U-629

Type

VIIC

Ordered

15 Aug, 1940

Laid down

23 Aug, 1941

Blohm & Voss, Hamburg (werk 605)

Launched

12 May, 1942

Commissioned

2 Jul, 1942

Oblt. Hans-Helmuth Bugs

Commanders

2 Jul, 1942 - 7 Jun, 1944

Oblt. Hans-Helmuth Bugs

Career

11 patrols

2 Jul, 1942 - 30 Nov, 1942  5. Flottille (training)
1 Dec, 1942 - 31 Oct, 1943  11. Flottille (front boat)
1 Nov, 1943 - 7 Jun, 1944  1. Flottille (front boat)

Successes

No ships sunk or damaged

Fate

Sunk 7 June, 1944 in the English Channel west of Brest, in position 48.34N, 05.23W, by depth charges from a British Liberator aircraft (Sqdn. 53/L). 51 dead (all hands lost).

View the 11 war patrols

Previously recorded fate (Last revised by FDS/NHB during March 1997). More on revised fates

Sunk 8 June, 1944 in the English Channel west of Brest, in position 48.27N, 05.47W, by depth charges from a British B-24 Liberator aircraft (Sqdn. 224/G).

This attack actually sank the U-441.

Attacks on this boat

4 Jan, 1944
The boat, then having rescued the crew of U-284 scuttled on Dec 21, 1943 and thus had about 100 Germans on-board, was attacked with depth charges and machine-gun fire from a Polish Wellington bomber. The boat was heavily damaged but managed to call for help and reach Brest the next day. (Sources: Blair, vol 2, page 485)

12 Mar, 1944
The boat was severely damaged by a British Leigh-light equipped Wellington aircraft (Sqdn 612, pilot D. Bretherton) that dropped 4 depth charges onto the boat. The boat had to abort its patrol and returned to Brest, France on March 15. (Sources: Blair, vol 2, page 506)

7 Jun, 1944
Aircraft attack, aircraft shot down:A British B-24 Liberator (Sqdn 53/M). Could also have been U-441 or U-740.

3 recorded attacks on this boat.

General notes on this boat

On 21 December, 1943 the crew of U-629 saved the crew of U-284 and brought them to Brest on 5 January, 1944.

Men lost from U-boats

Unlike many other U-boats, which during their service lost men due to accidents and various other causes, U-629 did not suffer any casualties (we know of) until the time of her loss.