German World War II submarine
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|
| History |
|---|
 Nazi Germany |
|---|
| Name | U-639 |
| Ordered | 20 January 1941 |
| Builder | Blohm & Voss, Hamburg |
| Yard number | 615 |
| Laid down | 31 October 1941 |
| Launched | 22 July 1942 |
| Commissioned | 10 September 1942 |
| Fate | Torpedoed and sunk by the Soviet submarine S-101 in the Kara Sea on 28 August 1943 |
| General characteristics |
|---|
| Class and type | Type VIIC U-boat |
| Displacement |
- 769 tonnes (757 long tons) surfaced
- 871 t (857 long tons) submerged
|
| Length | |
| Beam |
- 6.20 m (20.3 ft) o/a
- 4.70 m (15.4 ft) pressure hull
|
| Draught | 4.74 m (15.6 ft) |
| Propulsion |
- 3,200 PS (2,400 kW; 3,200 bhp) surfaced
- 750 PS (550 kW; 740 shp) submerged
|
| 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
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| Test depth | Calculated crush depth: 220 m (720 ft) |
| Complement | 4 officers, 40–56 enlisted |
| Armament | |
| Service record |
| Part of: |
|
| Identification codes: |
M 50 196 |
| Commanders: |
- Oblt.z.S. Walter Wichmann
- 10 September 1942 – 28 August 1943
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| Operations: |
- 4 patrols:
- 1st patrol:
- 24 March – 25 April 1943
- 2nd patrol:
- a. 12 May – 7 June 1943
- b. 8 June 1943
- c. 14 – 15 June 1943
- 3rd patrol:
- a. 24 July – 4 August 1943
- b. 5 August 1943
- 4th patrol:
- 11 – 28 August 1943
|
| Victories: |
None |
German submarine U-639 was a Type VIIC U-boat built for Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine for service during World War II. She was laid down on 31 October 1941 at Blohm & Voss in Hamburg as yard number 615, launched on 22 July 1942 and went into service on 10 September 1942. U-639 spent her entire career operating out of Norway. Over the course of four patrols she neither sank nor damaged any ships, and was sunk by the Soviet submarine S-101 in the Kara Sea while on a minelaying mission.[1][2]
Design
German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-639 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-639 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.
