German submarine U-626

German World War II submarine

History

Nazi Germany
Name	U-626
Ordered	15 August 1940
Builder	Blohm & Voss, Hamburg
Yard number	602
Laid down	28 July 1941
Launched	15 April 1942
Commissioned	11 June 1942
Fate	Missing in the North Atlantic since 14 December 1942. No explanation for her loss.
General characteristics
Class and 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) 1 x 2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 AA gun
Service record
Part of:	5th U-boat Flotilla 11 June – 31 October 1942 6th U-boat Flotilla 1 November – 14 December 1942
Identification codes:	M 07 089
Commanders:	Lt.z.S.d.R. Hans-Botho Bade 11 June – 14 December 1942
Operations:	1 patrol: 8 – 14 December 1942
Victories:	None

German submarine U-626 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. The ship was built by Blohm & Voss of Hamburg, and commissioned on 11 June 1942.^[1] After six months of basic training she was assigned to the 6th U-boat Flotilla.^[1] U-626 sailed from Bergen on 8 December 1942 on her first operational voyage. She was reported missing on 16 December after failing to report her position.

Design

German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-626 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), 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).^[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-626 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 a 2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 anti-aircraft gun. The boat had a complement of between 44 and 60.^[2]

Service history

U-626 was assigned to the 5th U-boat Flotilla for basic training, and upon completion was permanently assigned to the 5th U-boat Flotilla.^[1] On 8 December 1942, U-626, under the direction of Leutnant zur See (acting sub-lieutenant/ensign) Hans-Botho Bade left Bergen, Norway for her maiden patrol. On 14 December 1942, U-626 sent her final radio message at position 58°40′N 20°00′W / 58.667°N 20.000°W / 58.667; -20.000 and was never heard from again. 47 men were lost with her.^[1]

Previously recorded fate

U-626 was previously thought to have been sunk in the North Atlantic on 15 December 1942 by depth charges from US Coast Guard cutter USCGC Ingham. This attack was actually 200 nmi from U-626's position and there is no evidence that the target was a U-boat.^[1]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-626". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 13 March 2010.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Gröner, Jung & Maass 1991, pp. 43–46.

Bibliography

Busch, Rainer; Röll, Hans-Joachim (1999). German U-boat commanders of World War II : a biographical dictionary. Translated by Brooks, Geoffrey. London, Annapolis, Md: Greenhill Books, Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-55750-186-6.
Busch, Rainer; Röll, Hans-Joachim (1999). Der U-Boot-Krieg, 1939-1945: Deutsche U-Boot-Verluste von September 1939 bis Mai 1945 [German U-boat losses from September 1939 to May 1945] (in German). Vol. IV. Hamburg, Berlin, Bonn: Mittler. ISBN 3-8132-0514-2.
Gröner, Eric; Jung, Dieter; Maass, Martin (1991). German Warships 1815-1945: U-boats and Mine Warfare Vessels. Vol. 2. Translated by Thomas, Keith; Magowan, Rachel. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-593-4.

External links

Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-626". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 29 December 2014.

German Type VII submarines

Type VIIA

U-27
U-28
U-29
U-30
U-31
U-32
U-33
U-34
U-35
U-36

Type VIIB

U-45
U-46
U-47
U-48
U-49
U-50
U-51
U-52
U-53
U-54
U-55
U-73
U-74
U-75
U-76
U-83
U-84
U-85
U-86
U-87
U-99
U-100
U-101
U-102

Type VIIC

U-69
U-70
U-71
U-72
U-77
U-78
U-79
U-80
U-81
U-82
U-88
U-89
U-90
U-91
U-92
U-93
U-94
U-95
U-96
U-97
U-98
U-132
U-133
U-134
U-135
U-136
U-201
U-202
U-203
U-204
U-205
U-206
U-207
U-208
U-209
U-210
U-211
U-212
U-221
U-222
U-223
U-224
U-225
U-226
U-227
U-228
U-229
U-230
U-231
U-232
U-235
U-236
U-237
U-238
U-239
U-240
U-241
U-242
U-243
U-244
U-245
U-246
U-247
U-248
U-249
U-250
U-251
U-252
U-253
U-254
U-255
U-256
U-257
U-258
U-259
U-260
U-261
U-262
U-263
U-264
U-265
U-266
U-267
U-268
U-269
U-270
U-271
U-272
U-273
U-274
U-275
U-276
U-277
U-278
U-279
U-280
U-281
U-282
U-283
U-284
U-285
U-286
U-287
U-288
U-289
U-290
U-291
U-301
U-302
U-303
U-304
U-305
U-306
U-307
U-308
U-309
U-310
U-311
U-312
U-313
U-314
U-315
U-316
U-331
U-332
U-333
U-334
U-335
U-336
U-337
U-338
U-339
U-340
U-341
U-342
U-343
U-344
U-345
U-346
U-347
U-348
U-349
U-350
U-351
U-352
U-353
U-354
U-355
U-356
U-357
U-358
U-359
U-360
U-361
U-362
U-363
U-364
U-365
U-366
U-367
U-368
U-369
U-370
U-371
U-372
U-373
U-374
U-375
U-376
U-377
U-378
U-379
U-380
U-381
U-382
U-383
U-384
U-385
U-386
U-387
U-388
U-389
U-390
U-391
U-392
U-393
U-394
U-396
U-397
U-398
U-399
U-400
U-401
U-402
U-403
U-404
U-405
U-406
U-407
U-408
U-409
U-410
U-411
U-412
U-413
U-414
U-415
U-416
U-417
U-418
U-419
U-420
U-421
U-422
U-423
U-424
U-425
U-426
U-427
U-428
U-429
U-430
U-431
U-432
U-433
U-434
U-435
U-436
U-437
U-438
U-439
U-440
U-441
U-442
U-443
U-444
U-445
U-446
U-447
U-448
U-449
U-450
U-451
U-452
U-453
U-454
U-455
U-456
U-457
U-458
U-465
U-466
U-467
U-468
U-469
U-470
U-471
U-472
U-473
U-475
U-476
U-477
U-478
U-479
U-480
U-481
U-482
U-483
U-484
U-485
U-486
U-551
U-552
U-553
U-554
U-555
U-556
U-557
U-558
U-559
U-560
U-561
U-562
U-563
U-564
U-565
U-566
U-567
U-568
U-569
U-570
U-571
U-572
U-573
U-574
U-575
U-576
U-577
U-578
U-579
U-580
U-581
U-582
U-583
U-584
U-585
U-586
U-587
U-588
U-589
U-590
U-591
U-592
U-593
U-594
U-595
U-596
U-597
U-598
U-599
U-600
U-601
U-602
U-603
U-604
U-605
U-606
U-607
U-608
U-609
U-610
U-611
U-612
U-613
U-614
U-615
U-616
U-617
U-618
U-619
U-620
U-621
U-622
U-623
U-624
U-625
U-626
U-627
U-628
U-629
U-630
U-631
U-632
U-633
U-634
U-635
U-636
U-637
U-638
U-639
U-640
U-641
U-642
U-643
U-644
U-645
U-646
U-647
U-648
U-649
U-650
U-651
U-652
U-653
U-654
U-655
U-656
U-657
U-658
U-659
U-660
U-661
U-662
U-663
U-664
U-665
U-666
U-667
U-668
U-669
U-670
U-671
U-672
U-673
U-674
U-675
U-676
U-677
U-678
U-679
U-680
U-681
U-682
U-683
U-701
U-702
U-703
U-704
U-705
U-706
U-707
U-708
U-709
U-710
U-711
U-712
U-713
U-714
U-715
U-716
U-717
U-718
U-719
U-720
U-721
U-722
U-731
U-732
U-733
U-734
U-735
U-736
U-737
U-738
U-739
U-740
U-741
U-742
U-743
U-744
U-745
U-746
U-747
U-748
U-749
U-750
U-751
U-752
U-753
U-754
U-755
U-756
U-757
U-758
U-759
U-760
U-761
U-762
U-763
U-764
U-765
U-766
U-767
U-768
U-771
U-772
U-773
U-774
U-775
U-776
U-777
U-778
U-779
U-821
U-822
U-825
U-826
U-901
U-903
U-904
U-905
U-907
U-921
U-922
U-923
U-924
U-925
U-926
U-927
U-928
U-951
U-952
U-953
U-954
U-955
U-956
U-957
U-958
U-959
U-960
U-961
U-962
U-963
U-964
U-965
U-966
U-967
U-968
U-969
U-970
U-971
U-972
U-973
U-974
U-975
U-976
U-977
U-978
U-979
U-980
U-981
U-982
U-983
U-984
U-985
U-986
U-987
U-988
U-989
U-990
U-991
U-992
U-993
U-994
U-1051
U-1052
U-1053
U-1054
U-1055
U-1056
U-1057
U-1058
U-1101
U-1102
U-1131
U-1132
U-1161
U-1162
U-1191
U-1192
U-1193
U-1194
U-1195
U-1196
U-1197
U-1198
U-1199
U-1200
U-1201
U-1202
U-1203
U-1204
U-1205
U-1206
U-1207
U-1208
U-1209
U-1210

Type VIIC/41

U-292
U-293
U-294
U-295
U-296
U-297
U-298
U-299
U-300
U-317
U-318
U-319
U-320
U-321
U-322
U-323
U-324
U-325
U-326
U-327
U-328
U-691
U-827
U-828
U-929
U-930
U-995
U-997
U-998
U-999
U-1000
U-1001
U-1002
U-1003
U-1004
U-1005
U-1006
U-1007
U-1008
U-1009
U-1010
U-1011
U-1013
U-1014
U-1015
U-1016
U-1017
U-1018
U-1019
U-1020
U-1021
U-1022
U-1023
U-1024
U-1025
U-1063
U-1064
U-1065
U-1103
U-1104
U-1105
U-1106
U-1107
U-1108
U-1109
U-1110
U-1163
U-1164
U-1165
U-1166
U-1167
U-1168
U-1169
U-1170
U-1171
U-1172
U-1271
U-1272
U-1273
U-1274
U-1275
U-1276
U-1277
U-1278
U-1279
U-1301
U-1302
U-1303
U-1304
U-1305
U-1306
U-1307
U-1308

Type VIID

U-213
U-214
U-215
U-216
U-217
U-218

Type VIIF

U-1059
U-1060
U-1061
U-1062

Preceded by: Type II
Followed by: Type IX

List of U-boats of Germany

v t e Shipwrecks and maritime incidents in September 1942
Shipwrecks	1 Sep: U-756 2 Sep: U-222 3 Sep: U-162, U-705 4 Sep: Kashino, Kaimei Maru 5 Sep: USS Gregory, USS Little 6 Sep: Anshun 7 Sep: HMCS Raccoon 8 Sep: USS YP-74 9 Sep: USCGC Muskeget, YP-346 10 Sep: American Leader, Arno 11 Sep: HMCS Charlottetown, Empire Dawn, Yayoi 12 Sep: Hektoria, RMS Laconia, U-88 13 Sep: Empire Beaumont, Oliver Ellsworth, Oregonian, Stalingrad 14 Sep: Atheltemplar, HMS Coventry, Mary Luckenbach, HMCS Ottawa, HMS Sikh, U-589 15 Sep: U-261, USS Wasp 16 Sep: HMS Talisman, U-457 17 Sep: Mae 19 Sep: USS O'Brien 20 Sep: Empire Hartebeeste 21 Sep: U-446 22 Sep: RFA Gray Ranger 23 Sep: HMAS Siesta 24 Sep: Antinous 25 Sep: Empire Bell, HMS Somali, U-253, HMAS Voyager 26 Sep: I-33, HMS Veteran 27 Sep: Stephen Hopkins, Stier, U-165 30 Sep: Empire Avocet
Other incidents	2 Sep: U-626 3 Sep: USS Wakefield 8 Sep: USS Wakefield 10 Sep: Kuroshio Maru 13 Sep: USS S-31 15 Sep: USS O'Brien 20 Sep: HMS Somali 23 Sep: HMAS Voyager 28 Sep: USS Snapper
1941 1942 1943 August 1942 October 1942

v t e Shipwrecks and maritime incidents in December 1942
Shipwrecks	1 Dec: HMAS Armidale 2 Dec: Lupo, HMS Quentin 3 Dec: Empire Dabchick, HMS Penylan 4 Dec: Muzio Attendolo, HMS Traveller 6 Dec: USS Grebe 7 Dec: Ceramic 8 Dec: U-254, U-611 9 Dec: I-3, HMS Marigold 11 Dec: HMS Blean 12 Dec: HMS P222, Teruzuki 14 Dec: Canberra Maru 15 Dec: U-626 16 Dec: USS S-49 17 Dec: HMS Firedrake 18 Dec: HMS Partridge, Tenryū 21 Dec: I-4 23 Dec: Sperrbrecher 138 25 Dec: HMS P48 26 Dec: U-357 27 Dec: U-336 28 Dec: Choyo Maru 29 Dec: USS Wasmuth 30 Dec: HMS Fidelity 31 Dec: HMS Achates, HMS Bramble, Friedrich Eckoldt, USS Rescuer Unknown date: HMS P311
Other incidents	7 Dec: USS R-16 9 Dec: HMS Porcupine 12 Dec: Empire Centaur, Tannenfels 14 Dec: HMS Argonaut 19 Dec: Donau 21 Dec: USS S-35 25 Dec: Nankai Maru, Uzuki
1941 1942 1943 November 1942 January 1943