German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-663 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 superchargeddiesel 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-663 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 a 2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 anti-aircraft gun. The boat had a complement of between forty-four and sixty.[2]
Service historyedit
The boat's career began with training at 5th U-boat Flotilla on 14 May 1942, followed by active service on 1 October 1942 as part of the 11th Flotilla. After only one month, she transferred to the 9th Flotilla on 1 November 1942, for the remainder of her service.
In 3 patrols she sank 2 merchant ships, for a total of 10,924 gross register tons (GRT).
^Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U-663". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 22 August 2014.
Bibliographyedit
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. ISBN1-55750-186-6.
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. ISBN3-8132-0514-2.
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. ISBN0-85177-593-4.
Sharpe, Peter (1998). U-Boat Fact File. Great Britain: Midland Publishing. ISBN1-85780-072-9.
External linksedit
Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-663". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 29 December 2014.
April 16, 2024
german, submarine, type, viic, boat, built, nazi, germany, kriegsmarine, service, during, world, laid, down, march, 1941, deutsche, werft, hamburg, yard, number, launched, march, 1942, commissioned, 1942, under, kapitänleutnant, heinrich, schmid, historynazi, . German submarine U 663 was a Type VIIC U boat built for Nazi Germany s Kriegsmarine for service during World War II She was laid down on 31 March 1941 by Deutsche Werft Hamburg as yard number 812 launched on 26 March 1942 and commissioned on 14 May 1942 under Kapitanleutnant Heinrich Schmid HistoryNazi GermanyNameU 663Ordered15 August 1940BuilderDeutsche Werft HamburgYard number812Laid down31 March 1941Launched26 March 1942Commissioned14 May 1942FateSunk on 8 May 1943 in the Bay of Biscay in position 46 50 N 10 00 W 46 833 N 10 000 W 46 833 10 000 by depth charges from a RAAF Sunderland General characteristicsClass and typeType VIIC submarineDisplacement769 tonnes 757 long tons surfaced 871 t 857 long tons submergedLength67 10 m 220 ft 2 in o a 50 50 m 165 ft 8 in pressure hullBeam6 20 m 20 ft 4 in o a 4 70 m 15 ft 5 in pressure hullDraught4 74 m 15 ft 7 in Installed power2 800 3 200 PS 2 100 2 400 kW 2 800 3 200 bhp diesels 750 PS 550 kW 740 shp electric Propulsion2 shafts 2 diesel engines 2 electric motorsSpeed17 7 knots 32 8 km h 20 4 mph surfaced 7 6 knots 14 1 km h 8 7 mph submergedRange8 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 submergedTest depth230 m 750 ft Crush depth 250 295 m 820 968 ft Complement4 officers 40 56 enlistedArmament5 53 3 cm 21 in torpedo tubes four bow one stern 14 torpedoes 1 8 8 cm 3 46 in deck gun 220 rounds 1 x 2 cm 0 79 in C 30 AA gunService record 1 Part of 5th U boat Flotilla 14 May 30 September 1942 11th U boat Flotilla 1 31 October 1942 9th U boat Flotilla 1 November 1942 8 May 1943Identification codes M 45 175Commanders Kptlt K Kapt Heinrich Schmid 14 May 1942 8 May 1943Operations 3 patrols 1st patrol 5 November 31 December 1942 2nd patrol a 4 6 March 1943 b 10 March 4 April 1943 3rd patrol 5 8 May 1943Victories 2 merchant ships sunk 10 924 GRT Contents 1 Design 2 Service history 2 1 Wolfpacks 2 2 Fate 3 Summary of raiding history 4 References 5 Bibliography 6 External linksDesign editGerman Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines U 663 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 663 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 a 2 cm 0 79 in C 30 anti aircraft gun The boat had a complement of between forty four and sixty 2 Service history editThe boat s career began with training at 5th U boat Flotilla on 14 May 1942 followed by active service on 1 October 1942 as part of the 11th Flotilla After only one month she transferred to the 9th Flotilla on 1 November 1942 for the remainder of her service In 3 patrols she sank 2 merchant ships for a total of 10 924 gross register tons GRT Wolfpacks edit U 663 took part in four wolfpacks namely Drachen 22 November 3 December 1942 Panzer 3 9 December 1942 Buffel 9 14 December 1942 Seeteufel 21 30 March 1943 Fate edit U 663 was sunk on 8 May 1943 in the Bay of Biscay in position 46 50 N 10 00 W 46 833 N 10 000 W 46 833 10 000 by depth charges from a No 10 Squadron RAAF Sunderland All hands were lost Summary of raiding history editDate Ship Name Nationality Tonnage GRT Fate 3 26 November 1942 Barberrys nbsp United Kingdom 5 170 Sunk18 March 1943 Clarissa Radcliffe nbsp United Kingdom 5 754 SunkReferences edit Helgason Gudmundur The Type VIIC boat U 663 German U boats of WWII uboat net Retrieved 22 August 2014 a b c d Groner 1991 pp 43 46 Helgason Gudmundur Ships hit by U 663 German U boats of WWII uboat net Retrieved 22 August 2014 Bibliography editBusch Rainer Roll 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 Roll 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 Groner 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 editHelgason Gudmundur The Type VIIC boat U 663 German U boats of WWII uboat net Retrieved 29 December 2014 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title German submarine U 663 amp oldid 1214191045, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
