U-645

Type

VIIC

Ordered

20 Jan, 1941

Laid down

17 Dec, 1941

Blohm & Voss, Hamburg (werk 621)

Launched

3 Sep, 1942

Commissioned

22 Oct, 1942

Ltnt. Otto Ferro

Commanders

22 Oct, 1942 - 24 Dec, 1943

Oblt. Otto Ferro

Career

3 patrols

22 Oct, 1942 - 30 Apr, 1943 5. Flottille (training)
1 May, 1943 - 24 Dec, 1943 3. Flottille (front boat)

Successes

2 ships sunk for a total of 12.788 GRT

Fate

Sunk 24 Dec, 1943 in the North Atlantic north-east of the Azores, in position 45.20N, 21.40W, by depth charges from the US destroyer USS Schenck. 55 dead (all hands lost).

See the 2 ships hit by U-645 - View the 3 war patrols

Wolfpack operations

U-645 operated with the following Wolfpacks during its career:
Leuthen (23 Aug, 1943 - 24 Sep, 1943)

Attacks on this boat

12 Jun, 1943
At 13.00 hours, the boat was attacked by the British Liberator FL932 (86 Sqdn RAF/H, pilot F/O C.W. Burcher, DFC, RAAF) north of the Azores. The aircraft was escorting the troop convoy TA-48 and attacked U-645 from the starboard bow with five depth charges that overshoot, the closest detonating 15 metres astern causing slight damages. They then exchanged gunfire for the next 30 minutes and the boat claimed hits on the Liberator, but it was not seriously hit and flew off to inform the convoy. (Sources: Franks/Zimmerman)

12 Jun, 1943
At 16.23 hours, the boat was attacked by the British Liberator FK226 (86 Sqdn RAF/G, pilot F/O A.C.I. Samuel) north of the Azores. The aircraft was escorting the troop convoy TA-48 and broke off the intial attack run due to heavy AA fire from U-645. They exchanged gunfire for 10 minutes and the aircraft then attacked with five depth charges that detonated about 50 to 100 metres to starboard. AA fire hit the Liberator in the the fuselage, the bomb bay and a fuel tank, killing one crewman and starting a fire which was quickly extinguished. The damages forced the pilot to return to base while the boat crash-dived. (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-645 did not suffer any casualties (we know of) until the time of her loss.