German submarine U-610

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History
Nazi Germany
Name: U-610
Ordered: 22 May 1940
Builder: Blohm & Voss, Hamburg
Yard number: 586
Laid down: 5 April 1941
Launched: 24 December 1941
Commissioned: 19 February 1942
Fate: Sunk by depth charges, 8 October 1943
General characteristics
Class & type: Type VIIC submarine
Displacement:
  • 769 tonnes (757 long tons) surfaced
  • 871 t (857 long tons) submerged
Length:
Beam:
  • 6.20 m (20 ft 4 in) o/a
  • 4.70 m (15 ft 5 in) pressure hull
Height: 9.60 m (31 ft 6 in)
Draught: 4.74 m (15 ft 7 in)
Speed:
  • 17.7 knots (32.8 km/h; 20.4 mph) surfaced
  • 7.6 knots (14.1 km/h; 8.7 mph) submerged
Test depth:
  • 230 m (750 ft)
  • Crush depth: 250–295 m (820–968 ft)
Complement: 4 officers, 40–56 enlisted
Armament:
Service record
Commanders: 19 February 1942 – 8 October 1943, Walter Freiherr von Freyberg-Eisenberg-Allmendingen
Victories:
  • 4 ships sunk for a total of 21,273 GRT
  • 1 ship damaged for a total of 9,551 GRT

German submarine U-610 was a Type VIIC U-boat built for the Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine for service during World War II. She was laid down on 5 April 1941, launched on 24 December 1941 and commissioned on 19 February 1942. She sunk on 8 October 1943, having sunk 4 ships and damaging another. Her commander was Walter Freiherr von Freyberg-Eisenberg-Allmendingen.

Design

German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-610 had a displacement of 769 tonnes (757 long tons) when at the surface and 871 tonnes (857 long tons) while submerged.[1] 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).[1]

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).[1] 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-610 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.[1]

Service history

U-610 was built by Blohm & Voss, Hamburg as yard number 586. She was ordered on 22 May 1940 and the keel was laid down on 5 April 1941. U-601 was launched on 24 December 1941.[2]

Wolfpacks

U-610 took part in nine wolfpacks, namely

  • Luchs (27 September - 6 October 1942)
  • Panther (6–20 October 1942)
  • Draufgänger (29 November – 11 December 1942)
  • Ungestüm (11–13 December 1942)
  • Raufbold (13–18 December 1942)
  • Dränger (14–20 March 1943)
  • Seeteufel (23–30 March 1943)
  • Meise (11–27 April 1943)
  • Rossbach (24 September – 8 October 1943)

Fate

While in the North Atlantic Ocean, the U-601 was sunk by a Canadian Sunderland aircraft by depth charges, killing all 51 men on board.[2]

Summary of raiding history

Date Name Nationality Tonnage
(GRT)
Fate[3]
29 September 1942 Lifland  United Kingdom 2,254 Sunk
19 October 1942 Steel Navigator  United States 5,718 Sunk
16 December 1942 Bello  Norway 6,125 Sunk
16 December 1942 Regent Lion  United Kingdom 9,551 Damaged
29 March 1943 William Pierce Frye  United States 7,176 Sunk

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Gröner 1991, pp. 43-46.
  2. 2.0 2.1 Busch & Röll 1999.
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Bibliography

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External links

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