German submarine U-621 – Wikipedia

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German World War II submarine

History
Nazi Germany
Name U-621
Ordered 15 August 1940
Builder Blohm & Voss, Hamburg
Yard number 597
Laid down 1 July 1941
Launched 19 March 1942
Commissioned 7 May 1942
Fate Sunk on 18 August 1944 near La Rochelle at position 45°52′N 02°36′W / 45.867°N 2.600°W / 45.867; -2.600 by depth charges from Canadian destroyers Ottawa, Kootenay and Chaudiere.
General characteristics
Class and type Type VIIC submarine
Displacement
  • 769 tonnes (757 long tons) surfaced
  • 871 t (857 long tons) submerged
Length
Beam
  • 6.20 m (20 ft 4 in) o/a
  • 4.70 m (15 ft 5 in) pressure hull
Height 9.60 m (31 ft 6 in)
Draught 4.74 m (15 ft 7 in)
Installed power
  • 2,800–3,200 PS (2,100–2,400 kW; 2,800–3,200 bhp) (diesels)
  • 750 PS (550 kW; 740 shp) (electric)
Propulsion
Speed
  • 17.7 knots (32.8 km/h; 20.4 mph) surfaced
  • 7.6 knots (14.1 km/h; 8.7 mph) submerged
Range
  • 8,500 nmi (15,700 km; 9,800 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) surfaced
  • 80 nmi (150 km; 92 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph) submerged
Test depth
  • 230 m (750 ft)
  • Crush depth: 250–295 m (820–968 ft)
Complement 4 officers, 40–56 enlisted
Armament
Service record[1]
Part of:
Commanders:
Operations:
  • 10 patrols:
  • 1st patrol:
  • 29 September – 5 November 1942
  • 2nd patrol:
  • 5 December 1942 – 5 January 1943
  • 3rd patrol:
  • 1 February – 23 March 1943
  • 4th patrol:
  • 22 April – 3 June 1943
  • 5th patrol:
  • 22 August – 28 September 1943
  • 6th patrol:
  • 6 – 23 January 1944
  • 7th patrol:
  • 21 February – 19 April 1944
  • 8th patrol:
  • 6 – 23 June 1944
  • 9th patrol:
  • 15 July – 11 August 1944
  • 10th patrol:
  • 13 – 18 August 1944
Victories:
  • 4 merchant ships sunk
    (20,159 GRT)
  • 1 auxiliary warship sunk
    (2,938 GRT)
  • 1 merchant ship damaged
    (10,048 GRT)
  • 1 warship damaged
    (1,625 tons)

German submarine U-621 was a Type VIIC U-boat built for Nazi Germany’s Kriegsmarine for service during World War II.
She was laid down on 1 July 1941 by Blohm & Voss in Hamburg as yard number 597, launched on 19 March 1942 and commissioned on 7 May 1942 under Kapitänleutnant Horst Schünemann.

German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-621 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-621 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 service began on 7 May 1942 for training as part of the 8th U-boat Flotilla. After training was completed she transferred to the 9th flotilla on 1 October 1942 for active service.

In ten patrols she sank four merchant ships for a total of 20,159 gross register tons (GRT), plus one auxiliary warship. She also damaged two more ships.

Wolfpacks[edit]

She took part in eleven wolfpacks, namely:

  • Panther (10 – 16 October 1942)
  • Puma (16 – 29 October 1942)
  • Raufbold (11 – 18 December 1942)
  • Hartherz (3 – 7 February 1943)
  • Ritter (11 – 26 February 1943)
  • Burggraf (4 – 5 March 1942)
  • Raubgraf (7 – 15 March 1943)
  • Amsel 1 (3 – 6 May 1943)
  • Elbe (7 – 10 May 1943)
  • Elbe 2 (10 – 14 May 1943)
  • Mosel (19 – 24 May 1943)

Fate[edit]

She was sunk by depth charges dropped by three Royal Canadian Navy destroyers, HMCS Ottawa, HMCS Kootenay and HMCS Chaudiere on 18 August 1944 near La Rochelle at position 45°52′N 02°36′W / 45.867°N 2.600°W / 45.867; -2.600Coordinates: 45°52′N 02°36′W / 45.867°N 2.600°W / 45.867; -2.600.

Summary of raiding history[edit]

References[edit]

Notes[edit]

Citations[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. London, UK: Cassell Military Classics. p. 161. 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.

External links[edit]