| History | |
|---|---|
| Name | U-604 |
| Ordered | 22 May 1940 |
| Builder | Blohm & Voss,Hamburg |
| Yard number | 580 |
| Laid down | 27 February 1941 |
| Launched | 16 November 1941 |
| Commissioned | 8 January 1942 |
| Fate | Scuttled on 11 August 1943 at position04°30′S21°20′W / 4.500°S 21.333°W /-4.500; -21.333 in theSouth Atlantic after being depth charged by two US aircraft, aVentura and aLiberator. |
| General characteristics | |
| Class & type | Type VIICsubmarine |
| Displacement | |
| Length |
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| Beam |
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| Height | 9.60 m (31 ft 6 in) |
| Draught | 4.74 m (15 ft 7 in) |
| Installed power |
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| Propulsion |
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| Speed |
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| Range | |
| Test depth |
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| Complement | 4 officers, 40–56 enlisted |
| Armament |
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| Service record[1] | |
| Part of: |
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| Identification codes: | M 27 582 |
| Commanders: |
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| Operations: |
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| Victories: | 6 merchant ships sunk (39,891 GRT) |
German submarineU-604 was aType VIICU-boat built forNazi Germany'sKriegsmarine for service duringWorld War II.She waslaid down on 27 February 1941 byBlohm & Voss inHamburg as yard number 580,launched on 16 November 1941 andcommissioned on 8 January 1942 underKapitänleutnantHorst Höltring (German Cross in Gold).
German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorterType VIIB submarines.U-604 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-604 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 service began on 8 January 1942 for training as part of the5th U-boat Flotilla. After training was completed she transferred to the9th flotilla on 1 August 1942 for active service.
In 6 patrols she sank 6 ships for a total of 39,891 gross register tons (GRT).

She took part in fivewolfpacks, namely:
She was scuttled on 11 August 1943 at position04°30′S21°20′W / 4.500°S 21.333°W /-4.500; -21.333 in theSouth Atlantic after being depth charged by two US aircraft, aVentura and aLiberator. Her crew was rescued byU-185.
| Date | Ship Name | Nationality | Tonnage (GRT) | Fate[3] |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 August 1942 | Abbekerk | 7,906 | Sunk | |
| 27 October 1942 | Anglo Maersk | 7,705 | Sunk | |
| 30 October 1942 | Président Doumer | 11,898 | Sunk | |
| 30 October 1942 | Baron Vernon | 3,642 | Sunk | |
| 2 December 1942 | Coamo | 7,057 | Sunk | |
| 23 February 1943 | Stockport | 1,683 | Sunk |