German submarine U-628

German submarine U-628 was a Type VIIC U-boat built for Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine for service during World War II. She was laid down on 7 August 1941 by Blohm & Voss, Hamburg as yard number 604, launched on 29 April 1942 and commissioned on 25 June 1942 under Kapitänleutnant Heinrich Hasenschar.

Design
German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-628 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-628 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 service began on 25 June 1942 with training as part of the 5th U-boat Flotilla. She was transferred to the 1st Flotilla on 1 December 1942 for active service in the North Atlantic.

In four patrols she sank four merchant ships, for a total of, plus three merchant ships damaged.

Wolfpacks
U-628 took part in six wolfpacks, namely:
 * Ungestüm (11 – 30 December 1942)
 * Hartherz (3 – 7 February 1943)
 * Ritter (11 – 26 February 1943)
 * Without name (15 – 18 April 1943)
 * Specht (19 April – 4 May 1943)
 * Fink (4 – 6 May 1943)

Fate
U-628 was sunk on 3 July 1943 in the North Atlantic NW of Cape Ortegal in position 44.18333°N, -8.75°W; bombed and depth charged by RAF Liberator aircraft (FL963) of 224/J Squadron out of RAF St Eval in Cornwall. All 49 hands were lost.