German submarine U-630


German submarine U-630 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 23 August 1941 by Blohm & Voss, Hamburg as yard number 606, launched on 12 May 1942 and commissioned on 9 July 1942 under Oberleutnant zur See Werner Winkler.

Design

German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-630 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-630 was fitted with five torpedo tubes, fourteen torpedoes, one SK C/35 naval gun, 220 rounds, and one twin 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 9 July 1942, followed by active service on 1 April 1943 as part of the 3rd Flotilla for the remainder of her service.
In one patrol she sank two merchant ships, for a total of.

Convoy HX 231

Convoy HX 231 set out across the Atlantic on 30 March 1943, only one U-tanker, was at sea, and she had sixteen U-boats queuing up to be topped up. These boats formed the wolfpack Löwenherz.
On 5 April, U-630 sunk the British motor vessel Shillong and steamer Waroonga, both hit by the previous day.

Fate

U-630 was sunk with all hands lost on 6 May 1943 in the North Atlantic in position, by depth charges from.

Wolfpacks

U-630 took part in four wolfpacks, namely:
  • Löwenherz
  • Lerche
  • Specht
  • Fink