German submarine U-620 explained

German submarine U-620 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 596, launched on 9 March 1942 and commissioned on 30 April 1942 under Oberleutnant zur See Heinz Stein.

Design

German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-620 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-620 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 8th U-boat Flotilla on 30 April 1942, followed by active service on 1 October 1942 as part of the 3rd Flotilla for the remainder of her service.

In 2 patrols she sank 1 merchant ships, for a total of .

Wolfpacks

U-620 took part in five wolfpacks, namely:

Fate

U-620 was sunk on 13 February 1943 in the North Atlantic in position 39.3°N -28°W, by depth charges from a Royal Air Force (RAF) Consolidated Catalina of No. 202 Squadron RAF, for the loss of all hands.

Bibliography

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Ships hit by U-620 . Helgason . Guðmundur . German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net . 1 September 2014.