# German submarine U-628

German submarine U-628 was a Type VIIC U-boat built for Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine for service during World War II. She was laid down on 7 August 1941 by Blohm & Voss, Hamburg as yard number 604, launched on 29 April 1942 and commissioned on 25 June 1942 under Kapitänleutnant Heinrich Hasenschar.

## Design

German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-628 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-628 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 service began on 25 June 1942 with training as part of the 5th U-boat Flotilla. She was transferred to the 1st Flotilla on 1 December 1942 for active service in the North Atlantic.
In four patrols she sank four merchant ships, for a total of 21,765 gross register tons (GRT), plus three merchant ships damaged.

### Wolfpacks

U-628 took part in six wolfpacks, namely:
* Ungestüm (11 – 30 December 1942)
* Hartherz (3 – 7 February 1943)
* Ritter (11 – 26 February 1943)
* Without name (15 – 18 April 1943)
* Specht (19 April – 4 May 1943)
* Fink (4 – 6 May 1943)

### Fate

U-628 was sunk on 3 July 1943 in the North Atlantic NW of Cape Ortegal in position 44°11′N 08°45′W﻿ / ﻿44.183°N 8.750°W﻿ / 44.183; -8.750; bombed and depth charged by RAF Liberator aircraft (FL963) of 224/J Squadron out of RAF St Eval in Cornwall. All 49 hands were lost.

## Summary of raiding history

| Date | Ship Name | Nationality | Tonnage (GRT) | Fate |
| 29 December 1942 | Lynton Grange | United Kingdom | 5,029 | Sunk |
| 23 February 1943 | Glittre | Norway | 6,409 | Damaged |
| 23 February 1943 | Winkler | Panama | 6,907 | Damaged |
| 24 February 1943 | Ingria | Norway | 4,391 | Sunk |
| 25 February 1943 | Manchester Merchant | United Kingdom | 7,264 | Sunk |
| 17 April 1943 | Fort Rampart | United Kingdom | 7,134 | Damaged |
| 5 May 1943 | Harbury | United Kingdom | 5,081 | Sunk |