# German submarine U-603

German submarine U-603 was a Type VIIC U-boat built for Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine for service during World War II. She was laid down on 27 February 1941 by Blohm & Voss, Hamburg as yard number 579, launched on 16 November 1941 and commissioned on 2 January 1942 under Kapitänleutnant Kurt Kölzer.

## Design

German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-603 had a displacement of 769 tonnes (757 long tons) when at the surface and 871 tonnes (857 long tons) while submerged. She had a total length of 67.10 m (220 ft 2 in), a pressure hull length of 50.50 m (165 ft 8 in), a beam of 6.20 m (20 ft 4 in), a height of 9.60 m (31 ft 6 in), and a draught of 4.74 m (15 ft 7 in). The submarine was powered by two Germaniawerft F46 four-stroke, six-cylinder supercharged diesel engines producing a total of 2,800 to 3,200 metric horsepower (2,060 to 2,350 kW; 2,760 to 3,160 shp) for use while surfaced, two Brown, Boveri & Cie GG UB 720/8 double-acting electric motors producing a total of 750 metric horsepower (550 kW; 740 shp) for use while submerged. She had two shafts and two 1.23 m (4 ft) propellers. The boat was capable of operating at depths of up to 230 metres (750 ft).
The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 17.7 knots (32.8 km/h; 20.4 mph) and a maximum submerged speed of 7.6 knots (14.1 km/h; 8.7 mph). When submerged, the boat could operate for 80 nautical miles (150 km; 92 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph); when surfaced, she could travel 8,500 nautical miles (15,700 km; 9,800 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph). U-603 was fitted with five 53.3 cm (21 in) torpedo tubes (four fitted at the bow and one at the stern), fourteen torpedoes, one 8.8 cm (3.46 in) SK C/35 naval gun, 220 rounds, and a 2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 anti-aircraft gun. The boat had a complement of between forty-four and sixty.

## Service history

The boat's career began with training at 5th U-boat Flotilla on 2 January 1942, followed by active service on 1 December 1942 as part of the 1st Flotilla for the remainder of her service.
In five patrols she sank four merchant ships, for a total of 22,406 gross register tons (GRT).
On 4 December 1942 she was returning to base when she spotted a convoy and attacked by convoy escorts, but not before reporting to base and calling in support boats.
On 8 July 1943 she was attacked by a RAF Catalina with depth charges and slightly damaged.
On 13 October 1943 an Avenger from USS Card dropped a FIDO Homing Torpedo but she successfully evaded the attack.

### Convoy ON 166

On 21 February 1943, while operating against Convoy ON 166, she jointly attacked the Norwegian motor tanker Stigstad with U-332. U-332 hit her first with one torpedo, closely followed by two further torpedoes from U-603 which broke her back; sinking her in 15 minutes.
Two nights later she finished off the straggling Norwegian motor tanker Glittre with two torpedoes.

### Convoy HX 237

Now under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Rudolf Baltz, U-603 attacked convoy HX 237 and successfully sank the Norwegian motor vessel Brand on 12 May 1943.

### Wolf packs

U-603 took part in 13 wolfpacks, namely:
* Ritter (14 – 26 February 1943)
* Burggraf (4 – 5 March 1943)
* Raubgraf (7 – 20 March 1943)
* Oder (17 – 19 May 1943)
* Mosel (19 – 24 May 1943)
* Trutz (1 – 16 June 1943)
* Trutz 2 (16 – 29 June 1943)
* Geier 1 (30 June – 14 July 1943)
* Leuthen (15 – 24 September 1943)
* Rossbach (24 September – 9 October 1943)
* Igel 2 (15 – 17 February 1944)
* Hai 1 (17 – 22 February 1944)
* Preussen (22 February – 1 March 1944)

### Fate

U-603 has been missing since 19 February 1944 in the North Atlantic.

### Previously recorded fate

U-603 was sunk on 1 March 1944 in the North Atlantic in position 48°55′N 26°10′W﻿ / ﻿48.917°N 26.167°W﻿ / 48.917; -26.167, by depth charges from USS Bronstein. The attack was actually against a non-submarine target.

## Summary of raiding history

| Date | Ship Name | Nationality | Tonnage (GRT) | Fate |
| 21 February 1943 | Stigstad | Norway | 5,964 | Sunk |
| 23 February 1943 | Glittre | Norway | 6,409 | Sunk |
| 16 March 1943 | Elin K | Norway | 5,214 | Sunk |
| 12 May 1943 | Brand | Norway | 4,819 | Sunk |