U-604

Type

VIIC

Ordered

22 May 1940

Laid down

27 Feb 1941

Blohm & Voss, Hamburg (werk 580)

Launched

16 Nov 1941

Commissioned

8 Jan 1942

Kptlt. Horst Höltring

Commanders

8 Jan 1942 - 11 Aug 1943

Kptlt. Horst Höltring

Career

6 patrols

8 Jan 1942 - 31 Jul 1942 5. Flottille (training)
1 Aug 1942 - 11 Aug 1943 9. Flottille (front boat)

Successes

6 ships sunk for a total of 39,891 GRT

Fate

Scuttled 11 Aug, 1943 in the South Atlantic, in position 04.30S, 21.20W, after being badly damaged by depth charges from 2 American aircraft, a Ventura (VB-129) and a Liberator (VB-107). 14 dead and 31 survivors.

See the 6 ships hit by U-604 - View the 6 war patrols

Wolfpack operations

U-604 operated with the following Wolfpacks during its career:
   Blücher (12 Aug 1942 - 20 Aug 1942)
   Vorwärts (27 Aug 1942 - 8 Sep 1942)
   Streitaxt (24 Oct 1942 - 1 Nov 1942)
   Draufgänger (1 Dec 1942 - 11 Dec 1942)
   Ungestüm (14 Dec 1942 - 23 Dec 1942)
   Knappen (18 Feb 1943 - 26 Feb 1943)

Attacks on this boat

21 Feb 1943
The attack on 21 Feb, 1943 in the North Atlantic, in position 51. 25N, 27. 28W, by depth charges from the US Coast Guard cutter USS John C. Spencer believed to have sunk the U-225 was in fact against U-604 which escaped undamaged. (Sources: 1987-05-01, FDS/NHB)

30 Jul 1943
U-604 was attacked by a B-24 Liberator aircraft (VB-129) on 30 July and both the IWO and the Boatswain were killed in action. [Oberleutnant zur See Frank Aschmann (see right) and Oberbootsmaat Herbert Lurz]. They boat was left in a crippled state but nonetheless manged to get away from the area. (Sources: Blair, vol 2, page 371)

3 Aug 1943
The already crippled boat from the was attacked by the American B-24 Liberator aircraft (VB-107, pilot Bertram J. Prueher commander of the VB-107). (Sources: Blair, vol 2, page 371)

3 Aug 1943
After escaping the B-24 Liberator aircraft earlier in the day two American destroyers found the boat while submerged and depth charges him but once again the boat escaped. (Sources: Blair, vol 2, page 371)

4 recorded attacks on this boat.

General notes on this boat

Crew was taken over by U-185 (during the sinking of U-185 14 men from U-604 died) and U-172.

Men lost from the boat

30 Jul 1943
U-604 was attacked by a Liberator aircraft (VB-129) on 30 July and both the IWO and the Boatswain were killed in action. [Oberleutnant zur See Frank Aschmann (see right) and Oberbootsmaat Herbert Lurz]