German submarine U-618

History
Nazi Germany
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 14 August 1944 in the North Atlantic in position , by depth charges from HMS Duckworth, HMS Essington and RAF Liberator.
General characteristics
Class & type:	Type VIIC submarine
Displacement:	769 tonnes (757 long tons) surfaced 871 t (857 long tons) submerged
Length:	67.10 m (220 ft 2 in) o/a 50.50 m (165 ft 8 in) pressure hull
Beam:	6.20 m (20 ft 4 in) o/a 4.70 m (15 ft 5 in) pressure hull
Height:	9.60 m (31 ft 6 in)
Draught:	4.74 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:	2 shafts 2 × diesel engines 2 × electric motors
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)
Complement:	4 officers, 40–56 enlisted
Armament:	5 × 53.3 cm (21 in) torpedo tubes (four bow, one stern) 14 × torpedoes or 26 TMA mines 1 × 8.8 cm (3.46 in) deck gun (220 rounds) various AA guns
Service record
Part of:	5th U-boat Flotilla 16 April – 31 August 1942 - Training 7th U-boat Flotilla 1 September 1942 – 14 August 1944
Commanders:	Oblt.z.S. Kurt Baberg 16 April 1942 – 15 April 1944 Oblt.z.S. Erich Faust 16 April – 14 August 1944
Operations:	1st patrol: 1 September – 28 October 1942 2nd patrol: 25 November 1942 – 18 January 1943 3rd patrol: 21 February – 7 May 1943 4th patrol: 8 June – 5 September 1943 5th patrol: 11 November 1943 – 4 January 1944 6th patrol: 23 February – 8 April 1944 7th patrol: 25 May 1944 8th patrol: 26–30 July 1944 9th patrol: 2–4 August 1944 10th patrol: 11–14 August 1944
Victories:	3 merchant ships sunk (15,788 GRT)

German submarine U-618 was a Type VIIC U-boat built for Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine for service during World War II. She was laid down on 29 May 1941 by Blohm & Voss, Hamburg as yard number 594, launched on 20 February 1942 and commissioned on 16 April 1942 under Oberleutnant zur See Kurt Baberg.

Design

German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type 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. 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).

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). 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), fourteen torpedoes, one 8.8 cm (3.46 in) SK C/35 naval gun, 220 rounds, and an anti-aircraft gun. The boat had a complement of between forty-four and sixty.

Service history

The boat's career began with training at 5th U-boat Flotilla on 16 April 1942, followed by active service on 1 September 1942 as part of the 7th 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).

Wolfpacks

U-618 took part in 18 wolfpacks, namely

• Pfeil (12–22 September 1942)
• Blitz (22–26 September 1942)
• Tiger (26–30 September 1942)
• Wotan (5–19 October 1942)
• Neuland (4–6 March 1943)
• Ostmark (6–11 March 1943)
• Stürmer (11–20 March 1943)
• Seewolf (21–30 March 1943)
• Adler (11–13 April 1943)
• Meise (13–20 April 1943)
• Specht (21–25 April 1943)
• Schill 3 (18–22 November 1943)
• Weddigen (22 November-7 December 1943)
• Coronel (7–8 December 1943)
• Coronel 2 (8–14 December 1943)
• Coronel 3 (14–17 December 1943)
• Borkum (18–26 December 1943)
• Hela (28 December 1943 – 1 January 1944)

1943

On 20 November 1943, U-618 shot down a RAF Liberator bomber of 53 Squadron near to Convoy SL 139.

On 30 December 1943, U-618 rescued 21 survivors from German destroyer Z27. and its escort. Earlier U-505 had rescued 34, and MV Kerlogue (Ireland) had rescued 164.

1944

On 19 March 1944, U-618, while trying to enter the Mediterranean Sea, sustained a week log 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 RCAF Liberator 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 RAF Wellington bomber in the Bay of Biscay. All six of the aircrew were killed when the bomber crashed into the sea.

Fate

U-618 was sunk on 14 August 1944 in the North Atlantic in position , by depth charges from HMS Duckworth, HMS Essington and RAF Liberator. All hands were lost.

Summary of raiding history

Date	Name	Nationality	Tonnage (GRT)	Fate
14 October 1942	Empire Mersey	United Kingdom	5,791	Sunk
18 October 1942	Angelina	United States	4,772	Sunk
2 July 1943	Empire Kohinoor	United Kingdom	5,225	Sunk

See also

• Convoy SC 104