U-648
Type | VIIC | |||||||||
| Ordered | 10 Apr 1941 | |||||||||
| Laid down | 24 Dec 1941 | Blohm & Voss, Hamburg (werk 624) | ||||||||
| Launched | 16 Sep 1942 | |||||||||
| Commissioned | 12 Nov 1942 | Oblt. Peter-Arthur Stahl | ||||||||
| Commanders |
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| Career 3 patrols |
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| Successes | No ships sunk or damaged | |||||||||
| Fate | Missing in the North Atlantic. 50 dead (all hands lost). | |||||||||
Previously recorded fate
(Last revised by Axel Niestlé during January 1998. More on revised fates.)
The attacks by the British frigates HMS Bazely, HMS Blackwood and HMS Drury on 23 Nov, 1943 in position 42.40N, 20.73W formerly credited with the destruction of U-648 were instead targeted against U-424, U-714 and U-843 causing no damage.
Wolfpack operations
U-648 operated with the following Wolfpacks during its career:
Meise (25 Apr 1943 - 27 Apr 1943)
Star (27 Apr 1943 - 4 May 1943)
Fink (4 May 1943 - 6 May 1943)
Siegfried (25 Oct 1943 - 27 Oct 1943)
Siegfried 3 (27 Oct 1943 - 30 Oct 1943)
Jahn (30 Oct 1943 - 2 Nov 1943)
Tirpitz 5 (2 Nov 1943 - 8 Nov 1943)
Eisenhart 10 (9 Nov 1943 - 10 Nov 1943)
Eisenhart 8 (10 Nov 1943 - 11 Nov 1943)
Eisenhart 7 (11 Nov 1943 - 15 Nov 1943)
Schill 2 (17 Nov 1943 - 22 Nov 1943)
Weddigen (22 Nov 1943 - 23 Nov 1943)
Attacks on this boat
16 May 1943
At 11.40 hours, the inbound boat was unsuccessfully attacked with four depth charges by a British Whitley aircraft (10 OTU RAF/E) in the Bay of Biscay. (Sources: Franks/Rohwer)
16 May 1943
At 14.55 hours, the inbound boat was attacked by the British Liberator aircraft FL948 (224 Sqdn RAF/M, pilot F/S J.S. Powell) in the Bay of Biscay. The aircraft was hit by AA fire during the first attack, so the six depth charges dropped undershot. While it turned around for a second attack, U-648 crash-dived and the remaining four depth charges were dropped into the wake without damaging the boat. The damaged Liberator returned safely to base. (Sources: Franks/Zimmerman)
17 May 1943
Aircraft attack, aircraft shot down:British Whitley Z9438 (10 OTU RAF/J, pilot Sgt J.H. Casstles)
At 14.24 hours, the inbound boat was attacked by the Whitley in the Bay of Biscay. The aircraft dropped four depth charges before it was shot down by AA fire, but did no damage. The entire crew of six men was lost.
(Sources: Franks/Zimmerman)20 Nov 1943
Aircraft attack, aircraft shot down: Canadian Sunderland W6031 (422 Sqdn RCAF/G, pilot F/O J.D.B. Ulrichson, RCAF)
At 17.45 hours, the boat was attacked by the Sunderland near the combined convoy SL-139/MKS-30. U-648 had been warned by the Naxos reciever and fought off an attack with accurate AA fire. About one hour later the aircraft sent a distress call that they were about to ditch in 42°40N/19°30W. However, the 11 crewmen were never found.
(Sources: Franks/Zimmerman)21 Nov 1943
Aircraft attack, aircraft shot down: British Liberator BZ819 (53 Sqdn RAF/A, pilot W/C H.R.A. Edwards, AFC)
At 04.12 hours, the boat was attacked by the Leigh Light equipped Liberator near convoy SL-139. The aircraft was apparently hit by AA fire during the strafing attack and its depth charges fell wide. During the return flight three engines failed and the Liberator had to ditch but only the pilot survived and was picked up by HMS Lincolnshire on 22 November.
(Sources: Franks/Zimmerman)5 recorded attacks on this boat.
General notes on this boat
5 May 1943. On 5 May, 1943 U-648 had to return to base to due severe technical difficulties.
Men lost from U-boats
Unlike many other U-boats, which during their service lost men due to accidents and various other causes, U-648 did not suffer any casualties (we know of) until the time of her loss.
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Related page: U-boats Missing in Action. |