German submarine U-666

Summary

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.

History
Nazi Germany
NameU-666
Ordered15 August 1940
BuilderDeutsche Werft, Hamburg
Yard number815
Laid down16 September 1941
Launched18 July 1942
Commissioned26 August 1942
FateSunk on 10 February 1944
General characteristics
Class and typeType VIIC submarine
Displacement
Length
Beam
  • 6.20 m (20 ft 4 in) o/a
  • 4.70 m (15 ft 5 in) pressure hull
Draught4.74 m (15 ft 7 in)
Installed power
  • 2,800–3,200 PS (2,100–2,400 kW; 2,800–3,200 bhp) (diesels)
  • 750 PS (550 kW; 740 shp) (electric)
Propulsion
Speed
  • 17.7 knots (32.8 km/h; 20.4 mph) surfaced
  • 7.6 knots (14.1 km/h; 8.7 mph) submerged
Range
  • 8,500 nmi (15,700 km; 9,800 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) surfaced
  • 80 nmi (150 km; 92 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph) submerged
Test depth
  • 230 m (750 ft)
  • Crush depth: 250–295 m (820–968 ft)
Complement4 officers, 40–56 enlisted
Armament
Service record[1]
Part of:
Identification codes: M 51 377
Commanders:
  • Kptlt. Herbert Engel
  • 26 August 1942 – 9 December 1943
  • Oblt.z.S. Ernst Wilberg
  • 10 December 1943 – 10 February 1944
Operations:
  • 4 patrols:
  • 1st patrol:
  • 25 February – 10 April 1943
  • 2nd patrol:
  • 6 May – 9 July 1943
  • 3rd patrol:
  • a. 31 August – 16 October 1943
  • b. 16 – 18 December 1943
  • 4th patrol:
  • 25 December 1943 – 10 February 1944
Victories:
  • 1 warship sunk
    (1,370 tons)
  • 1 merchant ship damaged
    (5,234 GRT)

Design edit

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.[2] 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).[2]

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).[2] 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 two twin 2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 anti-aircraft guns. The boat had a complement of between forty-four and sixty.[2]

Service history edit

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 sank one warship (1,370 tons).

Convoy SC 122 edit

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 edit

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 edit

U-666 was sunk on 10 February 1944 in the North Atlantic west of Ireland, in position 53.56N, 17.16W, by depth charges from a Swordfish aircraft (842 Sqn FAA/A) of the British escort carrier HMS Fencer. 51 dead (all hands lost).[1]

Summary of raiding history edit

Date Ship Name Nationality Tonnage[Note 1] Fate[3]
19 March 1943 Carras   Greece 5,234 Damaged
23 September 1943 HMS Itchen   Royal Navy 1,370 Sunk

See also edit

References edit

Notes edit

  1. ^ Merchant ship tonnages are in gross register tons. Military vessels are listed by tons displacement.

Citations edit

  1. ^ a b Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-666". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 14 September 2014.
  2. ^ a b c d Gröner 1991, pp. 43–46.
  3. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U-666". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 14 September 2014.

Bibliography edit

  • Busch, Rainer; Röll, Hans-Joachim (1999). German U-boat commanders of World War II : a biographical dictionary. Translated by Brooks, Geoffrey. London, Annapolis, Md: Greenhill Books, Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-55750-186-6.
  • Busch, Rainer; Röll, Hans-Joachim (1999). Der U-Boot-Krieg, 1939-1945: Deutsche U-Boot-Verluste von September 1939 bis Mai 1945 [German U-boat losses from September 1939 to May 1945] (in German). Vol. IV. Hamburg, Berlin, Bonn: Mittler. ISBN 3-8132-0514-2.
  • Gröner, Eric; Jung, Dieter; Maass, Martin (1991). German Warships 1815-1945: U-boats and Mine Warfare Vessels. Vol. 2. Translated by Thomas, Keith; Magowan, Rachel. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-593-4.
  • Sharpe, Peter (1998). U-Boat Fact File. Great Britain: Midland Publishing. ISBN 1-85780-072-9.

External links edit

  • Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-666". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 29 December 2014.