German submarine U-614
History | |
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Nazi Germany | |
Name: | U-614 |
Ordered: | 15 August 1940 |
Builder: | Blohm & Voss, Hamburg |
Yard number: | 590 |
Laid down: | 6 May 1941 |
Launched: | 29 January 1942 |
Commissioned: | 19 March 1942 |
Fate: | Sunk 29 July 1943 in the North Atlantic in position Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found., by depth charges from a RAF Wellington bomber. |
General characteristics | |
Class & type: | Type VIIC submarine |
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Draught: | 4.74 m (15 ft 7 in) |
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Complement: | 4 officers, 40–56 enlisted |
Armament: |
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Service record[1] | |
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Victories: | 1 merchant ship sunk (5,730 GRT) |
German submarine U-614 was a Type VIIC U-boat built for Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine for service during World War II. She was laid down on 6 May 1941 by Blohm & Voss, Hamburg as yard number 590, launched on 29 January 1942 and commissioned on 19 March 1942 under Oberleutnant zur See Wolfgang Sträter.
Contents
Design
German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-614 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-614 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 career began with training at 8th U-boat Flotilla on 19 March 1942, followed by active service on 1 February 1943 as part of the 6th Flotilla for the remainder of her service.
In three patrols she sank one merchant ships, for a total of 5,730 gross register tons (GRT).
Wolfpacks
U-614 took part in six wolfpacks, namely
- Landsknecht (19–28 January 1943)
- Without Name (15–18 April 1943)
- Specht (19 April – 4 May 1943)
- Fink (4–6 May 1943)
- Elbe (7–10 May 1943)
- Elbe 1 (10–14 May 1943)
Fate
U-614 was sunk on 29 July 1943 in the North Atlantic in position Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found., by depth charges from a RAF Wellington bomber of 172 Squadron. All hands were lost.
Summary of raiding history
Date | Name | Nationality | Tonnage (GRT) |
Fate[3] |
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7 February 1943 | Harmala | United Kingdom | 5,730 | Sunk |
References
Bibliography
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External links
- Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- Use dmy dates from December 2014
- German Type VIIC submarines
- 1942 ships
- U-boats commissioned in 1942
- Ships lost with all hands
- U-boats sunk in 1943
- U-boats sunk by depth charges
- U-boats sunk by British aircraft
- World War II shipwrecks in the Atlantic Ocean
- World War II submarines of Germany
- Ships built in Hamburg
- Maritime incidents in July 1943