German submarine U-632

German submarine U-632 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. The submarine was laid down on 4 September 1941 at the Blohm & Voss yard at Hamburg, launched on 27 May 1942, and commissioned on 23 July 1942 under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Hans Karpf.

History
Nazi Germany
NameU-632
Ordered15 August 1940
BuilderBlohm & Voss, Hamburg
Yard number608
Laid down4 September 1941
Launched27 May 1942
Commissioned23 July 1942
FateSunk on 6 April 1943 south-west of Iceland by British aircraft
General characteristics
Class and typeType VIIC submarine
Displacement
  • 769 t (757 long tons) surfaced
  • 871 t (857 long tons) submerged
Length
Beam
  • 6.20 m (20 ft 4 in) (o/a)
  • 4.70 m (15 ft 5 in) (pressure hull)
Height9.60 m (31 ft 6 in)
Draught4.74 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
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)
Complement4 officers, 40–56 enlisted
Armament
Service record
Part of:
Identification codes: M 22 623
Commanders:
Operations:
  • 2 patrols:
  • 1st patrol:
  • 29 December 1942 – 14 February 1943
  • 2nd patrol:
  • 15 March – 6 April 1943
Victories: 2 merchant ships sunk
(15,255 GRT)

Attached to 5th U-boat Flotilla based at Kiel, U-632 completed her training period on 31 December 1942 and was assigned to front-line service.

Design

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German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-632 had a displacement of 769 tonnes (757 long tons) when at the surface and 871 tonnes (857 long tons) while submerged.[1] 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 BBC 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).[1]

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).[1] 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-632 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 one twin 2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 anti-aircraft gun. The boat had a complement of between forty-four and sixty.[1]

Service history

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Operating from Brest, France, U-632 went on two war patrols. On the second patrol, while operating against Convoy HX 231, U-632 sank the Dutch cargo ship Blitar after chasing her for more than nine hours and having twice missed her target. Later that day Liberator of No. 86 Squadron RAF detected U-632 and sank her with five depth charges southwest of Iceland in position 58°02′N 28°42′W / 58.033°N 28.700°W / 58.033; -28.700 on 6 April 1943. All 48 crew members were killed in the attack.[2]

Summary of raiding history

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Date Ship Name Nationality Tonnage
(GRT)
Fate[3]
3 February 1943 Cordelia   United Kingdom 8,190 Sunk
6 April 1943 Blitar   Netherlands 7,065 Sunk

References

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  1. ^ a b c d Gröner 1991, pp. 43–46.
  2. ^ Busch & Röll 1999b, p. 84.
  3. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U-632". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 23 August 2014.

Bibliography

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