German submarine U-657

Summary

German submarine U-657 was a Type VIIC U-boat built for Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine for service during World War II. She was laid down on 5 October 1940 by Howaldtswerke, Hamburg as yard number 806, launched on 12 August 1941 and commissioned on 8 October 1941 under Oberleutnant zur See Hans-Jürgen Radke.

History
Nazi Germany
NameU-657
Ordered9 October 1939
BuilderHowaldtswerke, Hamburg
Yard number806
Laid down5 October 1940
Launched12 August 1941
Commissioned8 October 1941
FateSunk on 17 May 1943 in the North Atlantic in position 58°54′N 42°33′W / 58.900°N 42.550°W / 58.900; -42.550, by depth charges from HMS Swale.
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
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 38 963
Commanders:
  • Oblt.z.S. Hans-Jürgen Radke[2]
  • 8 October – 14 December 1941
  • K.Kapt. Heinrich Göllnitz[3]
  • 20 December 1941 – 17 May 1943
Operations:
  • 7 patrols:
  • 1st patrol:
  • 26 March – 11 April 1942
  • 2nd patrol:
  • 17 June – 9 July 1942
  • 3rd patrol:
  • a. 23 July – 16 August 1942
  • b. 17 – 20 August 1942
  • c. 22 – 27 August 1942
  • d. 4 November 1942
  • e. 12 – 13 November 1942
  • f. 14 – 15 November 1942
  • g. 18 – 21 November 1942
  • 4th patrol:
  • a. 22 November – 25 December 1942
  • b. 20 – 21 January 1943
  • 5th patrol:
  • 23 January – 14 February 1943
  • 6th patrol:
  • a. 15 February – 15 March 1943
  • b. 16 – 19 March 1943
  • c. 24 – 28 April 1943
  • 7th patrol:
  • 4 – 17 May 1943
Victories: 1 merchant ship sunk
(5,196 GRT)

Radke was killed in a fire while the boat was undergoing trials on 14 December 1941.[2]

Design edit

German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-657 had a displacement of 769 tonnes (757 long tons) when at the surface and 871 tonnes (857 long tons) while submerged.[4] 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).[4]

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).[4] 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-657 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.[4]

Service history edit

The boat's career began with training at 8th U-boat Flotilla on 8 October 1941, followed by active service on 1 March 1942 as part of the 3rd Flotilla in La Pallice, France. Four months later, she transferred to 11th Flotilla, in Bergen, Norway, for the remainder of her service.[1]

In seven patrols she sank one merchant ship, for a total of 5,196 gross register tons (GRT).

Wolfpacks edit

U-657 took part in six wolfpacks, namely:

  • Naseweis (31 March – 10 April 1942)
  • Eisteufel (21 June – 8 July 1942)
  • Nebelkönig (27 July – 14 August 1942)
  • Nordwind (24 January – 4 February 1943)
  • Iller (12 – 15 May 1943)
  • Donau 1 (15 – 17 May 1943)

Fate edit

U-657 was sunk on 17 May 1943 in the North Atlantic, E of Cape Farewell, Greenland, in position 58°54′N 42°33′W / 58.900°N 42.550°W / 58.900; -42.550, by depth charges from Royal Navy frigate HMS Swale. All hands were lost.

Summary of raiding history edit

Date Ship Name Nationality Tonnage
(GRT)
Fate[5]
17 May 1943 Aymeric   United Kingdom 5,196 Sunk

References edit

  1. ^ a b Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-657". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 1 September 2014.
  2. ^ a b Helgason, Guðmundur. "Hans-Jürgen Radke". German U-boats of World War II - Uboat.net. Retrieved 21 April 2015.
  3. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Heinrich Göllnitz". German U-boats of World War II - Uboat.net. Retrieved 21 April 2015.
  4. ^ a b c d Gröner 1991, pp. 43–46.
  5. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U-657". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 1 September 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.
  • 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-657". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 29 December 2014.