German submarine U-600

History
Nazi Germany
Name: U-600
Ordered: 22 May 1940
Builder: Blohm & Voss, Hamburg
Yard number: 576
Laid down: 25 January 1941
Launched: 16 October 1941
Commissioned: 11 December 1941
Fate: Sunk 25 November 1943 in the North Atlantic in position 40°31′N 22°07′W / 40.517°N 22.117°W / 40.517; -22.117, by depth charges from HMS Bazely and HMS Blackwood.
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:
  • Kptlt. Bernhard Zurmühlen
  • 11 December 1941 – 25 November 1943
Operations:
  • 1st patrol: 14 July – 22 September 1942
  • 2nd patrol: 22 November – 27 December 1942
  • 3rd patrol: 11 February – 26 March 1943
  • 4th patrol: 25 April – 11 May 1943
  • 5th patrol: 12 June – 10 September 1943
  • 6th patrol: 7–25 November 1943
Victories:
  • 5 merchant ships sunk (28,600 GRT)
  • 3 merchant ships damaged (19,230 GRT)

German submarine U-600 was a Type VIIC U-boat built for Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine for service during World War II. She was laid down on 25 January 1941 by Blohm & Voss in Hamburg as yard number 576, launched on 16 October 1941 and commissioned on 11 December 1941 under Kapitänleutnant Bernhard Zurmühlen.

Design

German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-600 had a displacement of 769 tonnes (757 long tons) when at the surface and 871 tonnes (857 long tons) while submerged.[2] 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).[2]

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).[2] 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-600 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 an anti-aircraft gun. The boat had a complement of between forty-four and sixty.[2]

Service history

The boat's service began on 11 December 1941 with training as part of the 5th U-boat Flotilla. She was transferred to the 3rd Flotilla, operating out of La Pallice, France, on 1 August 1942 for active service in the North Atlantic.

In six patrols she sank five merchant ships, for a total of 28,600 GRT, plus three merchant ships damaged.

Wolfpacks

U-600 took part in eight wolfpacks, namely

Fate

U-600 was sunk on 25 November 1943 in the North Atlantic in position 40°31′N 22°07′W / 40.517°N 22.117°W / 40.517; -22.117Coordinates: 40°31′N 22°07′W / 40.517°N 22.117°W / 40.517; -22.117, by depth charges from Royal Navy frigates HMS Bazely and HMS Blackwood. All 45 hands were lost.

Summary of raiding history

Date Name Nationality Tonnage
(GRT)
Fate[3]
10 August 1942 Vivian P. Smith  United Kingdom 130 Sunk
13 August 1942 Delmundo  United States 5,032 Sunk
13 August 1942 Everelza  Latvia 4,520 Sunk
29 October 1942 Kosmos II  Norway 16,966 Sunk
8 December 1942 James McKay  United States 6,762 Sunk
24 February 1943 Ingria  Norway 4,391 Damaged
17 March 1943 Irénée Du Pont  United States 6,125 Damaged
17 March 1943 Nariva  United Kingdom 8,714 Damaged
17 March 1943 Southern Princess  United Kingdom 12,156 Sunk

References

  1. Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-600". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 20 May 2014.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Gröner 1991, pp. 43-46.
  3. Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U-600". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 20 May 2014.

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). 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). IV. Hamburg, Berlin, Bonn: Mittler. ISBN 3-8132-0514-2. 
  • Edwards, Bernard (1996). Dönitz and the Wolf Packs - The U-boats at War. p. 161. ISBN 0-304-35203-9. 
  • Gröner, Erich; Jung, Dieter; Maass, Martin (1991). U-boats and Mine Warfare Vessels. German Warships 1815–1945. 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

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