German submarine U-603 – Wikipedia
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German World War II submarine
History | |
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Nazi Germany | |
Name | U-603 |
Ordered | 22 May 1940 |
Builder | Blohm & Voss, Hamburg |
Yard number | 579 |
Laid down | 27 February 1941 |
Launched | 16 November 1941 |
Commissioned | 2 January 1942 |
Fate | Missing since 19 February 1944 in the North Atlantic. No explanation for her loss.[1] |
General characteristics | |
Class and type | Type VIIC submarine |
Displacement |
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Length | |
Beam |
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Height | 9.60 m (31 ft 6 in) |
Draught | 4.74 m (15 ft 7 in) |
Installed power |
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Propulsion | |
Speed |
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Range |
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Test depth |
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Complement | 4 officers, 40–56 enlisted |
Armament | |
Service record[1] | |
Part of: | |
Commanders: |
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Operations: |
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Victories: |
4 merchant ships sunk (22,406 GRT) |
German submarine U-603 was a Type VIIC U-boat built for Nazi Germany’s Kriegsmarine for service during World War II.
She was laid down on 27 February 1941 by Blohm & Voss, Hamburg as yard number 579, launched on 16 November 1941 and commissioned on 2 January 1942 under Kapitänleutnant Kurt Kölzer.
German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-603 had a displacement of 769 tonnes (757 long tons) when at the surface and 871 tonnes (857 long tons) while submerged. 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).
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). 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-603 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.
Service history[edit]
The boat’s career began with training at 5th U-boat Flotilla on 2 January 1942, followed by active service on 1 December 1942 as part of the 1st Flotilla for the remainder of her service.
In five patrols she sank four merchant ships, for a total of 22,406 gross register tons (GRT).
On 4 December 1942 she was returning to base when she spotted a convoy and attacked by convoy escorts, but not before reporting to base and calling in support boats.
On 8 July 1943 she was attacked by a RAF Catalina with depth charges and slightly damaged.
On 13 October 1943 an Avenger from USS Card dropped a FIDO Homing Torpedo but she successfully evaded the attack.
Convoy ON 166[edit]
On 21 February 1943, while operating against Convoy ON 166, she jointly attacked the Norwegian motor tanker Stigstad with U-332. U-332 hit her first with one torpedo, closely followed by two further torpedoes from U-603 which broke her back; sinking her in 15 minutes.
Two nights later she finished off the straggling Norwegian motor tanker Glittre with two torpedoes.
Convoy HX 237[edit]
Now under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Rudolf Baltz, U-603 attacked convoy HX 237 and successfully sank the Norwegian motor vessel Brand on 12 May 1943.
Wolf packs[edit]
U-603 took part in 13 wolfpacks, namely:
- Ritter (14 – 26 February 1943)
- Burggraf (4 – 5 March 1943)
- Raubgraf (7 – 20 March 1943)
- Oder (17 – 19 May 1943)
- Mosel (19 – 24 May 1943)
- Trutz (1 – 16 June 1943)
- Trutz 2 (16 – 29 June 1943)
- Geier 1 (30 June – 14 July 1943)
- Leuthen (15 – 24 September 1943)
- Rossbach (24 September – 9 October 1943)
- Igel 2 (15 – 17 February 1944)
- Hai 1 (17 – 22 February 1944)
- Preussen (22 February – 1 March 1944)
Fate[edit]
U-603 has been missing since 19 February 1944 in the North Atlantic.[1]
Previously recorded fate[edit]
U-603 was sunk on 1 March 1944 in the North Atlantic in position 48°55′N 26°10′W / 48.917°N 26.167°W, by depth charges from USS Bronstein. The attack was actually against a non-submarine target.
Summary of raiding history[edit]
References[edit]
Bibliography[edit]
- Busch, Rainer; Röll, Hans-Joachim (1999). German U-boat commanders of World War II : a biographical dictionary. Translated by Brooks, Geoffrey. London, Annapolis, Md: Greenhill Books, Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-55750-186-6.
- Busch, Rainer; Röll, Hans-Joachim (1999). Deutsche U-Boot-Verluste von September 1939 bis Mai 1945 [German U-boat losses from September 1939 to May 1945]. Der U-Boot-Krieg (in German). Vol. IV. Hamburg, Berlin, Bonn: Mittler. ISBN 3-8132-0514-2.
- Edwards, Bernard (1996). Dönitz and the Wolf Packs – The U-boats at War. pp. 129, 155, 156, 160, 208. ISBN 0-304-35203-9.
- Gröner, Erich; Jung, Dieter; Maass, Martin (1991). U-boats and Mine Warfare Vessels. German Warships 1815–1945. Vol. 2. Translated by Thomas, Keith; Magowan, Rachel. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-593-4.
- Sharpe, Peter (1998). U-Boat Fact File. Great Britain: Midland Publishing. ISBN 1-85780-072-9.
External links[edit]
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