German submarine U-665
History | |
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Name | U-665 |
Ordered | 15 August 1940 |
Builder | Deutsche Werft, Hamburg |
Yard number | 814 |
Laid down | 10 June 1941 |
Launched | 9 June 1942 |
Commissioned | 22 July 1942 |
Fate | Sunk 22 March 1943 in the North Atlantic in position 48°04′N 10°26′W / 48.067°N 10.433°W, by depth charges from a RAF Whitley bomber. |
General characteristics | |
Class and type | Type VIIC submarine |
Displacement |
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Length |
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Beam |
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Draught | 4.74 m (15 ft 7 in) |
Installed power |
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Propulsion |
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Speed |
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Range | |
Test depth |
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Complement | 4 officers, 40–56 enlisted |
Armament |
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Service record[1] | |
Part of: |
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Commanders: |
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Operations: | 20 February – 22 March 1943 |
Victories: | 1 merchant ship sunk (7,134 GRT) |
German submarine U-665 was a Type VIIC U-boat built for Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine for service during World War II. She was laid down on 10 June 1941 by Deutsche Werft, Hamburg as yard number 814, launched on 9 June 1942 and commissioned on 22 July 1942 under Leutnant zur See Hans-Jürgen Haupt.
Design
German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-665 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-665 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.[2]
Service history
The boat's career began with training at 5th U-boat Flotilla on 22 July 1942, followed by active service on 1 February 1943 as part of the 1st Flotilla for the remainder of her short service. In her sole patrol she sank one merchant ship, for a total of 7,134 gross register tons (GRT).
Wolfpacks
U-665 took part in three wolfpacks, namely
- Neuland (4–6 March 1943)
- Ostmark (6–11 March 1943)
- Stürmer (11–20 March 1943)
Fate
U-665 was sunk on 22 March 1943 in the North Atlantic at 48°04′N 10°26′W / 48.067°N 10.433°W, by depth charges from an Armstrong Whitworth Whitley VII of No. 10 Operational Training Unit RAF (10 OTU) (call-sign Q), for the loss of all hands.
Summary of raiding history
Date | Name | Nationality | Tonnage (GRT) |
Fate[3] |
---|---|---|---|---|
17 March 1943 | Fort Cedar Lake | ![]() |
7,134 | Sunk |
References
- ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-665". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 31 August 2014.
- ^ a b c d Gröner 1991, pp. 43–46.
- ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U-665". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 31 August 2014.
Bibliography
- Busch, Rainer; Röll, Hans-Joachim (1999). Deutsche U-Boot-Verluste von September 1939 bis Mai 1945 (in German). Vol. IV. Hamburg, Berlin, Bonn: Mittler. ISBN 3-8132-0514-2.
{{cite book}}
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(help) - Gröner, Erich; Jung, Dieter; Maass, Martin (1991). U-boats and Mine Warfare Vessels. Vol. 2. Translated by Thomas, Keith; Magowan, Rachel. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-593-4.
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(help) - Sharpe, Peter (1998). U-Boat Fact File. Great Britain: Midland Publishing. ISBN 1-85780-072-9.
External links
- Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-665". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 29 December 2014.
- German Type VIIC submarines
- 1942 ships
- U-boats commissioned in 1942
- Ships lost with all hands
- U-boats sunk in 1943
- U-boats sunk by depth charges
- U-boats sunk by British aircraft
- World War II shipwrecks in the Atlantic Ocean
- World War II submarines of Germany
- Ships built in Hamburg
- Maritime incidents in March 1943