German submarine U-680 facts for kids

Quick facts for kids History
Nazi Germany
Name	U-680
Ordered	5 June 1941
Builder	Howaldtswerke, Hamburg
Yard number	829
Laid down	12 October 1942
Launched	20 November 1943
Commissioned	23 December 1943
Fate	Surrendered on 5 May 1945; sunk as part of Operation Deadlight on 28 December 1945
General characteristics
Class and type	Type VIIC submarine
Displacement	769 t (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)
Height	9.60 m (31 ft 6 in)
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 × torpedo tubes (four bow, one stern) 14 × 53.3 cm (21 in) torpedoes or 26 TMA mines 1 × 8.8 cm (3.46 in) deck gun (220 rounds) 1 × 3.7 cm (1.5 in) Flak M42 AA gun 2 × twin 2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 anti-aircraft guns
Service record
Part of:	31st U-boat Flotilla 23 December 1943 – 31 July 1944 6th U-boat Flotilla 1 August – 30 September 1944 11th U-boat Flotilla 1 October 1944 – 5 May 1945
Identification codes:	M 54 720
Commanders:	Oblt.z.S. Max Ulber 21 December 1943 – 5 May 1945
Operations:	4 patrols: 1st patrol: 14 August – 8 September 1944 2nd patrol: a. 25 October – 8 November 1944 b. 13 – 16 November 1944 3rd patrol: 18 November 1944 – 18 January 1945 4th patrol: a. 22 – 30 January 1945 b. 1 – 5 February 1945
Victories:	None

The German submarine U-680 was a special kind of submarine called a Type VIIC U-boat. It was built for Nazi Germany's navy, the Kriegsmarine, during World War II.

The U-680 was started on 12 October 1942 at the Howaldtswerke shipyard in Hamburg. It was launched into the water on 20 November 1943. The submarine officially joined the navy on 23 December 1943. Its first commander was a naval officer named Max Ulber.

U-680 first joined the 31st U-boat Flotilla in Kiel for training. After its training was finished on 31 July 1944, it was ready for active duty.

About U-680's Design

The U-680 was a Type VIIC submarine, which was a common type of U-boat. These submarines were designed to be powerful and efficient.

When on the surface of the water, U-680 weighed about 769 tonnes. When it was underwater, it weighed more, about 871 tonnes. The submarine was about 67.10 meters (220 feet) long from end to end. Its main strong part, called the pressure hull, was 50.50 meters (165 feet) long.

The U-680 was 6.20 meters (20 feet) wide and 9.60 meters (31 feet) tall. Its bottom sat 4.74 meters (15 feet) deep in the water.

How U-680 Moved

The submarine had two different ways to move. When it was on the surface, it used two powerful diesel engines. These engines could produce a lot of power, between 2,800 and 3,200 horsepower.

When U-680 went underwater, it switched to two electric motors. These motors were quieter and produced about 750 horsepower. The submarine had two propellers, each 1.23 meters (4 feet) wide, to help it move through the water.

The U-680 could travel quite fast on the surface, reaching speeds of 17.7 knots (about 32.8 km/h or 20.4 mph). Underwater, it was slower, moving at 7.6 knots (about 14.1 km/h or 8.7 mph).

It could travel a long distance on the surface, about 8,500 nautical miles (15,742 km) at a speed of 10 knots. Underwater, its range was much shorter, about 80 nautical miles (148 km) at 4 knots.

The submarine was built to go deep. It could safely operate at depths of up to 230 meters (750 feet). Its maximum safe depth, called its crush depth, was between 250 and 295 meters (820 to 968 feet).

What Was Inside U-680?

The U-680 had a crew of about 44 to 60 people, including officers and sailors. It carried several weapons to defend itself and attack enemy ships.

Its main weapons were five torpedo tubes. Four of these were at the front (bow) of the submarine, and one was at the back (stern). It could carry 14 torpedoes or 26 mines.

For fighting on the surface or against aircraft, it had several guns:

• One large 8.8 cm (3.5 inch) deck gun with 220 rounds of ammunition.
• One 3.7 cm (1.5 inch) anti-aircraft (AA) gun.
• Two twin 2 cm (0.79 inch) anti-aircraft guns.

U-680's Journey

After its training, U-680 was part of different U-boat groups. It was with the 31st U-boat Flotilla until July 1944. Then it moved to the 6th U-boat Flotilla until September 1944. Finally, from October 1944 until the end of the war, it was with the 11th U-boat Flotilla.

U-680 went on four patrols during its time in service. These patrols involved sailing out into the ocean to look for enemy ships. However, it did not sink any ships during these missions.

The submarine surrendered in Denmark on 5 May 1945, near the end of World War II. Later that year, on 28 December 1945, U-680 was sunk as part of an operation called Operation Deadlight. This operation involved sinking many captured German U-boats. U-680 was sunk by artillery fire from a British warship, Onslaught|G04|6, at a location in the North Atlantic Ocean.