German submarine U-667
| History | |
|---|---|
 Nazi Germany
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| Name: | U-667 |
| Ordered: | 15 August 1940 |
| Builder: | Deutsche Werft, Hamburg |
| Yard number: | 816 |
| Laid down: | 16 August 1941 |
| Launched: | 29 August 1942 |
| Commissioned: | 21 October 1942 |
| Fate: | Sunk 25 August 1944 in the Bay of Biscay in position 46°00′N 01°30′W / 46.000°N 1.500°WCoordinates: 46°00′N 01°30′W / 46.000°N 1.500°W, when she struck a mine. |
| General characteristics | |
| Class & type: | Type VIIC submarine |
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| Height: | 9.60 m (31 ft 6 in) |
| Draught: | 4.74 m (15 ft 7 in) |
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| Complement: | 4 officers, 40–56 enlisted |
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| Victories: | 4 merchant ships sunk (22,406 GRT) |
German submarine U-667 was a Type VIIC U-boat built for Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine for service during World War II. She was laid down on 16 August 1941 by Deutsche Werft, Hamburg as yard number 816, launched on 29 August 1942 and commissioned on 21 October 1942 under Kapitänleutnant Heinrich Schroeteler.
Design
German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-667 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-667 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 21 October 1942, followed by active service on 1 June 1943 as part of the 7th Flotilla for the remainder of her service.
In five patrols she sank one merchant ship, for a total of 7,176 gross register tons (GRT) and 3 warships.
Wolfpacks
U-667 took part in five wolfpacks, namely
- Coronel (4–8 December 1943)
- Coronel 2 (8–14 December 1943)
- Coronel 3 (14–17 December 1943)
- Borkum (18–26 December 1943)
- Preussen (13–22 March 1944)
Fate
U-667 sunk on 25 August 1944 in the Bay of Biscay in position 46°00′N 01°30′W / 46.000°N 1.500°W, when she struck a mine. All hands were lost.
Summary of raiding history
| Date | Name | Nationality | Tonnage (GRT) |
Fate[3] |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 August 1944 | Ezra Weston |  United States |
7,176 | Sunk |
| 8 August 1944 | HMCS Regina |  Royal Canadian Navy |
925 | Sunk |
| 14 August 1944 | USS LST-921 | United States Navy |
1,653 | Total loss |
| 14 August 1944 | HMS LCI(L)-99 |  Royal Navy |
246 | Sunk |
References
- ↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-667". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 9 August 2014.
- 1 2 3 4 Gröner 1991, pp. 43-46.
- ↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U-667". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 9 August 2014.
Bibliography
- Busch, Rainer; Röll, Hans-Joachim (1999). Deutsche U-Boot-Verluste von September 1939 bis Mai 1945. Der U-Boot-Krieg (in German) IV (Hamburg, Berlin, Bonn: Mittler). ISBN 3-8132-0514-2.
- Gröner, Erich; Jung, Dieter; Maass, Martin (1991). U-boats and Mine Warfare Vessels. German Warships 1815–1945 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
- Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-667". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 29 December 2014.