Recognition Guide Warships of the Second World War
Kriegsmarine — Submarine

German submarine U-640

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-64017 September 1942 — 14 May 1943239 days of the war
Type VIIC submarine Particulars
Name
U-640
Builder
Blohm & Voss, Hamburg
Ordered
20 January 1941
Laid down
30 October 1941
Launched
23 July 1942
Commissioned
17 September 1942
Fate
Sunk on 14 May 1943 in the Atlantic Ocean, in position 60, by depth charges from a US Catalina. (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-640 was a Type VIIC submarine, operated by the Kriegsmarine. Her keel was laid at Blohm & Voss, Hamburg on 30 October 1941. She entered service on 17 September 1942, having been launched on 23 July 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 239 days of the Second World War.

She was sunk on 14 May 1943, at 60°32′N 31°05′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 × twin 2 cm C/30 anti-aircraft gun

Sister ships

587 more in the class

Sources