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 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-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/30anti-aircraft guns. The boat had a complement of between forty-four and sixty.[2]
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 sank 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.
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]
^Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U-666". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 14 September 2014.
Bibliography
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). Deutsche U-Boot-Verluste von September 1939 bis Mai 1945 [German U-boat losses from September 1939 to May 1945]. Der U-Boot-Krieg (in German). Vol. IV. Hamburg, Berlin, Bonn: Mittler. ISBN3-8132-0514-2.
Gröner, Erich; Jung, Dieter; Maass, Martin (1991). U-boats and Mine Warfare Vessels. German Warships 1815–1945. 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 links
Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-666". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 29 December 2014.
german, submarine, type, viic, boat, built, nazi, germany, kriegsmarine, service, during, world, laid, down, september, 1941, deutsche, werft, hamburg, yard, number, launched, july, 1942, commissioned, august, 1942, under, kapitänleutnant, herbert, engel, ober. 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 Kapitanleutnant Herbert Engel Oberleutnant zur See Ernst Wilberg took over command on 10 December 1943 HistoryNazi GermanyNameU 666Ordered15 August 1940BuilderDeutsche Werft HamburgYard number815Laid down16 September 1941Launched18 July 1942Commissioned26 August 1942FateSunk on 10 February 1944General 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 4 bow 1 stern 14 torpedoes 1 8 8 cm 3 46 in deck gun 220 rounds 2 twin 2 cm 0 79 in C 30 anti aircraft gunsService record 1 Part of 5th U boat Flotilla 26 August 1942 28 February 1943 6th U boat Flotilla 1 March 1943 10 February 1944Commanders Kptlt Herbert Engel 26 August 1942 9 December 1943 Oblt z S Ernst Wilberg 10 December 1943 10 February 1944Operations 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 1944Victories 1 warship sunk 1 370 tons 1 merchant ship damaged 5 234 GRT Contents 1 Design 2 Service history 2 1 Convoy SC 122 2 2 Wolfpacks 2 3 Fate 3 Summary of raiding history 4 See also 5 References 5 1 Notes 5 2 Citations 6 Bibliography 7 External linksDesign EditGerman 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 EditThe 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 Sturmer 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 Rugen 6 5 7 January 1944 Rugen 7 26 January 1944 Sturmer 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 EditDate Ship Name Nationality Tonnage Note 1 Fate 3 19 March 1943 Carras Greece 5 234 Damaged23 September 1943 HMS Itchen Royal Navy 1 370 SunkSee also EditConvoy SC 122References EditNotes Edit Merchant ship tonnages are in gross register tons Military vessels are listed by tons displacement Citations Edit a b Helgason Gudmundur The Type VIIC boat U 666 German U boats of WWII uboat net Retrieved 14 September 2014 a b c d Groner 1991 pp 43 46 Helgason Gudmundur Ships hit by U 666 German U boats of WWII uboat net Retrieved 14 September 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 Deutsche U Boot Verluste von September 1939 bis Mai 1945 German U boat losses from September 1939 to May 1945 Der U Boot Krieg in German Vol IV Hamburg Berlin Bonn Mittler ISBN 3 8132 0514 2 Groner Erich Jung Dieter Maass Martin 1991 U boats and Mine Warfare Vessels German Warships 1815 1945 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 666 German U boats of WWII uboat net Retrieved 29 December 2014 Portals Military of Germany World War II Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title German submarine U 666 amp oldid 1130553172, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
