German submarine U-634
History | |
---|---|
![]() |
|
Name: | U-634 |
Ordered: | 16 August 1940 |
Builder: | Blohm & Voss, Hamburg |
Yard number: | 610 |
Laid down: | 23 September 1941 |
Launched: | 10 June 1942 |
Commissioned: | 6 August 1942 |
Fate: | Sunk 30 August 1943 in the North Atlantic in position Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found., by depth charges from HMS Stork & HMS Stonecrop. |
General characteristics | |
Class & type: | Type VIIC submarine |
Displacement: |
|
Length: |
|
Beam: |
|
Height: | 9.60 m (31 ft 6 in) |
Draught: | 4.74 m (15 ft 7 in) |
Installed power: |
|
Propulsion: |
|
Speed: |
|
Range: | |
Test depth: |
|
Complement: | 4 officers, 40–56 enlisted |
Armament: |
|
Service record[1] | |
Part of: |
|
Commanders: |
|
Operations: |
|
Victories: | 1 merchant ship sunk (7,176 GRT) |
German submarine U-634 was a Type VIIC U-boat built for Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine for service during World War II. She was laid down on 23 September 1941 by Blohm & Voss, Hamburg as yard number 610, launched on 10 June 1942 and commissioned on 6 August 1942 under Oberleutnant zur See Hans-Günther Brosin.
Contents
Design
German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-634 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 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).[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-634 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 5th U-boat Flotilla on 6 August 1942, followed by active service on 1 February 1943 as part of the 9th Flotilla for the remainder of her service. In three patrols she sank one merchant ship, for a total of 7,176 gross register tons (GRT).
Wolfpacks
U-634 took part in five wolfpacks, namely
- Westmark (6–11 March 1943)
- Amsel (22 April – 3 May 1943)
- Amsel 2 (3–6 May 1943)
- Elbe (7–10 May 1943)
- Elbe 1 (10–14 May 1943)
Fate
U-634 was sunk on 30 August 1943 in the North Atlantic in position Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found., by depth charges from HMS Stork and HMS Stonecrop. All crew members died.
Summary of raiding history
Date | Name | Nationality | Tonnage (GRT) |
Fate[3] |
---|---|---|---|---|
2 March 1943 | Meriwether Lewis | ![]() |
7,176 | Sunk |
References
Bibliography
- Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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 warships
- World War II shipwrecks in the Atlantic Ocean
- World War II submarines of Germany
- Ships built in Hamburg
- U-boat accidents
- Maritime incidents in August 1943