German submarine U-628

German submarine U-628 was a Type VIIC U-boat built for Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine for service during World War II. She was laid down on 7 August 1941 by Blohm & Voss, Hamburg as yard number 604, launched on 29 April 1942 and commissioned on 25 June 1942 under Kapitänleutnant Heinrich Hasenschar.

History
Nazi Germany
NameU-628
Ordered15 August 1940
BuilderBlohm & Voss, Hamburg
Yard number604
Laid down7 August 1941
Launched29 April 1942
Commissioned25 June 1942
FateSunk on 3 July 1943 in the North Atlantic NW of Cape Ortegal in position 44°11′N 08°45′W / 44.183°N 8.750°W / 44.183; -8.750, by depth charges from a RAF Liberator aircraft of 224/J Squadron.
General characteristics
Class and typeType VIIC submarine
Displacement
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
  • 17.7 knots (32.8 km/h; 20.4 mph) surfaced
  • 7.6 knots (14.1 km/h; 8.7 mph) submerged
Range
  • 8,500 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) 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 07 314
Commanders:
  • Kptlt. Heinrich Hasenschar
  • 25 June 1942 – 3 July 1943
Operations:
  • 4 patrols:
  • 1st patrol:
  • 28 November 1942 – 8 January 1943
  • 2nd patrol:
  • 1 February – 9 March 1943
  • 3rd patrol:
  • 8 April – 19 May 1943
  • 4th patrol:
  • 1 – 3 July 1943
Victories:
  • 4 merchant ships sunk
    (21,765 GRT)
  • 3 merchant ships damaged
    (20,450 GRT)

Design

edit

German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-628 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 & 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-628 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

edit

The boat's service began on 25 June 1942 with training as part of the 5th U-boat Flotilla. She was transferred to the 1st Flotilla on 1 December 1942 for active service in the North Atlantic.

In four patrols she sank four merchant ships, for a total of 21,765 gross register tons (GRT), plus three merchant ships damaged.

Wolfpacks

edit

U-628 took part in six wolfpacks, namely:

  • Ungestüm (11 – 30 December 1942)
  • Hartherz (3 – 7 February 1943)
  • Ritter (11 – 26 February 1943)
  • Without name (15 – 18 April 1943)
  • Specht (19 April – 4 May 1943)
  • Fink (4 – 6 May 1943)

Fate

edit

U-628 was sunk on 3 July 1943 in the North Atlantic NW of Cape Ortegal in position 44°11′N 08°45′W / 44.183°N 8.750°W / 44.183; -8.750; bombed and depth charged by RAF Liberator aircraft (FL963) of 224/J Squadron out of RAF St Eval in Cornwall. All 49 hands were lost.

Summary of raiding history

edit
Date Ship Name Nationality Tonnage
(GRT)
Fate[3]
29 December 1942 Lynton Grange   United Kingdom 5,029 Sunk
23 February 1943 Glittre   Norway 6,409 Damaged
23 February 1943 Winkler   Panama 6,907 Damaged
24 February 1943 Ingria   Norway 4,391 Sunk
25 February 1943 Manchester Merchant   United Kingdom 7,264 Sunk
17 April 1943 Fort Rampart   United Kingdom 7,134 Damaged
5 May 1943 Harbury   United Kingdom 5,081 Sunk

References

edit
  1. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-628". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 10 June 2014.
  2. ^ a b c d Gröner 1991, pp. 43–46.
  3. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U-628". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 10 June 2014.

Bibliography

edit
edit