U-605

Type

VIIC

Ordered

22 May 1940

Laid down

12 Mar 1941

Blohm & Voss, Hamburg (werk 581)

Launched

27 Nov 1941

Commissioned

15 Jan 1942

Oblt. Herbert-Viktor Schütze

Commanders

15 Jan 1942

14 Nov 1942

Kptlt. Herbert-Viktor Schütze

Career
3 patrols

15 Jan 1942	-	31 Jul 1942	5. Flottille (training)
1 Aug 1942	-	31 Oct 1942	9. Flottille (active service)
1 Nov 1942	-	14 Nov 1942	29. Flottille (active service)

Successes

3 ships sunk, total tonnage 8,409 GRT

Fate

Sunk on 14 November 1942 in the Mediterranean Sea north-west of Oran, in position 36.20N, 01.01W, by depth charges from a British Hudson aircraft (233 Sqn RAF/B). 46 dead (all hands lost). (FDS/NHB, July 1987).

Loss position

See the 3 ships hit by U-605 - View the 3 war patrols

Previously recorded fate

Sunk on 13 Nov, 1942 by depth charges from the British corvettes HMS Lotus and Poppy. (Postwar assessment)
Notes. The attack was in fact against the U-77 which escaped with little damage.

Wolfpack operations

U-605 operated with the following Wolfpacks during its career:
   Steinbrinck (7 Aug 1942 - 11 Aug 1942)
   Lohs (11 Aug 1942 - 26 Aug 1942)
   Tümmler (1 Oct 1942 - 11 Oct 1942)

Attacks on this boat and other events

25 Aug 1942
About 02.20 hrs, HMS Viscount had just unsuccessfully depth charged U-176 to starboard ahead of convoy ONS 122 when they sighted U-605 on the surface nearby. The destroyer closed rapidly, but the U-boat dived in time and the five depth charges dropped exploded harmlessly above her. U-438 witnessed this attack but managed to evade the destroyer on the surface without being spotted. (Sources: ADM reports, KTB U-605)

25 Aug 1942
At 02.30 hrs HNoMS Montbretia obtained an Asdic contact while returning to convoy ONS 122 after carrying out a Raspberry operation, and dropped five depth charges before rejoining the convoy. The target of this attack was U-605 which had been forced to dive by HMS Viscount about ten minutes earlier. The depth charges detonated directly above the U-boat but caused only minor damage. (Sources: ADM reports, KTB U-605)

25 Aug 1942
At 04.21 hrs, HNoMS Potentilla obtained a radar contact while screening Stockport as she rescued men from the water in thick fog astern of convoy ONS 122, and sighted U-605 slowly approaching the rescue ship. The corvette opened fire with all port guns from a distance of less than 200m (219 yds), and observed the second round from the 4in hit the conning tower, but missed ramming the U-boat because the gun flash had blinded the bridge party. The U-boat was so close that the Germans on the conning tower could be seen and their cries could be heard. The U-boat immediately dived, and three depth charges were dropped, which detonated astern of her. At 04.41 hrs HNoMS Potentilla launched five depth charges which put her own Asdic out of order. U-605 descended to a depth of 170m (558 ft) and got into difficulties from the conning tower slowly flooding until eight tons of water were taken on board. On surfacing four hours later they had to wait ten minutes before the hatch above the control room could be opened. Examination revealed some 30 hits to the conning tower. (Sources: ADM reports, KTB U-605)

3 recorded attacks on this boat.

Men lost from U-boats

Unlike many other U-boats, which during their service lost men due to accidents and various other causes, U-605 did not suffer any casualties (we know of) until the time of her loss.