| History | |
|---|---|
| Name | U-618 |
| Ordered | 15 August 1940 |
| Builder | Blohm & Voss,Hamburg |
| Yard number | 594 |
| Laid down | 29 May 1941 |
| Launched | 20 February 1942 |
| Commissioned | 16 April 1942 |
| Fate | Sunk on 14 August 1944 |
| 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 46 602 |
| Commanders: | |
| Operations: |
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| Victories: | 3 merchant ships sunk (15,788 GRT) |
German submarineU-618 was aType VIICU-boat built forNazi Germany'sKriegsmarine for service duringWorld War II.She waslaid down on 29 May 1941 byBlohm & Voss,Hamburg as yard number 594,launched on 20 February 1942 andcommissioned on 16 April 1942 underOberleutnant zur See Kurt Baberg.
German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorterType VIIB submarines.U-618 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-618 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 16 April 1942, followed by active service on 1 September 1942 as part of the7th Flotilla for the remainder of her service.
In ten patrols she sank three merchant ships, for a total of 15,788 gross register tons (GRT).
On 20 November 1943,U-618 shot down a RAFLiberator bomber of53 Squadron near toConvoy SL 139.
On 30 December 1943,U-618 rescued 21 survivors fromGerman destroyer Z27.[3] and its escort. EarlierU-505 had rescued 34,[4] andMV Kerlogue (Ireland) had rescued 164.
On 19 March 1944,U-618, while trying to enter theMediterranean Sea, sustained a week long sustained Allied attack from both aircraft and surface ships before being forced to return to France with heavy battle damage.
On 6 April 1944,U-618 was attacked by a RCAFLiberator bomber. She was able to return fire and damage the aircraft sufficiently that the air attack was broken off.
On 30 July 1944,U-618 shot down a RAFWellington bomber in theBay of Biscay. All six of the aircrew were killed when the bomber crashed into the sea.
U-618 was sunk on 14 August 1944 in theNorth Atlantic in position47°22′N04°39′W / 47.367°N 4.650°W /47.367; -4.650, by depth charges fromHMS Duckworth,HMS Essington and RAFLiberator. All hands were lost.
U-618 took part in 18 wolfpacks, namely:
| Date | Ship Name | Nationality | Tonnage (GRT) | Fate[5] |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14 October 1942 | Empire Mersey | 5,791 | Sunk | |
| 18 October 1942 | Angelina | 4,772 | Sunk | |
| 2 July 1943 | Empire Kohinoor | 5,225 | Sunk |