Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U-615". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 6 February 2014.
Bibliographyedit
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. ISBN1-55750-186-6.
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. ISBN3-8132-0514-2.
Edwards, Bernard (1996). Dönitz and the Wolf Packs - The U-boats at War. Cassell Military Classics. p. 139. ISBN0-304-35203-9.
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. ISBN0-85177-593-4.
External linksedit
Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-615". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 29 December 2014.
January 01, 1970
german, submarine, type, viic, boat, german, navy, kriegsmarine, service, during, world, history, nazi, germany, nameu, ordered15, august, 1940, builderblohm, voss, hamburg, yard, number591, laid, down20, 1941, launched8, february, 1942, commissioned26, march,. German submarine U 615 was a Type VIIC U boat of the German Navy Kriegsmarine for service during World War II 2 History Nazi Germany NameU 615 Ordered15 August 1940 BuilderBlohm amp Voss Hamburg Yard number591 Laid down20 May 1941 Launched8 February 1942 Commissioned26 March 1942 FateSunk in the Caribbean Sea on 7 August 1943 General characteristics Class and typeType VIIC submarine Displacement769 t 757 long tons 871 t 857 long tons submerged 1 070 t 1 053 long tons total Length67 10 m 220 ft 2 in total 50 50 m 165 ft 8 in pressure hull Beam6 20 m 20 ft 4 in total 4 70 m 15 ft 5 in pressure hull Draught4 74 m 15 ft 7 in PropulsionDiesel electric 3 200 PS 2 354 kW 3 156 shp surfaced 750 PS 552 kW 740 shp submerged Speed17 7 knots 32 8 km h 20 4 mph surfaced 7 66 knots 14 19 km h 8 81 mph submerged Range13 700 nmi 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 depth220 m 721 ft 9 in Complement4 officers 40 56 enlisted44 52 men Armament5 53 3 cm 21 in torpedo tubes four bow one stern 14 torpedoes or 26 TMA mines 1 8 8 cm 3 46 in deck gun 220 rounds 1 x 2 cm 0 79 in C 30 AA gun Service record 1 Part of 8th U boat Flotilla 26 March 31 August 1942 3rd U boat Flotilla 1 September 1942 7 August 1943Identification codes M 45 089Commanders Kptlt Ralph Kapitzky 26 March 1942 7 August 1943Operations 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 1943Victories 4 merchant ships sunk 27 231 GRT Commissioned on 26 March 1942 and commanded by Kapitanleutnant Ralph Kapitzky she was depth charged and sunk in the Caribbean Sea north of Porlamar on 7 August 1943 3 in position 12 38 N 64 15 W 12 633 N 64 250 W 12 633 64 250 by US 6 Mariner and 1 Ventura aircraft 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 Contents 1 Design 2 Wolfpacks 3 Summary of raiding history 4 References 5 Bibliography 6 External linksDesign editGerman Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines U 615 had 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 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 BBC 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 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 615 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 a 2 cm 0 79 in C 30 anti aircraft gun The boat had a complement of between forty four and sixty 4 Wolfpacks editU 615 took part in 10 wolfpacks namely Pfeil 12 22 September 1942 Blitz 22 26 September 1942 Tiger 26 30 September 1942 Wotan 5 19 October 1942 Draufganger 1 11 December 1942 Ungestum 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 editDate Ship Name Nationality Tonnage GRT Fate 5 11 October 1942 El Lago nbsp Panama 4 221 Sunk 23 October 1942 Empire Star nbsp United Kingdom 12 656 Sunk 11 April 1943 Edward B Dudley nbsp United States 7 177 Sunk 28 July 1943 Rosalia nbsp Netherlands 3 177 SunkReferences edit Helgason Gudmundur The Type VIIC boat U 615 German U boats of WWII uboat net Retrieved 1 September 2014 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 d Groner 1991 pp 43 46 Helgason Gudmundur Ships hit by U 615 German U boats of WWII uboat net Retrieved 6 February 2014 Bibliography editBusch Rainer Roll 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 Roll 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 Donitz and the Wolf Packs The U boats at War Cassell Military Classics p 139 ISBN 0 304 35203 9 Groner 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 editHelgason Gudmundur The Type VIIC boat U 615 German U boats of WWII uboat net Retrieved 29 December 2014 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title German submarine U 615 amp oldid 1213333443, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
