U-650
Type | VIIC | |||||||||||
| Ordered | 10 Apr, 1941 | |||||||||||
| Laid down | 9 Jan, 1942 | Blohm & Voss, Hamburg (werk 626) | ||||||||||
| Launched | 1 Oct, 1942 | |||||||||||
| Commissioned | 26 Nov, 1942 | Oblt. Ernst von Witzendorff | ||||||||||
| Commanders |
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| Career | 7 patrols | 26 Nov, 1942 - 30 Apr, 1943 5. Flottille (training) 1 May, 1943 - 30 Sep, 1944 7. Flottille (front boat) 1 Oct, 1944 - 9 Dec, 1944 11. Flottille (front boat) | ||||||||||
| Successes | No ships sunk or damaged | |||||||||||
| Fate | Missing since 9 Dec, 1944 in the North Atlantic or the Arctic Ocean, position unknown. There is no explanation for its loss. 47 dead (all hands lost). | |||||||||||
Wolfpack operations
U-650 operated with the following Wolfpacks during its career:
Star (28 Apr, 1943 - 4 May, 1943)
Fink (4 May, 1943 - 6 May, 1943)
Elbe I (11 May, 1943 - 13 May, 1943)
Attacks on this boat
23 Jun, 1943
A British B-24 Liberator bomber (Sqdn 86, pilot John Wright) attacked the boat with a single 600 pound bomb causing severe damages. The boat managed to reach port in France. (Sources: Blair, vol 2, page 340)
5 Jan, 1944
The outbound boat from St. Nazaire was attacked and damaged by aircraft. The boat made repairs at sea and continued the patrol. (Sources: Blair, vol 2, page 486)
2 recorded attacks on this boat.
Schnorchel-fitted U-boat
This boat was fitted with a Schnorchel underwater-breathing apparatus and sailed equipped with it in August 1944 but it was of course installed prior to that date. Read more about the Schnorchel and see list of fitted boats.
Men lost from U-boats
Unlike many other U-boats, which during their service lost men due to accidents and various other causes, U-650 did not suffer any casualties (we know of) until the time of her loss.
![]() German U-Boat Losses During World War II Niestle, Axel Buy this title at amazon.co.uk See more sellers |
Books dealing with this subject include: |
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Related page: U-boats Missing in Action. |

