German submarine U-668
| History | |
|---|---|
 Nazi Germany
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| Name: | U-668 |
| Ordered: | 15 August 1940 |
| Builder: | Howaldtswerke, Hamburg |
| Yard number: | 817 |
| Laid down: | 11 October 1941 |
| Launched: | 5 October 1942 |
| Commissioned: | 16 November 1942 |
| Fate: | Sunk 31 December 1945 as part of Operation Deadlight |
| 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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| Service record | |
| Identification codes: | M 49 834 |
| Commanders: | Oblt.z.S. Wolfgang von Eickstedt |
| Operations: | 6 war patrols |
| Victories: | no ships sunk |
German submarine U-668 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. The submarine was laid down on 11 October 1941 at the Howaldtswerke yard at Hamburg, launched on 5 October 1942, and commissioned on 16 November 1942 under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Wolfgang von Eickstedt.
Attached to 5th U-boat Flotilla based at Kiel, U-668 completed her training period on 31 March 1944 and was assigned to front-line service.
Design
German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-668 had a displacement of 769 tonnes (757 long tons) when at the surface and 871 tonnes (857 long tons) while submerged.[1] 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).[1]
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).[1] 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-668 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.[1]
Service history
U-668 completed six war patrols with no ships sunk.
Fate
The U-boat surrendered at Narvik, Norway on 9 May 1945. On 31 December 1945 U-668 was sunk by gunfire from HMS Onslaught in position 56°3′N 9°24′W / 56.050°N 9.400°WCoordinates: 56°3′N 9°24′W / 56.050°N 9.400°W as part of Operation Deadlight.[2]
References
- 1 2 3 4 Gröner 1991, pp. 43-46.
- ↑ Busch, Röll 1999, p. 391.
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.
External links
- Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-668". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 22 July 2015.