German submarine U-606


German submarine U-606 was a [German German Type VIIC submarine|Type VIIC submarine|Type VIIC] U-boat built for Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine for service during World War II.
She was laid down on 12 March 1941 by Blohm & Voss, Hamburg as yard number 582, launched on 27 November 1941 and commissioned on 22 January 1942 under Oberleutnant zur See Hans Klatt.

Design

German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-606 had a displacement of when at the surface and while submerged. She had a total length of, a pressure hull length of, a beam of, a height of, and a draught of. The submarine was powered by two Germaniawerft F46 four-stroke, six-cylinder supercharged diesel engines producing a total of for use while surfaced, two Brown, Boveri & Cie GG UB 720/8 double-acting electric motors producing a total of for use while submerged. She had two shafts and two propellers. The boat was capable of operating at depths of up to.
The submarine had a maximum surface speed of and a maximum submerged speed of. When submerged, the boat could operate for at ; when surfaced, she could travel at. U-606 was fitted with five torpedo tubes, fourteen torpedoes, one SK C/35 naval gun, 220 rounds, and a C/30 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 22 January 1942, followed by active service on 1 September 1942 as part of the 11th Flotilla. After just two months, on 1 November 1942, she transferred to 9th Flotilla.
In three patrols she sank three merchant ships, for a total of, plus 2 merchant ships damaged for a total of 21,925 GRT.

Convoy ON 166

Along with,,,,,,,,, and she attacked Convoy ON 166 and was very successful sinking the British Empire Redshank and US ship Chattanooga City and damaging US ship Expositor on 22 February, before being damaged by depth charges launched from the destroyer.

Wolfpacks

U-606 took part in five wolfpacks, namely:

Fate

U-606 was sunk on 22 February 1943 in the North Atlantic in position. She was damaged and forced to submerge by depth charges from Polish destroyer, then she was found by and attacked with depth charges and gunfire. Older publications claimed, that the Campbell also rammed U-606, but apparently some U-boat had just collided with the Campbell, and it is not clear if it was U-606. There were 36 dead and 12 survivors. U-606 finally sunk on 23 February near dawn.