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

12 Nov, 1942 - 23 Nov, 1943

Oblt. Peter-Arthur Stahl

Career

4 patrols

12 Nov, 1942 - 30 Apr, 1943 5. Flottille (training)
1 May, 1943 - 23 Nov, 1943 6. Flottille (front boat)

Successes

No ships sunk or damaged

Fate

Missing in the North Atlantic. 50 dead (all hands lost).

View the 4 war patrols

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:
Star (28 Apr, 1943 - 4 May, 1943)
Fink (4 May, 1943 - 6 May, 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)

18 Nov, 1943
The boat was attacked by an aircraft near convoys MKS 30 and SL 139. (Sources: Blair, vol 2, page 449)

20 Nov, 1943
Aircraft attack, aircraft shot down:Canadian Sunderland (Sqdn 422/G)

The entire aircrew, 11 men, was lost

21 Nov, 1943
Aircraft attack, aircraft shot down:British B-24 Liberator (Sqdn 53/A)

Around convoy SL-139.

6 recorded attacks on this boat.

General notes on this boat

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.