German submarine U-614

History
Nazi Germany
NameU-614
Ordered15 August 1940
BuilderBlohm & Voss, Hamburg
Yard number590
Laid down6 May 1941
Launched29 January 1942
Commissioned19 March 1942
FateSunk on 29 July 1943 in the North Atlantic in position 46°42′N 11°03′W / 46.700°N 11.050°W / 46.700; -11.050, by depth charges from a RAF Wellington bomber.
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 44 065
Commanders:
Operations:
  • 3 patrols:
  • 1st patrol:
  • 9 January – 26 February 1943
  • 2nd patrol:
  • 12 April – 24 May 1943
  • 3rd patrol:
  • 25 – 29 July 1943
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.

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 a 2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 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 46°42′N 11°03′W / 46.700°N 11.050°W / 46.700; -11.050, by depth charges from a RAF Wellington bomber of 172 Squadron. All hands were lost.

Summary of raiding history

Date Ship Name Nationality Tonnage
(GRT) 		Fate[3]
7 February 1943 Harmala  United Kingdom 5,730 Sunk

References

  1. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-614". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 1 September 2014.
  2. ^ a b c d Gröner 1991, pp. 43–46.
  3. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U-614". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 1 September 2014.

Bibliography