U-615

Type

VIIC

Ordered

15 Aug, 1940

Laid down

20 May, 1941

Blohm & Voss, Hamburg (werk 591)

Launched

8 Feb, 1942

Commissioned

26 Mar, 1942

Oblt. Ralph Kapitzky

Commanders

26 Mar, 1942 - 7 Aug, 1943

Kptlt. Ralph Kapitzky

Career

4 patrols

26 Mar, 1942 - 31 Aug, 1942 8. Flottille (training)
1 Sep, 1942 - 7 Aug, 1943 3. Flottille (front boat)

Successes

4 ships sunk for a total of 27.231 GRT

Fate

Sunk 7 Aug, 1943 in the Caribbean Sea south-east of Curaquo, in position 12.38N, 64.15W, by depth charges from US 6 Mariner and 1 Ventura aircraft. 4 dead and 43 survivors.

See the 4 ships hit by U-615 - View the 4 war patrols

This was possibly the longest ongoing combat between a U-boat and aircraft. U-615's battle enabled many other U-boats in the Caribbean to surface and escape to the east.

The aircraft were from the following squadrons; VP-204 (P-6 and P-8), VP-205 (P-2, P-11 and P-4) and VB-130 (Ventura B-5).

Wolfpack operations

U-615 operated with the following Wolfpacks during its career:
   Draufgänger (1 Dec, 1942 - 11 Dec, 1942)
   Ungestüm (14 Dec, 1942 - 23 Dec, 1942)
   Burggraf (26 Feb, 1943 - 7 Mar, 1943)
   Raubgraf (7 Mar, 1943 - 20 Mar, 1943)
   Seewolf (25 Mar, 1943 - 30 Mar, 1943)
   Adler (7 Apr, 1943 - 12 Apr, 1943)

Attacks on this boat

15 Oct, 1942
The attack by a British B-24 Liberator aircraft (RAF 120/H) on 15 Oct, 1942 in position 53.58N, 33.43W, formerly credited with sinking U-661 was instead against the U-615, causing no damage. (Sources: 1987-06-01, FDS/NHB)

14 Jun, 1943
At 21.12 hours, a group of 3 outbound boats (U-257, U-600 and U-615) was attacked by a British Wellington aircraft (547 Sqdn RAF/H, pilot P/O J.W. Hermiston) in the Bay of Biscay. The aircraft strafed U-615 and killed one of the gunners. [Bootsmaat Heinz Wilke] (Sources: Franks/Zimmerman/Rohwer)

29 Jul, 1943
The beginning of one of the most dogged hunts of any U-boat in the war. First to hit the boat was the American B-18 aircraft. For the next week the boat was limping to the Atlantic but under multiple attacks (shot down one Mariner aircraft and damaged others). Finally the boat was overcome and sunk. (Sources: Blair, vol 2, page 363)

6 Aug, 1943
Aircraft attack, aircraft shot down:American Mariner (Sqdn VP-205/P-4)

The boat was lost in this massive hunt in the Caribbean. It fought bravely for days against overwhelming odd before finally being sunk.

4 recorded attacks on this boat.

General notes on this boat

On 11 April, 1943 U-615 was slightly damaged by debris, when the Liberty ship Edward B. Dudley exploded after being hit by a coup de grâce from a distance of 800 meters. The commander was wounded and the U-boat was forced to return to base.

Men lost from U-boats

Unlike many other U-boats, which during their service lost men due to accidents and various other causes, U-615 did not suffer any casualties (we know of) until the time of her loss.