German submarine U-637 facts for kids

Quick facts for kids History
Nazi Germany
Name	U-637
Ordered	20 January 1941
Builder	Blohm & Voss, Hamburg
Yard number	613
Laid down	17 October 1941
Launched	7 July 1942
Commissioned	27 August 1942
Fate	Surrendered on 9 May 1945 at Stavanger. Later sunk as part of Operation Deadlight on 21 December 1945.
General characteristics
Class and type	Type VIIC submarine
Displacement	769 tonnes (757 long tons) surfaced 871 t (857 long tons) submerged
Length	67.10 m (220 ft 2 in) o/a 50.50 m (165 ft 8 in) pressure hull
Beam	6.20 m (20 ft 4 in) o/a 4.70 m (15 ft 5 in) pressure hull
Draught	4.74 m (15 ft 7 in)
Installed power	2,800–3,200 PS (2,100–2,400 kW; 2,800–3,200 bhp) (diesels) 750 PS (550 kW; 740 shp) (electric)
Propulsion	2 shafts 2 × diesel engines 2 × electric motors
Speed	17.7 knots (32.8 km/h; 20.4 mph) surfaced 7.6 knots (14.1 km/h; 8.7 mph) submerged
Range	8,500 nmi (15,700 km; 9,800 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) surfaced 80 nmi (150 km; 92 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph) submerged
Test depth	230 m (750 ft) Crush depth: 250–295 m (820–968 ft)
Complement	4 officers, 40–56 enlisted
Armament	5 × 53.3 cm (21 in) torpedo tubes (4 bow, 1 stern) 14 × torpedoes or 26 TMA mines 1 × 8.8 cm (3.46 in) deck gun (220 rounds) 1 × twin 2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 anti-aircraft gun
Service record
Part of:	5th U-boat Flotilla 27 August 1942 – 31 May 1944 1st U-boat Flotilla 1 June – 5 July 1944 8th U-boat Flotilla 6 July 1944 – 1 January 1945 5th U-boat Flotilla 1 January – 8 May 1945
Commanders:	Kptlt. Max Bernd Dieterich 27 August 1942 – 22 February 1943 Kptlt. Günther Zedelius 23 February 1943 – 20 July 1944 Oblt.z.S. Fritz Fabricius 21 July – 30 September 1944 Kptlt. Wolfgang Riekeberg 1 October 1944 – 26 April 1945 Oblt.z.S. Walter Ehrhardt January 1945 Oblt.z.S. Klaus Weber 27 April – 9 May 1945
Operations:	3 patrols: 1st patrol: 25 November 1944 – 13 January 1945 2nd patrol: 5 – 13 April 1945 3rd patrol: 23 – 28 April 1945
Victories:	1 warship sunk (39 tons)

The German submarine U-637 was a special type of submarine called a Type VIIC U-boat. It was built for Nazi Germany's navy, known as the Kriegsmarine, to be used during World War II.

U-637 was started on 17 October 1941 by a company called Blohm & Voss in Hamburg. It was officially launched into the water on 7 July 1942. The submarine was then ready for service on 27 August 1942, under the command of Kapitänleutnant Max Bernd Dieterich.

What the U-637 Looked Like

The U-637 was a Type VIIC submarine, which was a common design for German U-boats. When it was on the surface of the water, it weighed about 769 tonnes. When it was completely underwater, it weighed a bit more, around 871 tonnes.

Size and Shape

The submarine was about 67.10 meters (around 220 feet) long from one end to the other. Its main body, called the pressure hull, was about 50.50 meters (165 feet) long. The widest part of the submarine was 6.20 meters (about 20 feet) across. It sat about 4.74 meters (15.5 feet) deep in the water.

How it Moved

U-637 had two different ways to move. When it was on the surface, it used two powerful diesel engines. These engines could make the submarine go as fast as 17.7 knots (about 32.8 kilometers per hour or 20.4 miles per hour).

When it was underwater, it switched to two electric motors. These motors allowed it to travel at a speed of 7.6 knots (about 14.1 kilometers per hour or 8.7 miles per hour).

How Far it Could Go

The U-637 could travel a long way without needing to refuel. On the surface, it could go about 8,500 nautical miles (about 15,742 kilometers or 9,780 miles) if it traveled at a steady speed of 10 knots. Underwater, it could travel about 80 nautical miles (148 kilometers or 92 miles) at a slower speed of 4 knots.

How Deep it Could Dive

This submarine was built to go very deep. It could safely operate at depths of up to 230 meters (about 755 feet). Its "crush depth," which is the deepest it could possibly go before its hull might break, was between 250 and 295 meters (820 to 968 feet).

What it Carried

The U-637 was equipped with several weapons:

• It had five torpedo tubes, which are tubes used to launch torpedoes. Four were at the front (bow) and one was at the back (stern).
• It carried 14 torpedoes, or it could carry 26 mines instead.
• It also had a large 8.8 cm deck gun with 220 rounds of ammunition.
• For defense against airplanes, it had a twin 2 cm anti-aircraft gun.

The submarine usually had a crew of about 44 to 60 people, including officers and sailors.

U-637's Journey and Fate

The U-637 began its training with the 5th U-boat Flotilla on 27 August 1942. After its training, it became part of the active service fleet with the 1st U-boat Flotilla starting on 1 June 1944.

Patrols and Successes

During its time in active service, U-637 went on three patrols. In total, it sank one warship, which weighed 39 tons.

• First Patrol: 25 November 1944 – 13 January 1945
• Second Patrol: 5 – 13 April 1945
• Third Patrol: 23 – 28 April 1945

Its End

The U-637 surrendered on 9 May 1945 in Stavanger, Norway, as World War II was ending. Later that year, on 21 December 1945, it was sunk as part of an operation called Operation Deadlight. This operation involved sinking many surrendered German U-boats in the Atlantic Ocean.

Ships Attacked by U-637

Date	Ship Name	Nationality	Tonnage	Fate
24 December 1944	BMO-594	Soviet Navy	39	Sunk