German submarine U-613

German submarine U-613 was a Type VIIC U-boat built for Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine for service during World War II. She was laid down on 6 May 1941 by Blohm & Voss, Hamburg as yard number 589, launched on 29 January 1942 and commissioned on 12 March 1942 under Kapitänleutnant Helmut Köppe.

Design
German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-613 had a displacement of 769 t when at the surface and 871 t while submerged. She had a total length of 67.10 m, a pressure hull length of 50.50 m, a beam of 6.20 m, a height of 9.60 m, and a draught of 4.74 m. The submarine was powered by two Germaniawerft F46 four-stroke, six-cylinder supercharged diesel engines producing a total of 2800 to 3200 PS for use while surfaced, two Brown, Boveri & Cie GG UB 720/8 double-acting electric motors producing a total of 750 PS for use while submerged. She had two shafts and two 1.23 m propellers. The boat was capable of operating at depths of up to 230 m.

The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 17.7 kn and a maximum submerged speed of 7.6 kn. When submerged, the boat could operate for 80 nmi at 4 kn; when surfaced, she could travel 8500 nmi at 10 kn. U-613 was fitted with five 53.3 cm torpedo tubes (four fitted at the bow and one at the stern), fourteen torpedoes, one 8.8 cm SK C/35 naval gun, 220 rounds, and a 2 cm C/30 anti-aircraft gun. The boat had a complement of between forty-four and sixty.

Service history
The boat's career began with training at 8th U-boat Flotilla on 12 March 1942, followed by active service on 1 November 1942 as part of the 3rd U-boat Flotilla for the remainder of her service.

In four patrols she sank two merchant ships, for a total of.

Wolfpacks
U-613 took part in six wolfpacks, namely:
 * Natter (2 – 8 November 1942)
 * Westwall (8 – 18 November 1942)
 * Habicht (10 – 19 January 1943)
 * Haudegen (19 January – 9 February 1943)
 * Adler (7 – 13 April 1943)
 * Meise (13 – 25 April 1943)

Fate
U-613 was sunk on 23 July 1943 in the North Atlantic south of the Azores, in position 35.53333°N, -28.6°W, by depth charges from USS George E. Badger (DD-196). All hands were lost.