U-662

Type

VIIC

Ordered

9 Oct, 1939

Laid down

7 May, 1941

Howaldtswerke, Hamburg (werk 811)

Launched

22 Jan, 1942

Commissioned

9 Apr, 1942

Kptlt. Wolfgang Hermann

Commanders

9 Apr, 1942 - 14 Feb, 1943	KrvKpt. Wolfgang Hermann
10 Mar, 1943 - 21 Jul, 1943	Kptlt. Heinz-Eberhard Müller

Career

4 patrols

9 Apr, 1942 - 30 Sep, 1942 5. Flottille (training)
1 Oct, 1942 - 21 Jul, 1943 7. Flottille (front boat)

Successes

3 ships sunk for a total of 18.609 GRT
1 ship damaged for a total of 7.174 GRT

Fate

Sunk 21 July, 1943 in the South Atlantic in the Amazon Estuary, in position 03.56N, 48.46W, by depth charges from a Catalina aircraft (VP-94/P-4.) 44 dead and 3 survivors.

See the 4 ships hit by U-662 - View the 4 war patrols

Over a period of only a few days the boat had been attacked by a USAAF B-24 Liberator while hunting convoy TF.2, then came an attack by a B-18 aircraft, and finally squadron VP-94's Catalinas located the U-boat and after one unsuccessful attack another VP-94 aircraft managed to sink it.

The commander and 2 other crew members were fished out of the sea, by the US Navy vessel Siren (former luxury yacht) that was part of escort for convoy TJ-4, after 17 days. Müller was severly wounded in this action and was repatriated to Germany in March 1944 as he was no longer capable of combat. He served as a liason to German U-boat men for the rest of the war.

Wolfpack operations

U-662 operated with the following Wolfpacks during its career:
   Leopard (8 Oct, 1942 - 14 Oct, 1942)
   Panther (10 Oct, 1942 - 14 Oct, 1942)
   Spitz (24 Dec, 1942 - 31 Dec, 1942)
   Jaguar (12 Jan, 1943 - 23 Jan, 1943)
   Adler (7 Apr, 1943 - 12 Apr, 1943)
   Specht (27 Apr, 1943 - 4 May, 1943)
   Fink (4 May, 1943 - 6 May, 1943)

Attacks on this boat

19 Jul, 1943
American B-24 Liberator aircraft (Sqdn 35) dropped 4 depth charges without damaging the boat which then damaged and repelled the bomber from making another run. The boat escaped. (Sources: Blair, vol 2, page 369)

20 Jul, 1943
The boat was attacked again by American aircraft (Sqdn VP-94) and brought in another aircraft which also failed to sink the boat. The boat was lost in an attack the next day. (Sources: Blair, vol 2, page 369)

2 recorded attacks on this boat.

Men lost from U-boats

Unlike many other U-boats, which during their service lost men due to accidents and various other causes, U-662 did not suffer any casualties (we know of) until the time of her loss.