U-666

Type

VIIC

Ordered

15 Aug 1940

Laid down

16 Sep 1941

Howaldtswerke Hamburg AG, Hamburg (werk 815)

Launched

18 Jul 1942

Commissioned

26 Aug 1942

Oblt. Herbert Engel

Commanders

26 Aug 1942	-	9 Dec 1943		Kptlt. Herbert Engel (German Cross in Gold)
10 Dec 1943	-	10 Feb 1944		Oblt. (R) Ernst Wilberg

Career
4 patrols

26 Aug 1942	-	28 Feb 1943	5. Flottille (training)
1 Mar 1943	-	10 Feb 1944	6. Flottille (active service)

Successes

1 warship sunk, total tonnage 1,370 tons
1 ship damaged, total tonnage 5,234 GRT

Fate

Sunk on 10 February 1944 in the North Atlantic west of Ireland, in position 53.56N, 17.16W, by depth charges from a Swordfish aircraft (842 Sqn FAA/A) of the British escort carrier HMS Fencer. 51 dead (all hands lost). (Axel Niestlé, May 2011).

Loss position

See the 2 ships hit by U-666 - View the 4 war patrols

Previously recorded fate

Sunk 10 Feb 1944 in the North Atlantic west of Ireland, in position 53.56N, 17.16W, by depth charges from aircraft of the British escort carrier HMS Fencer. (Postwar assessment)
Notes. This attack was probably against a nonsub target.

Wolfpack operations

U-666 operated with the following Wolfpacks during its career:
   Ostmark (6 Mar 1943 - 11 Mar 1943)
   Stürmer (11 Mar 1943 - 20 Mar 1943)
   Seewolf (21 Mar 1943 - 30 Mar 1943)
   Oder (17 May 1943 - 19 May 1943)
   Mosel (19 May 1943 - 24 May 1943)
   Trutz (1 Jun 1943 - 16 Jun 1943)
   Trutz 2 (16 Jun 1943 - 29 Jun 1943)
   Leuthen (15 Sep 1943 - 24 Sep 1943)
   Rossbach (24 Sep 1943 - 6 Oct 1943)
   Hela (28 Dec 1943 - 1 Jan 1944)
   Rügen 6 (5 Jan 1944 - 7 Jan 1944)
   Rügen (7 Jan 1944 - 26 Jan 1944)
   Stürmer (26 Jan 1944 - 3 Feb 1944)
   Igel 1 (3 Feb 1944 - 10 Feb 1944)

Attacks on this boat and other events

19 Mar 1943
Shortly after the Greek merchant Carras from convoy SC-122 was damaged in an attack by U-666, a British Fortress aircraft (220 Sqn RAF, pilot William Knowles) hit the boat with four depth charges, causing serious damage and forcing the boat to return to France. (Sources: Blair, vol 2, page 265)

9 May 1943
Aircraft attack, aircraft shot down:British Halifax bomber HR743 (58 Sqn RAF/N, pilot F/S J.A. Hoather, DFM)

1028hrs, Bay of Biscay, outbound: the Halifax (misidentified as a Sunderland) only strafed the boat on its first attack and received several AA hits in one of the port engines during a second run. The pilot then apparently lost control when turning to come in again and the Halifax crashed into the sea about 500m (546 yds) from the boat, killing the crew of eight.

(Sources: Franks/Zimmerman)

9 May 1943
12.25 hours, Atlantic NW of Corunna, Spain, outbound: U-666 was attacked by British Whitley bomber BD278 (10 OTU RAF/C, pilot Sgt A.J. Salvage). The aircraft was hit by flak during the intial strafing run and its depth charges fell wide. After the boat dived the aircraft was forced to return to base due to damage to the tail. (Sources: Franks/Zimmerman)

5 Jan 1944
U-666 was attacked by aircraft outbound from Lorient (sailed 25 Dec 1943). Damage was minor, and the boat made repairs at sea and continued the patrol, but was sunk with all hands on 10 Feb 1944. (Sources: Blair, vol 2, page 486)

4 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-666 did not suffer any casualties (we know of) until the time of her loss.