Recognition Guide Warships of the Second World War
Kriegsmarine — Submarine

German submarine U-623

Type VIIC submarine

Displacement
757 long tons (769 t)
Length
67.1 m (220.1 ft)
Beam
6.2 m (20.3 ft)
Speed
17.7 knots (32.8 km/h, 20.4 mph)
Main gun
88 mm (3.5 in)

Service

  1. Kriegsmarine as U-62321 May 1942 — 21 February 1943276 days of the war
Type VIIC submarine Particulars
Name
U-623
Builder
Blohm & Voss, Hamburg
Ordered
15 August 1940
Laid down
15 July 1941
Launched
31 March 1942
Commissioned
21 May 1942
Fate
Sunk on 21 February 1943 in the North Atlantic in position 48, by depth charges from an RAF Liberator. (1943)
Status
Wreck

Specifications

Displacement, surfaced
757 long tons (769 t)
Displacement, submerged
857 long tons (871 t)
Length
67.1 m (220.1 ft) OA
Beam
6.2 m (20.3 ft)
Draught
4.74 m (15.6 ft)
Speed
17.7 knots (32.8 km/h, 20.4 mph)
Range
8,500 nmi (15,742 km)
Main gun
88 mm (3.5 in)

U-623 was a Type VIIC submarine built for the Kriegsmarine. Her keel was laid at Blohm & Voss, Hamburg on 15 July 1941. She entered service on 21 May 1942, having been launched on 31 March 1942.

She was one of 612 ships of her class. The class followed the Type UB III, Vetehinen class and was succeeded by the Type XXI (Late-war replacement).

The boat displaced 757 long tons surfaced and 857 long tons submerged. She measured 67.1 m (220 ft) long with a beam of 6.2 m (20 ft). Her designed speed was 17.7 knots.

Her main battery was one 88 mm (3.5 in) guns.

She was in commission for 276 days of the Second World War.

She was sunk on 21 February 1943, at 48°08′N 29°37′W. The wreck survives.

Written from the harvested record. Every figure above is sourced; the wording is this site's own.

Armament and machinery

Armament and machinery
Propulsion
  • 2 shafts
  • 2 × diesel engines
  • 2 × electric motors
Power
  • 2800 - 3200 PS (diesels)
  • 750 PS (electric)
Armament
  • 5 × 53.3 cm torpedo tubes (4 bow, 1 stern)
  • 14 × torpedoes or 26 TMA mines
  • 1 × 8.8 cm deck gun (220 rounds)
  • 1 x 2 cm C/30 AA gun

Sister ships

587 more in the class

Sources