German submarine U-616 was a Type VIIC U-boat built for Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine, for service during World War II.She was laid down on 20 May 1941 by Blohm & Voss, Hamburg as yard number 592, launched on 8 February 1942 and commissioned on 2 April 1942 under Oberleutnant zur See (Oblt.z.S.) Johann Spindlegger.
On 8 October 1942, Spindlegger was replaced by Oblt.z.S. Siegfried Koitschka, who commanded her until she was sunk on 17 May 1944.
German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-616 had a displacement of 769t when at the surface and 871t while submerged. She had a total length of 67.1m (220.1feet), a pressure hull length of 50.5m (165.7feet), a beam of 6.2m (20.3feet), a height of 9.6m (31.5feet), and a draught of 4.74m (15.55feet). The submarine was powered by two Germaniawerft F46 four-stroke, six-cylinder supercharged diesel engines producing a total of NaNPS for use while surfaced, two Brown, Boveri & Cie GG UB 720/8 double-acting electric motors producing a total of 750PS for use while submerged. She had two shafts and two 1.23abbr=onNaNabbr=on propellers. The boat was capable of operating at depths of up to .
The submarine had a maximum surface speed of and a maximum submerged speed of . When submerged, the boat could operate for at ; when surfaced, she could travel at . U-616 was fitted with five 53.30NaN0 torpedo tubes (four fitted at the bow and one at the stern), fourteen torpedoes, one 8.82NaN2 SK C/35 naval gun, 220 rounds, and a 2sp=usNaNsp=us C/30 anti-aircraft gun. The boat had a complement of between forty-four and sixty.
The boat's career began with training at 8th U-boat Flotilla on 2 April 1942, followed by active service on 1 January 1943 as part of the 6th Flotilla. On 1 June 1943 she transferred to operations in the Mediterranean as part of 29th Flotilla until her sinking in 1944.
In 9 patrols she sank 2 warships and damaged 2 merchant ships, for a total of 2,181 tons and, respectively.
U-616 took part in three wolfpacks, namely:
U-616 was sunk on 17 May 1944 in the Mediterranean in position 36.7667°N 52°W, by depth charges from,,,,,, and a RAF Wellington bomber of 36 Squadron
| Date | Ship Name | Nationality | Tonnage[1] | Fate[2] | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 October 1943 | 1,570 | Sunk | |||
| 11 October 1943 | HMS LCT-553 | 611 | Sunk | ||
| 14 May 1944 | Fort Fidler |  United Kingdom | 7,127 | Damaged | |
| 14 May 1944 | G S Walden | United Kingdom | 10,627 | Damaged |