U-613

Type

VIIC

Ordered

15 Aug 1940

Laid down

6 May 1941

Blohm & Voss, Hamburg (werk 589)

Launched

29 Jan 1942

Commissioned

12 Mar 1942

Kptlt. Helmut Köppe

Commanders

12 Mar 1942

23 Jul 1943

KrvKpt. Helmut Köppe

Career
4 patrols

12 Mar 1942	-	31 Oct 1942	8. Flottille (training)
1 Nov 1942	-	23 Jul 1943	3. Flottille (active service)

Successes

2 ships sunk, total tonnage 8,087 GRT

Fate

Sunk on 23 July 1943 in the North Atlantic south of the Azores, in position 35.32N, 28.36W, by depth charges from the US destroyer USS George E. Badger. 48 dead (all hands lost).

Loss position

See the 2 ships hit by U-613 - View the 4 war patrols

Wolfpack operations

U-613 operated with the following Wolfpacks during its career:
   Natter (2 Nov 1942 - 8 Nov 1942)
   Westwall (8 Nov 1942 - 18 Nov 1942)
   Habicht (10 Jan 1943 - 19 Jan 1943)
   Haudegen (19 Jan 1943 - 9 Feb 1943)
   Adler (7 Apr 1943 - 13 Apr 1943)
   Meise (13 Apr 1943 - 25 Apr 1943)

Attacks on this boat and other events

17 Nov 1942
The new boat was attacked by a British Hudson bomber (Sqdn, 608, pilot J. B. R. Petrie) and seriously damaged. She managed to limp to France with assistance from other boats. (Sources: Blair, vol 2, page 113)

1 May 1943
00.07hrs, off the Bay of Biscay inbound: British Wellington bomber (RAF Sqdn 172/N, pilot Sgt P.W. Phillips) strafed U-613 and dropped six depth charges in a Leigh Light attack. U-613 escaped with minor damage, but the aircraft's hydraulics and port tyre were damaged by flak. The six aircrew escaped uninjured from a crash-landing at their base at Predannack, Cornwall.

(Sources: Franks/Zimmerman)

2 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-613 did not suffer any casualties (we know of) until the time of her loss.