German submarine U-619 explained

German submarine U-619 was a Type VIIC U-boat built for Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine for service during World War II. She was laid down on 19 June 1941 by Blohm & Voss, Hamburg as yard number 595, launched on 9 March 1942 and commissioned on 23 April 1942 under Oberleutnant zur See Kurt Makowski.

Design

German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-619 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-619 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.

Service history

The boat's career began with training at 5th U-boat Flotilla on 23 April 1942, followed by active service on 1 October 1942 as part of the 3rd Flotilla for the remainder of her very short career.

In one patrol she sank two merchant ships, for a total of .

Wolfpacks

U-619 took part in two wolfpacks, namely:

Fate

U-619 was sunk on 5 October 1942 in the North Atlantic SW of Iceland, in position 58.6833°N -80°W, by depth charges from RAF Hudson aircraft. All hands were lost.

Summary of raiding history

DateShip NameNationalityTonnage
(GRT)
Fate[1]
24 September 1942John Winthrop United States7,176Sunk
26 September 1942Yorktown United Kingdom1,547Sunk

Bibliography

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Ships hit by U-619 . Helgason . Guðmundur . German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net . 22 August 2014.