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 |
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| 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.
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