| History | |
|---|---|
| Name | U-603 |
| Ordered | 22 May 1940 |
| Builder | Blohm & Voss,Hamburg |
| Yard number | 579 |
| Laid down | 27 February 1941 |
| Launched | 16 November 1941 |
| Commissioned | 2 January 1942 |
| Fate | Missing since 19 February 1944[1] |
| 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 47 142 |
| Commanders: | |
| Operations: |
|
| Victories: | 4 merchant ships sunk (22,406 GRT) |

German submarineU-603 was aType VIICU-boat built forNazi Germany'sKriegsmarine for service duringWorld War II.She waslaid down on 27 February 1941 byBlohm & Voss,Hamburg as yard number 579,launched on 16 November 1941 andcommissioned on 2 January 1942 underKapitänleutnant Kurt Kölzer.
German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorterType VIIB submarines.U-603 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-603 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 2 January 1942, followed by active service on 1 December 1942 as part of the1st Flotilla for the remainder of her service.
In five patrols she sank four merchant ships, for a total of 22,406 gross register tons (GRT).
On 4 December 1942 she was returning to base when she spotted a convoy and attacked by convoy escorts, but not before reporting to base and calling in support boats.
On 8 July 1943 she was attacked by a RAFCatalina with depth charges and slightly damaged.
On 13 October 1943 anAvenger fromUSS Card dropped aFIDO Homing Torpedo but she successfully evaded the attack.
On 21 February 1943, while operating againstConvoy ON 166, she jointly attacked the Norwegian motor tankerStigstad withU-332.U-332 hit her first with one torpedo, closely followed by two further torpedoes fromU-603 which broke her back; sinking her in 15 minutes.
Two nights later she finished off the straggling Norwegian motor tankerGlittre with two torpedoes.
Now under the command ofOberleutnant zur See Rudolf Baltz,U-603 attackedconvoy HX 237 and successfully sank the Norwegian motor vesselBrand on 12 May 1943.
U-603 took part in 13wolfpacks, namely:
U-603 has been missing since 19 February 1944 in the North Atlantic.[1]
U-603 was sunk on 1 March 1944 in theNorth Atlantic in position48°55′N26°10′W / 48.917°N 26.167°W /48.917; -26.167, by depth charges fromUSS Bronstein. The attack was actually against a non-submarine target.
| Date | Ship Name | Nationality | Tonnage (GRT) | Fate[3] |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21 February 1943 | Stigstad | 5,964 | Sunk | |
| 23 February 1943 | Glittre | 6,409 | Sunk | |
| 16 March 1943 | Elin K | 5,214 | Sunk | |
| 12 May 1943 | Brand | 4,819 | Sunk |