U-645

Type

VIIC

Ordered

20 Jan 1941

Laid down

17 Dec 1941

Blohm & Voss, Hamburg (werk 621)

Launched

3 Sep 1942

Commissioned

22 Oct 1942

Ltnt. Otto Ferro

Commanders

22 Oct 1942

12 Dec 1943

Oblt. (R) Otto Ferro

Career
3 patrols

22 Oct 1942	-	30 Apr 1943	5. Flottille (training)
1 May 1943	-	12 Dec 1943	3. Flottille (active service)

Successes

2 ships sunk, total tonnage 12,788 GRT

Fate

Missing since 12 December 1943 in the North Atlantic north-west of Spain. There is no explanation for its loss. 55 dead (all hands lost). (Axel Niestlé, June 2004).

Loss position

See the 2 ships hit by U-645 - View the 3 war patrols

U-645 sent its last radio message on 12 December 1943 from approx. position 49.30N, 22.30W while en route to its operational area with the wolfpack Coronel 2 north of the Azores. The boat was ordered to operate with Coronel 3 and Borkum, but eventually posted as missing after repeatedly failing to report its position on 13 January 1944.

Previously recorded fate

Sunk on 24 December 1943 in the North Atlantic north-east of the Azores, in position 45.20N, 21.40W, by depth charges from the US destroyer USS Schenck.

Wolfpack operations

U-645 operated with the following Wolfpacks during its career:
   Without name (5 May 1943 - 10 May 1943)
   Isar (10 May 1943 - 15 May 1943)
   Donau 1 (15 May 1943 - 26 May 1943)
   Leuthen (15 Sep 1943 - 24 Sep 1943)
   Rossbach (24 Sep 1943 - 9 Oct 1943)
   Coronel 2 (13 Dec 1943 - 14 Dec 1943)
   Coronel 3 (14 Dec 1943 - 17 Dec 1943)
   Borkum (18 Dec 1943 - 24 Dec 1943)

Attacks on this boat and other events

12 Jun 1943
13.00 hrs, north of the Azores: British B-24 Liberator bomber FL932 (RAF Sqdn 86/H, pilot F/O C.W. Burcher, DFC, RAAF), escorting troop convoy TA 48 approached U-645 from the starboard bow and dropped five depth charges which overshot, the closest detonating 15m (49ft) astern and causing slight damage. Gunfire was exchanged for the next 30 minutes, with the U-boat claiming hits on the Liberator, but there was no significant damage and it returned to inform the convoy. (Sources: Franks/Zimmerman)

12 Jun 1943
16.23 hrs, north of the Azores: British B-24 Liberator bomber FK226 (RAF Sqdn 86/G, pilot F/O A.C.I. Samuel), escorting troop convoy TA 48 was forced to break off an intial attack run by heavy flak and then exchanged gunfire for 10 minutes before dropping five depth charges that detonated 50 to 100m (164-328 ft) to starboard of the boat. Flak hits to the fuselage, bomb bay and a fuel tank killed one man and started a fire which was quickly extinguished. The damage forced the aircraft to return to base, while the boat dived. (Sources: Franks/Zimmerman)

2 recorded attacks on this boat.

Men lost from U-boats

Unlike many other U-boats, which during their service lost men due to accidents and various other causes, U-645 did not suffer any casualties (we know of) until the time of her loss.