U-608

Type

VIIC

Ordered

22 May, 1940

Laid down

27 Mar, 1941

Blohm & Voss, Hamburg (werk 584)

Launched

11 Dec, 1941

Commissioned

5 Feb, 1942

Oblt. Rolf Struckmeier

Commanders

5 Feb, 1942 - 12 Jan, 1944	Kptlt. Rolf Struckmeier
21 Jan, 1944 - 10 Aug, 1944	Oblt. Wolfgang Reisener

Career

10 patrols

5 Feb, 1942 - 31 Aug, 1942 5. Flottille (training)
1 Sep, 1942 - 10 Aug, 1944 6. Flottille (front boat)

Successes

4 ships sunk for a total of 35.539 GRT
1 warship sunk for a total of 291 tons (lost aboard transport ships)

Fate

Sunk 10 Aug, 1944 in the Bay of Biscay near La Rochelle, in position 46.30N, 03.08W, by depth charges from the British sloop HMS Wren and by depth charges from a British Liberator aircraft (Sqdn. 53/C). 52 survivors (No casualties).

See the 5 ships hit by U-608 - View the 10 war patrols

Wolfpack operations

U-608 operated with the following Wolfpacks during its career:
   Stier (2 Sep, 1942 - 14 Sep, 1942)
   Pfeil (2 Feb, 1943 - 9 Feb, 1943)
   Neptun (18 Feb, 1943 - 3 Mar, 1943)
   Neuland (8 Mar, 1943 - 12 Mar, 1943)
   Dranger (14 Mar, 1943 - 20 Mar, 1943)
   Trutz (1 Jun, 1943 - 16 Jun, 1943)
   Trutz I (16 Jun, 1943 - 2 Jul, 1943)
   Geier I (2 Jul, 1943 - 15 Jul, 1943)

Attacks on this boat

12 Sep, 1942
An escort from ON 127 attacked the boat and forced it to abort its attack on the convoy. (Sources: Blair, vol 2, page 31.)

13 Oct, 1943
At 18.58 hours, the boat was attacked by an American Avenger aircraft (VC-9 USN/T-9, pilot Lt(jg) H. Fryatt) from USS Card about 600 miles north of the Azores. U-608 crash-dived as the aircraft passed over the boat and dropped a Fido homing torpedo about 50 metres ahead, but without result. AA splinters had cut the hydraulic line for the starboard landing wheel, so the Avenger had to land as last aircraft in the evening. It collided with the island and hit a parked Avenger, but was later repaired. The crew was unhurt and a sailor who fell overboard during the mishap could be rescued. (Sources: Franks/Zimmerman)

30 Jan, 1944
An attack on 30 Jan, 1944 in the Bay of Biscay west of Bordeaux, France, in position 45.25N, 05.15W, by depth charges from a British Wellington aircraft (Sqdn. 172/K) formerly credited with sinking the U-364.

This attack was in fact against U-608 inflicting no damages. The boat shot down the aircraft before it dropped its charges.

(Sources: 2003-09-01, Axel Niestle)

31 Jan, 1944
Aircraft attack, aircraft shot down:British Wellington (Sqdn 172/K)

4 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-608 did not suffer any casualties (we know of) until the time of her loss.