German submarine U-622


German submarine U-622 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 1 July 1941 by Blohm & Voss, Hamburg, as yard number 598, launched on 19 March 1942 and commissioned on 14 May 1942 under Oberleutnant zur See Horst-Thilo Queck.

Design

German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-622 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-622 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 8th U-boat Flotilla on 14 May 1942, followed by active service on 2 October 1942 as part of the 11th Flotilla until 31 May 1943, when she then transferred to 13th Flotilla on 1 June 1943 for the remainder of her service.
In four patrols she sank no ships.

Wolfpacks

U-622 took part in one wolfpack, namely:
  • Nordwind

Fate

U-622 was sunk on 24 July 1943 near Trondheim in position, by American B-17 bombers of the 95th Bomb Group. It was one of the only U-boats sunk by high-level bombing during World War II.