German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-618 had 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), 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 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).[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-618 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.[2]
Service historyedit
The boat's career began with training at 5th U-boat Flotilla on 16 April 1942, followed by active service on 1 September 1942 as part of the 7th Flotilla for the remainder of her service.
In ten patrols she sank three merchant ships, for a total of 15,788 gross register tons (GRT).
On 30 December 1943, U-618 rescued 21 survivors from German destroyer Z27.[3] and its escort. Earlier U-505 had rescued 34,[4] and MV Kerlogue (Ireland) had rescued 164.
1944edit
On 19 March 1944, U-618, while trying to enter the Mediterranean Sea, sustained a week long sustained Allied attack from both aircraft and surface ships before being forced to return to France with heavy battle damage.
On 6 April 1944, U-618 was attacked by a RCAF Liberator bomber. She was able to return fire and damage the aircraft sufficiently that the air attack was broken off.
On 30 July 1944, U-618 shot down a RAF Wellington bomber in the Bay of Biscay. All six of the aircrew were killed when the bomber crashed into the sea.
^Helgason, Guðmundur. "General notes on this boat". U-618. Uboat.net. Retrieved 12 November 2015.
^Helgason, Guðmundur. "Patrol info for U-505 (Eleventh patrol)". U-Boat Patrols. Uboat.net. Retrieved 12 November 2015.
^Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U-618". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 11 July 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.
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.
Sharpe, Peter (1998). U-Boat Fact File. Great Britain: Midland Publishing. ISBN1-85780-072-9.
External linksedit
Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-618". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 29 December 2014.
April 10, 2024
german, submarine, type, viic, boat, built, nazi, germany, kriegsmarine, service, during, world, laid, down, 1941, blohm, voss, hamburg, yard, number, launched, february, 1942, commissioned, april, 1942, under, oberleutnant, kurt, baberg, historynazi, germanyn. German submarine U 618 was a Type VIIC U boat built for Nazi Germany s Kriegsmarine for service during World War II She was laid down on 29 May 1941 by Blohm amp Voss Hamburg as yard number 594 launched on 20 February 1942 and commissioned on 16 April 1942 under Oberleutnant zur See Kurt Baberg HistoryNazi GermanyNameU 618Ordered15 August 1940BuilderBlohm amp Voss HamburgYard number594Laid down29 May 1941Launched20 February 1942Commissioned16 April 1942FateSunk on 14 August 1944 in the North Atlantic in position 47 22 N 04 39 W 47 367 N 4 650 W 47 367 4 650 by depth charges from HMS Duckworth HMS Essington and RAF Liberator General characteristicsClass and typeType VIIC submarineDisplacement769 tonnes 757 long tons surfaced 871 t 857 long tons submergedLength67 10 m 220 ft 2 in o a 50 50 m 165 ft 8 in pressure hullBeam6 20 m 20 ft 4 in o a 4 70 m 15 ft 5 in pressure hullHeight9 60 m 31 ft 6 in Draught4 74 m 15 ft 7 in Installed power2 800 3 200 PS 2 100 2 400 kW 2 800 3 200 bhp diesels 750 PS 550 kW 740 shp electric Propulsion2 shafts 2 diesel engines 2 electric motorsSpeed17 7 knots 32 8 km h 20 4 mph surfaced 7 6 knots 14 1 km h 8 7 mph submergedRange8 500 nmi 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 submergedTest depth230 m 750 ft Crush depth 250 295 m 820 968 ft Complement4 officers 40 56 enlistedArmament5 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 gunService record 1 Part of 5th U boat Flotilla 16 April 31 August 1942 7th U boat Flotilla 1 September 1942 14 August 1944Identification codes M 46 602Commanders Oblt z S Kptlt Kurt Baberg 16 April 1942 15 April 1944 Oblt z S Erich Faust 16 April 14 August 1944Operations 10 patrols 1st patrol 1 September 28 October 1942 2nd patrol 25 November 1942 18 January 1943 3rd patrol 21 February 7 May 1943 4th patrol 8 June 5 September 1943 5th patrol 11 November 1943 4 January 1944 6th patrol 23 February 8 April 1944 7th patrol 25 May 1944 8th patrol 26 30 July 1944 9th patrol 2 4 August 1944 10th patrol 11 14 August 1944Victories 3 merchant ships sunk 15 788 GRT Contents 1 Design 2 Service history 2 1 1943 2 2 1944 2 3 Fate 2 4 Wolfpacks 3 Summary of raiding history 4 See also 5 References 6 Bibliography 7 External linksDesign editGerman Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines U 618 had 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 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 amp 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 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 618 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 2 Service history editThe boat s career began with training at 5th U boat Flotilla on 16 April 1942 followed by active service on 1 September 1942 as part of the 7th Flotilla for the remainder of her service In ten patrols she sank three merchant ships for a total of 15 788 gross register tons GRT 1943 edit On 20 November 1943 U 618 shot down a RAF Liberator bomber of 53 Squadron near to Convoy SL 139 On 30 December 1943 U 618 rescued 21 survivors from German destroyer Z27 3 and its escort Earlier U 505 had rescued 34 4 and MV Kerlogue Ireland had rescued 164 1944 edit On 19 March 1944 U 618 while trying to enter the Mediterranean Sea sustained a week long sustained Allied attack from both aircraft and surface ships before being forced to return to France with heavy battle damage On 6 April 1944 U 618 was attacked by a RCAF Liberator bomber She was able to return fire and damage the aircraft sufficiently that the air attack was broken off On 30 July 1944 U 618 shot down a RAF Wellington bomber in the Bay of Biscay All six of the aircrew were killed when the bomber crashed into the sea Fate edit U 618 was sunk on 14 August 1944 in the North Atlantic in position 47 22 N 04 39 W 47 367 N 4 650 W 47 367 4 650 by depth charges from HMS Duckworth HMS Essington and RAF Liberator All hands were lost Wolfpacks edit U 618 took part in 18 wolfpacks namely Pfeil 12 22 September 1942 Blitz 22 26 September 1942 Tiger 26 30 September 1942 Wotan 5 19 October 1942 Neuland 4 6 March 1943 Ostmark 6 11 March 1943 Sturmer 11 20 March 1943 Seewolf 21 30 March 1943 Adler 11 13 April 1943 Meise 13 20 April 1943 Specht 21 25 April 1943 Schill 3 18 22 November 1943 Weddigen 22 November 7 December 1943 Coronel 7 8 December 1943 Coronel 2 8 14 December 1943 Coronel 3 14 17 December 1943 Borkum 18 26 December 1943 Hela 28 December 1943 1 January 1944 Summary of raiding history editDate Ship Name Nationality Tonnage GRT Fate 5 14 October 1942 Empire Mersey nbsp United Kingdom 5 791 Sunk18 October 1942 Angelina nbsp United States 4 772 Sunk2 July 1943 Empire Kohinoor nbsp United Kingdom 5 225 SunkSee also editConvoy SC 104References edit Helgason Gudmundur The Type VIIC boat U 618 German U boats of WWII uboat net Retrieved 11 July 2014 a b c d Groner 1991 pp 43 46 Helgason Gudmundur General notes on this boat U 618 Uboat net Retrieved 12 November 2015 Helgason Gudmundur Patrol info for U 505 Eleventh patrol U Boat Patrols Uboat net Retrieved 12 November 2015 Helgason Gudmundur Ships hit by U 618 German U boats of WWII uboat net Retrieved 11 July 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 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 Sharpe Peter 1998 U Boat Fact File Great Britain Midland Publishing ISBN 1 85780 072 9 External links editHelgason Gudmundur The Type VIIC boat U 618 German U boats of WWII uboat net Retrieved 29 December 2014 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title German submarine U 618 amp oldid 1213333498, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
