German submarine U-639

Summary

German submarine U-639 was a Type VIIC U-boat built for Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine for service during World War II. She was laid down on 31 October 1941 at Blohm & Voss in Hamburg as yard number 615, launched on 22 July 1942 and went into service on 10 September 1942. U-639 spent her entire career operating out of Norway. Over the course of four patrols she neither sank nor damaged any ships, and was sunk by the Soviet submarine S-101 in the Kara Sea while on a minelaying mission.[1][2]

History
Nazi Germany
NameU-639
Ordered20 January 1941
BuilderBlohm & Voss, Hamburg
Yard number615
Laid down31 October 1941
Launched22 July 1942
Commissioned10 September 1942
FateTorpedoed and sunk by the Soviet submarine S-101 in the Kara Sea on 28 August 1943
General characteristics
Class and typeType VIIC U-boat
Displacement
Length
Beam
  • 6.20 m (20.3 ft) o/a
  • 4.70 m (15.4 ft) pressure hull
Draught4.74 m (15.6 ft)
Propulsion
  • 3,200 PS (2,400 kW; 3,200 bhp) surfaced
  • 750 PS (550 kW; 740 shp) submerged
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 depthCalculated crush depth: 220 m (720 ft)
Complement4 officers, 40–56 enlisted
Armament
Service record
Part of:
Identification codes: M 50 196
Commanders:
  • Oblt.z.S. Walter Wichmann
  • 10 September 1942 – 28 August 1943
Operations:
  • 4 patrols:
  • 1st patrol:
  • 24 March – 25 April 1943
  • 2nd patrol:
  • a. 12 May – 7 June 1943
  • b. 8 June 1943
  • c. 14 – 15 June 1943
  • 3rd patrol:
  • a. 24 July – 4 August 1943
  • b. 5 August 1943
  • 4th patrol:
  • 11 – 28 August 1943
Victories: None

Design edit

German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-639 had a displacement of 769 tonnes (757 long tons) when at the surface and 871 tonnes (857 long tons) while submerged.[3] 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).[3]

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).[3] 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-639 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 one twin 2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 anti-aircraft gun. The boat had a complement of between forty-four and sixty.[3]

References edit

  1. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-639". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 27 December 2014.
  2. ^ Blair 1998, p. 469
  3. ^ a b c d Gröner 1991, pp. 43–46.

Bibliography edit

  • Blair, Clay (1998). Hitler's U-boat War, The Hunted 1942–1945. New York: Random House. ISBN 978-0-679-45742-8.
  • 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.
  • 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.

External links edit

  • Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-639". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 30 December 2014.

76°49′N 69°42′E / 76.817°N 69.700°E / 76.817; 69.700