U-615

Type

VIIC

Ordered

15 Aug 1940

Laid down

20 May 1941

Blohm & Voss, Hamburg (werk 591)

Launched

8 Feb 1942

Commissioned

26 Mar 1942

Oblt. Ralph Kapitzky

Commanders

26 Mar 1942

7 Aug 1943

Kptlt. Ralph Kapitzky

Career
4 patrols

26 Mar 1942	-	31 Aug 1942	8. Flottille (training)
1 Sep 1942	-	7 Aug 1943	3. Flottille (active service)

Successes

4 ships sunk, total tonnage 27,231 GRT

Fate

Sunk on 7 August 1943 in the Caribbean Sea north-west of Grenada, in position 12.38N, 64.15W, by depth charges from five US Mariner (VP-204 USN/P-6 & P-8, VP-205 USN/P-2, P-4 & P-11) and a US Ventura aircraft (VB-130 USN/B-5). 4 dead and 43 survivors.

Loss position

See the 4 ships hit by U-615 - View the 4 war patrols

Wolfpack operations

U-615 operated with the following Wolfpacks during its career:
   Pfeil (12 Sep 1942 - 22 Sep 1942)
   Blitz (22 Sep 1942 - 26 Sep 1942)
   Tiger (26 Sep 1942 - 30 Sep 1942)
   Wotan (5 Oct 1942 - 19 Oct 1942)
   Draufgänger (1 Dec 1942 - 11 Dec 1942)
   Ungestüm (11 Dec 1942 - 30 Dec 1942)
   Burggraf (25 Feb 1943 - 5 Mar 1943)
   Raubgraf (7 Mar 1943 - 20 Mar 1943)
   Seewolf (24 Mar 1943 - 30 Mar 1943)
   Adler (7 Apr 1943 - 13 Apr 1943)

Attacks on this boat and other events

15 Oct 1942
The target of the attack by a British Liberator aircraft (120 Sqn RAF/H) on 15 October 1942 in position 53.58N, 33.43W, formerly credited with sinking U-257 and U-661, was in fact U-615, which escaped unscathed. (Sources: 1987-06-01, FDS/NHB)

14 Jun 1943
2112hrs, Bay of Biscay, outbound: while proceeding in company with U-257 and U-600, U-615 was strafed by a British Wellington aircraft (547 Sqn RAF/H, pilot P/O J.W. Hermiston). One of the deck crew operating a gun was killed. [Bootsmaat Heinz Wilke] (Sources: Franks/Zimmerman/Rohwer)

29 Jul 1943
The beginning of one of the most dogged hunts of any U-boat during the war. First to attack the boat was a US B-18 bomber on this day. For the next week the boat fought its way across the Caribbean Sea through multiple air attacks, shooting down one Mariner flying boat and damaging others. The boat was finally overwhelmed and sunk eight days later. (Sources: Blair, vol 2, page 363)

6 Aug 1943
Aircraft attack, aircraft shot down:American Mariner flying boat (VP-205 USN/P-4)

U-615 was finally lost after a massive and prolonged air action against her in the Caribbean. The boat had fought for days against overwhelming odds before finally being sunk.

4 recorded attacks on this boat.

General notes on this boat

11 Apr 1943. On 11 April, 1943 U-615 was slightly damaged by debris when the Liberty ship Edward B. Dudley exploded after being hit by a coup de grâce from a distance of 800m. The commander was wounded and the U-boat was forced to return to base.