German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-653 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 Siemens-Schuckert GU 343/38–8 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-653 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]

The boat's career began with training at 1st U-boat Flotilla on 25 May 1941, followed by active service on 1 December 1941 as part of the 1st Flotilla for the remainder of her service.

In nine patrols she sank three merchant ships, for a total of 14,983 gross register tons (GRT), and one warship of 840 tons.

Convoy ON 166 edit

In a determined attack, between 22:00 on 23 February 1943 and daybreak the following morning, U-653, together with U-92, U-600 and U-628, came in one after the other against Convoy ON 166.

U-653 fired seven torpedoes at, and missed, the British freighter Delilian, but succeeded in striking the 9,382-GRT Dutch motor vessel Madoera. Against the odds, Madoera stayed afloat and reached St. John's seven days later, but not before some of her crew had abandoned ship and made for the lifeboats. This resulted in the Dutch ship's chief officer being captured by U-591.

Fate edit

U-653 was sunk on 15 March 1944 in the North Atlantic in position 53°46′N 24°35′W / 53.767°N 24.583°W / 53.767; -24.583, by depth charges from Fleet Air Arm Swordfish, HMS Starling and HMS Wild Goose. All hands were lost.

Wolfpacks edit

U-653 took part in 16 wolfpacks, namely:

• Pfadfinder (21 – 27 May 1942)
• Blücher (14 – 18 August 1942)
• Natter (2 – 8 November 1942)
• Westwall (8 November – 16 December 1942)
• Hartherz (3 – 7 February 1943)
• Ritter (11 – 26 February 1943)
• Burggraf (4 – 5 March 1943)
• Raubgraf (7 – 15 March 1943)
• Coronel (4 – 8 December 1943)
• Coronel 1 (8 – 14 December 1943)
• Coronel 2 (14 – 17 December 1943)
• Föhr (18 – 23 December 1943)
• Rügen 6 (23 – 28 December 1943)
• Rügen 7 (28 December 1943 – 2 January 1944)
• Rügen 6 (2 – 5 January 1944)
• Preussen (4 – 15 March 1944)

Notes edit

Citations edit

• Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-653". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 29 December 2014.