German submarine U-600

Summary

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.

History
Nazi Germany
NameU-600
Ordered22 May 1940
BuilderBlohm & Voss, Hamburg
Yard number576
Laid down25 January 1941
Launched16 October 1941
Commissioned11 December 1941
FateSunk on 25 November 1943 in the North Atlantic in position 40°31′N 22°07′W / 40.517°N 22.117°W / 40.517; -22.117, by depth charges from HMS Bazely and HMS Blackwood.
General characteristics
Class and typeType VIIC submarine
Displacement
Length
Beam
  • 6.20 m (20 ft 4 in) o/a
  • 4.70 m (15 ft 5 in) pressure hull
Height9.60 m (31 ft 6 in)
Draught4.74 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)
Complement4 officers, 40–56 enlisted
Armament
Service record[1]
Part of:
Identification codes: M 47 389
Commanders:
  • Kptlt. / K.Kapt. Bernhard Zurmühlen
  • 11 December 1941 – 25 November 1943
Operations:
  • 6 patrols:
  • 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)

Design edit

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 a 2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 anti-aircraft gun. The boat had a complement of between forty-four and sixty.[2]

Service history edit

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 edit

U-600 took part in eight wolfpacks, namely:

  • Draufgänger (29 November – 11 December 1942)
  • Raufbold (11 – 22 December 1942)
  • Knappen (19 – 25 February 1943)
  • Burggraf (4 – 5 March 1943)
  • Raubgraf (7 – 20 March 1943)
  • Drossel (29 April – 5 May 1943)
  • Schill 1 (16 – 22 November 1943)
  • Weddigen (22 – 25 November 1943)

Fate edit

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; -22.117, by depth charges from Royal Navy frigates HMS Bazely and HMS Blackwood. All 45 hands were lost.

Summary of raiding history edit

Date Ship 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
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 edit

  1. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-600". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 20 May 2014.
  2. ^ a b c d 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 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). 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. 161. 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 edit

  • Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-600". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 29 December 2014.