History | |
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Nazi Germany | |
Name | U-611 |
Ordered | 15 August 1940 |
Builder | Blohm & Voss, Hamburg |
Yard number | 587 |
Laid down | 22 April 1941 |
Launched | 8 January 1942 |
Commissioned | 26 February 1942 |
Fate | Sunk on 8 December 1942 in the North Atlantic SE of Cape Farewell, Greenland in position 57°25′N 35°19′W / 57.417°N 35.317°W / 57.417; -35.317, by depth charges from RAF Liberator. |
General characteristics | |
Class and type | Type VIIC submarine |
Displacement | |
Length |
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Beam |
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Draught | 4.74 m (15 ft 7 in) |
Installed power |
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Propulsion |
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Speed |
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Range | |
Test depth |
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Complement | 4 officers, 40–56 enlisted |
Armament |
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Service record | |
Part of: |
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Identification codes: | M 42 501 |
Commanders: |
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Operations: |
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Victories: | None |
German submarine U-611 was a Type VIIC U-boat built for Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine for service during World War II. She was laid down on 22 April 1941 by Blohm & Voss, Hamburg as yard number 587, launched on 8 January 1942 and commissioned on 26 February 1942 under Kapitänleutnant Nikolaus von Jacobs.
Service history
The boat's career began with training at 5th U-boat Flotilla on 26 February 1942, followed by active service on 1 October 1942 as part of the 3rd Flotilla for the remainder of her service. In one patrol she sank no ships.
Design
German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-611 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 BBC 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-611 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.
Wolfpacks
U-611 took part in three wolfpacks, namely:
- Kreuzotter (17 – 22 November 1942)
- Drachen (22 November – 3 December 1942)
- Panzer (3 – 8 December 1942)
Fate
U-611 was sunk on 8 December 1942 in the North Atlantic SE of Cape Farewell, Greenland, in position 57°25′N 35°19′W / 57.417°N 35.317°W / 57.417; -35.317, by depth charges from a RAF Liberator bomber of 120 Squadron. All hands were lost.
References
- Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-611". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 13 September 2014.
- ^ Busch & Röll 1999.
- ^ Gröner 1991, pp. 43–46.
Bibliography
- 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). Der U-Boot-Krieg, 1939-1945: Deutsche U-Boot-Verluste von September 1939 bis Mai 1945 [German U-boat losses from September 1939 to May 1945] (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. Cassell. p. 133. ISBN 0-304-35203-9.
- Gröner, Eric; Jung, Dieter; Maass, Martin (1991). German Warships 1815-1945: U-boats and Mine Warfare Vessels. 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
- Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-611". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 29 December 2014.
Shipwrecks and maritime incidents in December 1942 | |
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Shipwrecks |
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Other incidents |
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1941 1942 1943 November 1942 January 1943 |
Categories:
- German Type VIIC submarines
- 1942 ships
- U-boats commissioned in 1942
- Submarines lost with all hands
- U-boats sunk in 1942
- U-boats sunk by depth charges
- U-boats sunk by British aircraft
- World War II shipwrecks in the Atlantic Ocean
- World War II submarines of Germany
- Ships built in Hamburg
- Maritime incidents in December 1942