German submarine U-667

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.

History
Nazi Germany
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, when she struck a mine.
General characteristics
Class and type: Type VIIC submarine
Displacement:
  • 769 tonnes (757 long tons) surfaced
  • 871 t (857 long tons) submerged
Length:
Beam:
  • 6.20 m (20 ft 4 in) o/a
  • 4.70 m (15 ft 5 in) pressure hull
Height: 9.60 m (31 ft 6 in)
Draught: 4.74 m (15 ft 7 in)
Installed power:
  • 2,800–3,200 PS (2,100–2,400 kW; 2,800–3,200 bhp) (diesels)
  • 750 PS (550 kW; 740 shp) (electric)
Propulsion:
Speed:
  • 17.7 knots (32.8 km/h; 20.4 mph) surfaced
  • 7.6 knots (14.1 km/h; 8.7 mph) submerged
Range:
  • 8,500 nmi (15,700 km; 9,800 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) surfaced
  • 80 nmi (150 km; 92 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph) submerged
Test depth:
  • 230 m (750 ft)
  • Crush depth: 250–295 m (820–968 ft)
Complement: 4 officers, 40–56 enlisted
Armament:
Service record[1]
Part of:
Commanders:
Operations:
  • 1st patrol: 20 May – 26 July 1943
  • 2nd patrol: 14–16 September 1943
  • 3rd patrol: 18 November 1943 – 6 January 1944
  • 4th patrol: 8 March – 19 May 1944
  • 5th patrol: 22 July – 25 August 1944
Victories: 4 merchant ships sunk (22,406 GRT)

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 two twin 2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 anti-aircraft guns. 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, when she struck a mine. All hands were lost.

Summary of raiding history
Date Name Nationality Tonnage[Note 1] 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

Notes
  1. Merchant ship tonnages are in gross register tons. Military vessels are listed by tons displacement.

Citations
  1. Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-667". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 9 August 2014.
  2. Gröner 1991, pp. 43-46.
  3. 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). 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). Deutsche U-Boot-Verluste von September 1939 bis Mai 1945 [German U-boat losses from September 1939 to May 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.

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