German submarine U-63 (1939)

German submarine U-63 was a Type IIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine that served in the Second World War. She was built by Deutsche Werke AG, Kiel. Ordered on 21 July 1937, she was laid down on 2 January 1939 as yard number 262. She was launched on 6 December 1939 and commissioned on 18 January 1940 under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Günther Lorentz.

U-63 was initially assigned to the 1st U-boat Flotilla during her training period, until 1 February 1940. She stayed with that organization until her sinking.

Design
German Type IIC submarines were enlarged versions of the original Type IIs. U-63 had a displacement of 291 t when at the surface and 341 t while submerged. Officially, the standard tonnage was 250 LT, however. The U-boat had a total length of 43.90 m, a pressure hull length of 29.60 m, a beam of 4.08 m, a height of 8.40 m, and a draught of 3.82 m. The submarine was powered by two MWM RS 127 S four-stroke, six-cylinder diesel engines of 700 PS for cruising, two Siemens-Schuckert PG VV 322/36 double-acting electric motors producing a total of 410 PS for use while submerged. She had two shafts and two 0.85 m propellers. The boat was capable of operating at depths of up to 80 - 150 m.

The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 12 kn and a maximum submerged speed of 7 kn. When submerged, the boat could operate for 35 - 42 nmi at 4 kn; when surfaced, she could travel 3800 nmi at 8 kn. U-63 was fitted with three 53.3 cm torpedo tubes at the bow, five torpedoes or up to twelve Type A torpedo mines, and a 2 cm anti-aircraft gun. The boat had a complement of 25.

Patrol
U-63 left the German island of Helgoland (also known as 'Heligoland'), on 17 February 1940. She, along with five other U-boats, took part in Operation Nordmark, a reconnaissance mission for the German Battleships GERMAN BATTLESHIP Scharnhorst and GERMAN BATTLESHIP Gneisenau and Cruiser Admiral Hipper (for what proved to be an unsuccessful sortie). It took place in the vicinity of the Orkney and Shetland Islands between 18 and 20 February.

The boat sank the Santos off Kirkwall, Orkney, on 24 February 1940.

Fate
U-63 was sunk on 25 February 1940 by a mix of depth charges and torpedoes from the British warships HMS Escort (H66), HMS Inglefield (D02) and HMS Imogen (D44) and the submarine HMS Narwhal (N45) south of Shetland. The approximate location of the wreck site is 58.66667°N, -0.16667°W.

One man died, there were 24 survivors. Those who survived spent the remainder of the war as POWs.