German submarine U-631 explained

German submarine U-631 was a Type VIIC U-boat built for Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine for service during World War II.She was laid down on 5 September 1941 by Blohm & Voss, Hamburg as yard number 607, launched on 27 May 1942 and commissioned on 16 July 1942 under Oberleutnant zur See Jürgen Krüger.

Design

German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-631 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 BBC 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-631 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 one twin 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 16 July 1942, followed by active service on 1 January 1943 as part of the 9th Flotilla for the remainder of her service. In three patrols she sank two merchant ships, for a total of .

Fate

U-631 was sunk on 17 October 1943 in the North Atlantic SE of Cape Farewell, Greenland, in position 58.2167°N -61°W, by depth charges from British corvette . All crew members died.

Wolfpacks

U-631 took part in seven wolfpacks, namely:

Summary of raiding history

DateShip NameNationalityTonnage
(GRT)
Fate[1]
29 December 1942Ingerfem Norway3,978Sunk
17 March 1943Terkoelei Netherlands5,158Sunk

Bibliography

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Ships hit by U-631 . Helgason . Guðmundur . German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net . 23 August 2014.