German submarine U-660 was a Type VIIC U-boat built for Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine for service during World War II. She was laid down on 15 February 1941 by Howaldtswerke, Hamburg as yard number 809, launched on 17 November 1941 and commissioned on 8 January 1942 under Oberleutnant zur See Götz Baur.
History | |
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Name | U-660 |
Ordered | 9 October 1939 |
Builder | Howaldtswerke, Hamburg |
Yard number | 809 |
Laid down | 15 February 1941 |
Launched | 17 November 1941 |
Commissioned | 8 January 1942 |
Fate | Sunk on 12 November 1942 in the Mediterranean in position 36°07′N 01°00′W / 36.117°N 1.000°W, by depth charges from HMS Lotus and HMS Starwort. |
General characteristics | |
Class and type | Type VIIC submarine |
Displacement | |
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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Identification codes: | M 31 117 |
Commanders: | |
Operations: |
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Victories: |
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b6/German_submarine_U-660_underway_in_the_Mediterranean_Sea%2C_12_November_1942_%28IWM_AX70A%29.jpg/220px-German_submarine_U-660_underway_in_the_Mediterranean_Sea%2C_12_November_1942_%28IWM_AX70A%29.jpg)
Design
editGerman Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-660 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-660 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 8 January 1942, followed by active service on 1 August 1942 as part of the 9th Flotilla. Later, on 1 November 1942, she transferred to operations in the Mediterranean with 29th Flotilla where she served for the remainder of her service.
In 3 patrols she sank 2 merchant ships, for a total of 10,066 gross register tons (GRT), and damaged 2 others.
Wolfpacks
editU-660 took part in four wolfpacks, namely:
- Steinbrinck (6 – 11 August 1942)
- Lohs (11 – 28 August 1942)
- Tümmler (3 – 11 October 1942)
- Wal (10 – 12 November 1942)
Fate
editU-660 was sunk on 12 November 1942 in the Mediterranean in position 36°07′N 01°00′W / 36.117°N 1.000°W, after sustaining damage by depth charges from HMS Lotus and HMS Starwort.
Summary of raiding history
editDate | Ship Name | Nationality | Tonnage (GRT) |
Fate[3] |
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10 August 1942 | Condylis | Griechenland | 4,439 | Damaged |
10 August 1942 | Cape Race | Vereinigtes Königreich | 3,807 | Sunk |
10 August 1942 | Empire Reindeer | Vereinigtes Königreich | 6,259 | Sunk |
10 August 1942 | Oregon | Vereinigtes Königreich | 6,008 | Damaged |
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-660". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 23 August 2014.
- ^ a b c d Gröner 1991, pp. 43–46.
- ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U-660". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 23 August 2014.
Bibliography
edit- 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. ISBN 1-55750-186-6.
- 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. ISBN 3-8132-0514-2.
- Edwards, Bernard (1996). Dönitz and the Wolf Packs - The U-boats at War. pp. 91, 98. ISBN 0-304-35203-9.
- 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. ISBN 0-85177-593-4.
- Sharpe, Peter (1998). U-Boat Fact File. Great Britain: Midland Publishing. ISBN 1-85780-072-9.
External links
edit- Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-660". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 29 December 2014.