German submarine U-618

German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-618 had a displacement of {{convert|769|t|LT}} when at the surface and {{convert|871|t|LT}} while submerged.{{sfn|Gröner|1991|pp=43-46}} She had a total length of {{convert|67.10|m|ftin|abbr=on}}, a pressure hull length of {{convert|50.50|m|ftin|abbr=on}}, a beam of {{convert|6.20|m|ftin|abbr=on}}, a height of {{convert|9.60|m|ftin|abbr=on}}, and a draught of {{convert|4.74|m|ftin|abbr=on}}. The submarine was powered by two Germaniawerft F46 four-stroke, six-cylinder supercharged diesel engines producing a total of {{convert|2800 to 3200|PS|kW shp|-1}} for use while surfaced, two Brown, Boveri & Cie GG UB 720/8 double-acting electric motors producing a total of {{convert|750|PS|kW shp}} for use while submerged. She had two shafts and two {{convert|1.23|m|ft|abbr=on|0}} propellers. The boat was capable of operating at depths of up to {{convert|230|m}}.{{sfn|Gröner|1991|pp=43-46}}

The submarine had a maximum surface speed of {{convert|17.7|kn}} and a maximum submerged speed of {{convert|7.6|kn}}.{{sfn|Gröner|1991|pp=43-46}} When submerged, the boat could operate for {{convert|80|nmi}} at {{convert|4|kn}}; when surfaced, she could travel {{convert|8500|nmi}} at {{convert|10|kn}}. U-618 was fitted with five {{convert|53.3|cm|in|0|abbr=on}} torpedo tubes (four fitted at the bow and one at the stern), fourteen torpedoes, one 8.8 cm SK C/35 naval gun, 220 rounds, and a 2 cm FlaK 30 anti-aircraft gun. The boat had a complement of between forty-four and sixty.{{sfn|Gröner|1991|pp=43-46}}

The boat's career began with training at 5th U-boat Flotilla on 16 April 1942, followed by active service on 1 September 1942 as part of the 7th Flotilla for the remainder of her service.

In ten patrols she sank three merchant ships, for a total of {{GRT|15,788|disp=long}}.

On 20 November 1943, U-618 shot down a RAF Liberator bomber of 53 Squadron near to Convoy SL 139.

On 30 December 1943, U-618 rescued 21 survivors from German destroyer Z27.{{cite web|url=http://uboat.net/boats/u618.htm|title=General notes on this boat |last=Helgason|first=Guðmundur|work=U-618|publisher=Uboat.net|access-date=12 November 2015}} and its escort. Earlier {{GS|U-505||2}} had rescued 34,{{cite web|url=http://uboat.net/boats/patrols/patrol_1088.html|title=Patrol info for U-505 (Eleventh patrol)|last=Helgason|first=Guðmundur|work=U-Boat Patrols|publisher=Uboat.net|access-date=12 November 2015}} and {{MV|Kerlogue}} (Ireland) had rescued 164.

On 19 March 1944, U-618, while trying to enter the Mediterranean Sea, sustained a week long sustained Allied attack from both aircraft and surface ships before being forced to return to France with heavy battle damage.

On 6 April 1944, U-618 was attacked by a RCAF Liberator bomber. She was able to return fire and damage the aircraft sufficiently that the air attack was broken off.

On 30 July 1944, U-618 shot down a RAF Wellington bomber in the Bay of Biscay. All six of the aircrew were killed when the bomber crashed into the sea.

U-618 was sunk on 14 August 1944 in the North Atlantic in position {{coord|47|22|N|04|39|W|display=inline, title}}, by depth charges from {{HMS|Duckworth|K351|6}}, {{HMS|Essington|K353|6}} and RAF Liberator. All hands were lost.

U-618 took part in 18 wolfpacks, namely:

• Pfeil (12 – 22 September 1942)
• Blitz (22 – 26 September 1942)
• Tiger (26 – 30 September 1942)
• Wotan (5 – 19 October 1942)
• Neuland (4 – 6 March 1943)
• Ostmark (6 – 11 March 1943)
• Stürmer (11 – 20 March 1943)
• Seewolf (21 – 30 March 1943)
• Adler (11 – 13 April 1943)
• Meise (13 – 20 April 1943)
• Specht (21 – 25 April 1943)
• Schill 3 (18 – 22 November 1943)
• Weddigen (22 November – 7 December 1943)
• Coronel (7 – 8 December 1943)
• Coronel 2 (8 – 14 December 1943)
• Coronel 3 (14 – 17 December 1943)
• Borkum (18 – 26 December 1943)
• Hela (28 December 1943 – 1 January 1944)

• Convoy SC 104

{{reflist}}

{{Refbegin}}

• {{cite book | last1 = Busch | first1 = Rainer | last2 = Röll | first2 = Hans-Joachim | translator-last = Brooks | translator-first = Geoffrey | title = German U-boat commanders of World War II : a biographical dictionary | publisher = Greenhill Books, Naval Institute Press | location = London, Annapolis, Md | year = 1999 | isbn = 1-55750-186-6 }}
• {{cite book |last1=Busch |first1=Rainer |last2=Röll |first2=Hans-Joachim |title=Der U-Boot-Krieg, 1939-1945: Deutsche U-Boot-Verluste von September 1939 bis Mai 1945|trans-title=German U-boat losses from September 1939 to May 1945 |date=1999|volume=IV |publisher=Mittler|location=Hamburg, Berlin, Bonn |isbn=3-8132-0514-2 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vXKwAAAAIAAJ |language=de}}
• {{cite book |last1=Gröner |first1=Eric |last2=Jung |first2=Dieter |last3=Maass |first3=Martin |translator-last1=Thomas|translator-first1=Keith|translator-last2=Magowan|translator-first2=Rachel |title=German Warships 1815-1945: U-boats and Mine Warfare Vessels |date=1991 |publisher=Conway Maritime Press |location=London |volume=2 |isbn=0-85177-593-4 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Udg-0AEACAAJ|ref=CITEREFGröner1991}}
• {{cite book

|last=Sharpe

|first=Peter

|title=U-Boat Fact File

|publisher=Midland Publishing

|location=Great Britain

|year=1998

|isbn=1-85780-072-9}}

{{Refend}}

• {{Cite web

|url=http://uboat.net/boats/u618.html

|title=The Type VIIC boat U-618

|last=Helgason

|first=Guðmundur

|website=German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net

|access-date=29 December 2014

}}

{{German Type VII submarines}}

{{August 1944 shipwrecks}}

{{use dmy dates|date=December 2014}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:U0618}}

Category:German Type VIIC submarines

Category:1942 ships

Category:U-boats commissioned in 1942

Category:Submarines lost with all hands

Category:U-boats sunk in 1944

Category:U-boats sunk by British aircraft

Category:U-boats sunk by depth charges

Category:U-boats sunk by British warships

Category:World War II shipwrecks in the Atlantic Ocean

Category:World War II submarines of Germany

Category:Ships built in Hamburg

Category:Maritime incidents in August 1944