Puneet Varma (Editor)

German submarine U 666

Updated on
Edit
Like
Comment
Share on FacebookTweet on TwitterShare on LinkedInShare on Reddit
Name
  
U-666

Yard number
  
815

Commissioned
  
26 August 1942

Launched
  
18 July 1942

Draft
  
4.74 m

Builder
  
Deutsche Werft

Ordered
  
15 August 1940

Laid down
  
16 September 1941

Construction started
  
16 September 1941

Length
  
67 m

Beam
  
6.18 m

German submarine U-666 uboatnetmediaboatsemblemsu666gif

Fate
  
Missing since 10 February 1944 in the North Atlantic with no explanation.

Part of
  
5th U-boat Flotilla, 6th U-boat Flotilla

German submarine U-666 was a Type VIIC U-boat built for Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine for service during World War II. She was laid down on 16 September 1941 by Deutsche Werft, Hamburg as yard number 815, launched on 18 July 1942 and commissioned on 26 August 1942 under Kapitänleutnant Herbert Engel. Oberleutnant zur See Ernst Wilberg took over command on 10 December 1943.

Contents

Design

German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-666 had a displacement of 769 tonnes (757 long tons) when at the surface and 871 tonnes (857 long tons) while submerged. She had a total length of 67.10 m (220 ft 2 in), a pressure hull length of 50.50 m (165 ft 8 in), a beam of 6.20 m (20 ft 4 in), a height of 9.60 m (31 ft 6 in), and a draught of 4.74 m (15 ft 7 in). The submarine was powered by two Germaniawerft F46 four-stroke, six-cylinder supercharged diesel engines producing a total of 2,800 to 3,200 metric horsepower (2,060 to 2,350 kW; 2,760 to 3,160 shp) for use while surfaced, two Siemens-Schuckert GU 343/38–8 double-acting electric motors producing a total of 750 metric horsepower (550 kW; 740 shp) for use while submerged. She had two shafts and two 1.23 m (4 ft) propellers. The boat was capable of operating at depths of up to 230 metres (750 ft).

The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 17.7 knots (32.8 km/h; 20.4 mph) and a maximum submerged speed of 7.6 knots (14.1 km/h; 8.7 mph). When submerged, the boat could operate for 80 nautical miles (150 km; 92 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph); when surfaced, she could travel 8,500 nautical miles (15,700 km; 9,800 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph). U-666 was fitted with five 53.3 cm (21 in) torpedo tubes (four fitted at the bow and one at the stern), fourteen torpedoes, one 8.8 cm (3.46 in) SK C/35 naval gun, 220 rounds, and an anti-aircraft gun. The boat had a complement of between forty-four and sixty.

Service history

The boat's career began with training at 5th U-boat Flotilla on 26 August 1942, followed by active service on 1 March 1943 as part of the 6th Flotilla for the remainder of her service.

In four patrols she damaged 1 merchant ship, for a total of 5,234 gross register tons (GRT) and sunk one warship (1,370 tons).

Convoy SC 122

On 19 March 1943, after damaging the Greek freighter Carras, a B-17 Flying Fortress bomber from No. 220 Squadron RAF hit the boat with four depth charges, causing sufficient damage as to force her to return to France.

Wolfpacks

U-666 took part in 14 wolfpacks, namely

  • Ostmark (6–11 March 1943)
  • Stürmer (11–20 March 1943)
  • Seewolf (21–30 March 1943)
  • Oder (17–19 May 1943)
  • Mosel (19–24 May 1943)
  • Trutz (1–16 June 1943)
  • Trutz 2 (16–29 June 1943)
  • Leuthen (15–24 September 1943)
  • Rossbach (24 September - 6 October 1943)
  • Hela (28 December 1943 – 1 January 1944)
  • Rügen 6 (5–7 January 1944)
  • Rügen (7–26 January 1944)
  • Stürmer (26 January – 3 February 1944)
  • Igel 1 (3–10 February 1944)

    • Fate

    U-666 went missing on 10 February 1944 in the North Atlantic without explanation. All hands were lost.

    References

    German submarine U-666 Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA


    Similar Topics