German World War II submarine
German submarine "U-623" was a Type VIIC U-boat built for Nazi Germany's "Kriegsmarine" for service during World War II.
She was laid down on 15 July 1941 by Blohm &amp; Voss, Hamburg as yard number 599, launched on 31 March 1942 and commissioned on 21 May 1942 under "Oberleutnant zur See" Hermann Schrüder.
Design.
German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. "U-623" 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 &amp; 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-623" was fitted with five torpedo tubes (four fitted at the bow and one at the stern), 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 21 May 1942, followed by active service on 1 December 1942 as part of the 6th Flotilla for the remainder of her service.
In two patrols she sank no ships.
Wolfpacks.
"U-623" took part in five wolfpacks, namely:
Fate.
"U-623" was caught while hurrying on the surface to join the attack against Convoy ON 166 and sunk on 21 February 1943 in the North Atlantic, at the position , by depth charges from a RAF Liberator of 120 Squadron. All hands were lost.
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