U-650

Type

VIIC

Ordered

10 Apr 1941

Laid down

9 Jan 1942

Blohm & Voss, Hamburg (werk 626)

Launched

1 Oct 1942

Commissioned

26 Nov 1942

Oblt. Ernst von Witzendorff

Commanders

26 Nov 1942	-	13 Jul 1943	Ernst von Witzendorff
14 Jul 1943	-	26 Nov 1943	Kptlt. Otto Tinschert
27 Nov 1943	-	30 Jun 1944	Ernst von Witzendorff
30 Jun 1944	-	20 Jul 1944	Oblt. Ernst-August Gerke (in deputize) -- acting
20 Jul 1944	-	9 Dec 1944	Rudolf Zorn

Career
7 patrols

26 Nov 1942	-	30 Apr 1943	5. Flottille (training)
1 May 1943	-	30 Sep 1944	7. Flottille (active service)
1 Oct 1944	-	9 Dec 1944	11. Flottille (active service)

Successes

No ships sunk or damaged

Fate

Sunk by a Hedgehog from an unidentified Allied vessel in Jan 1945 in position 49.51.061N, 05.29.971W. 47 dead (all hands lost). (Dr. Axel Niestlé, 2010).

Loss position

View the 7 war patrols

In 1976 a U-boat wreck was discovered by the Risdon Beazley salvage company in position 49.51N, 05.29W. This was then confirmed in 1997 by a scuba diver. On 17 July 2008 Odyssey surveyed the wreck at depth of 97m.

Previously recorded fate

Missing since 9 Dec, 1944 in the North Atlantic or the Arctic Ocean, position unknown. There is no explanation for its loss.

Wolfpack operations

U-650 operated with the following Wolfpacks during its career:
   Star (27 Apr 1943 - 4 May 1943)
   Fink (4 May 1943 - 6 May 1943)
   Elbe (7 May 1943 - 10 May 1943)
   Elbe 1 (10 May 1943 - 14 May 1943)
   Mosel (19 May 1943 - 24 May 1943)
   Rügen (14 Jan 1944 - 26 Jan 1944)
   Hinein (26 Jan 1944 - 3 Feb 1944)
   Igel 2 (3 Feb 1944 - 17 Feb 1944)
   Hai 2 (17 Feb 1944 - 22 Feb 1944)

Attacks on this boat

23 Jun 1943
A single 600 pound bomb dropped by a British B-24 Liberator bomber (Sqdn 86, pilot John Wright) caused severe damage, but U-650 managed to reach base at St Nazaire in France five days later. (Sources: Blair, vol 2, page 340)

5 Jan 1944
While outbound from St. Nazaire the boat suffered damage from aircraft attack, but made repairs at sea and continued the patrol. (Sources: Blair, vol 2, page 486)

2 recorded attacks on this boat.

Schnorchel-fitted U-boat
This boat was fitted with a Schnorchel underwater-breathing apparatus and sailed equipped with it in August 1944 but it was of course installed prior to that date. Read more about the Schnorchel and see list of fitted boats.

Men lost from U-boats

Unlike many other U-boats, which during their service lost men due to accidents and various other causes, U-650 did not suffer any casualties (we know of) until the time of her loss.