| History | |
|---|---|
| Name | U-605 |
| Ordered | 22 May 1940 |
| Builder | Blohm & Voss,Hamburg |
| Yard number | 581 |
| Laid down | 12 March 1941 |
| Launched | 27 November 1941 |
| Commissioned | 15 January 1942 |
| Fate | Sunk on 14 November 1942 in theMediterranean Sea in position36°20′N01°01′W / 36.333°N 1.017°W /36.333; -1.017, by depth charges from a RAFHudson bomber. |
| General characteristics | |
| Class & type | Type VIICsubmarine |
| 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 |
|
| Identification codes | M 28 117 |
| Commanders | |
| Operations |
|
| Victories | 3 merchant ships sunk (8,409 GRT) |
German submarineU-605 was aType VIICU-boat built forNazi Germany'sKriegsmarine for service duringWorld War II.She waslaid down on 12 March 1941 byBlohm & Voss,Hamburg as yard number 581,launched on 27 November 1941 andcommissioned on 15 January 1942 underOberleutnant zur See Herbert-Viktor Schütze.
German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorterType VIIB submarines.U-605 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), apressure hull length of 50.50 m (165 ft 8 in), abeam of 6.20 m (20 ft 4 in), a height of 9.60 m (31 ft 6 in), and adraught of 4.74 m (15 ft 7 in). The submarine was powered by twoGermaniawerft F46 four-stroke, six-cylindersuperchargeddiesel 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, twoBrown, Boveri & Cie GG UB 720/8double-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-605 was fitted with five 53.3 cm (21 in)torpedo tubes (four fitted at the bow and one at the stern), fourteentorpedoes, one8.8 cm (3.46 in) SK C/35 naval gun, 220 rounds, and a2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 anti-aircraft gun. The boat had acomplement of between forty-four and sixty.[2]
The boat's career began with training at5th U-boat Flotilla on 15 January 1942, followed by active service on 1 August 1942 as part of the9th Flotilla. Just three months later, she transferred to the29th Flotilla, operating out ofLa Spezia, for operations in the Mediterranean Sea for the remainder of her service.
In three patrols she sank three merchant ships, for a total of 8,409 gross register tons (GRT).
U-605 took part in threewolfpacks, namely:
U-605 was sunk on 14 November 1942 in theMediterranean Sea in position36°20′N01°01′W / 36.333°N 1.017°W /36.333; -1.017, by depth charges from a RAFHudson bomber. All hands were lost.
| Date | Ship Name | Nationality | Tonnage (GRT) | Fate[3] |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 August 1942 | Bombay | 229 | Sunk | |
| 25 August 1942 | Katvaldis | 3,163 | Sunk | |
| 25 August 1942 | Sheaf Mount | 5,017 | Sunk |