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German submarine U-637 facts for kids

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History
Nazi Germany
Name U-637
Ordered 20 January 1941
Builder Blohm & Voss, Hamburg
Yard number 613
Laid down 17 October 1941
Launched 7 July 1942
Commissioned 27 August 1942
Fate Surrendered on 9 May 1945 at Stavanger. Later sunk as part of Operation Deadlight on 21 December 1945.
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
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
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 (4 bow, 1 stern)
  • 14 × torpedoes or 26 TMA mines
  • 1 × 8.8 cm (3.46 in) deck gun (220 rounds)
  • 1 × twin 2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 anti-aircraft gun
Service record
Part of:
  • 5th U-boat Flotilla
  • 27 August 1942 – 31 May 1944
  • 1st U-boat Flotilla
  • 1 June – 5 July 1944
  • 8th U-boat Flotilla
  • 6 July 1944 – 1 January 1945
  • 5th U-boat Flotilla
  • 1 January – 8 May 1945
Commanders:
  • Kptlt. Max Bernd Dieterich
  • 27 August 1942 – 22 February 1943
  • Kptlt. Günther Zedelius
  • 23 February 1943 – 20 July 1944
  • Oblt.z.S. Fritz Fabricius
  • 21 July – 30 September 1944
  • Kptlt. Wolfgang Riekeberg
  • 1 October 1944 – 26 April 1945
  • Oblt.z.S. Walter Ehrhardt
  • January 1945
  • Oblt.z.S. Klaus Weber
  • 27 April – 9 May 1945
Operations:
  • 3 patrols:
  • 1st patrol:
  • 25 November 1944 – 13 January 1945
  • 2nd patrol:
  • 5 – 13 April 1945
  • 3rd patrol:
  • 23 – 28 April 1945
Victories: 1 warship sunk
(39 tons)

German submarine U-637 was a Type VIIC U-boat built for Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine for service during World War II. She was laid down on 17 October 1941 by Blohm & Voss, Hamburg as yard number 613, launched on 7 July 1942 and commissioned on 27 August 1942 under Kapitänleutnant Max Bernd Dieterich.

Design

German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-637 had a displacement of 769 tonnes (757 long tons) when at the surface and 871 tonnes (857 long tons) while submerged. 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).

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). 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-637 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.

Service history

The boat's career began with training at 5th U-boat Flotilla on 27 August 1942, followed by active service on 1 June 1944 as part of the 1st Flotilla.

In three patrols she sank one warship, for a total of 39 tons.

Fate

U-637 surrendered on 9 May 1945 at Stavanger and later sunk as part of Operation Deadlight on 21 December 1945 at position 55°35′N 07°46′W / 55.583°N 7.767°W / 55.583; -7.767.

Summary of raiding history

Date Ship Name Nationality Tonnage Fate
24 December 1944 BMO-594  Soviet Navy 39 Sunk
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