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German submarine U-664 was a Type VIIC U-boat built for Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine for service during World War II. She was laid down on 11 July 1941 by Howaldtswerke, Hamburg as yard number 813, launched on 28 April 1942 and commissioned on 17 June 1942 under Oberleutnant zur See Adolf Graef.
| History | |
|---|---|
 Nazi Germany | |
| Name | U-664 |
| Ordered | 15 August 1940 |
| Builder | Howaldtswerke, Hamburg |
| Yard number | 813 |
| Laid down | 11 July 1941 |
| Launched | 28 April 1942 |
| Commissioned | 17 June 1942 |
| Fate | Sunk on 9 August 1943 in the North Atlantic in position 40°12′N 37°29′W, by depth charges from USN Grumman Avenger aircraft. |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Type VIIC submarine |
| Displacement | |
| Length |
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| Beam |
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| Height | 9.60 m (31 ft 6 in) |
| Draught | 4.74 m (15 ft 7 in) |
| Installed power |
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| Propulsion |
|
| Speed |
|
| Range | |
| Test depth |
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| Complement | 4 officers, 40-56 ratings |
| Armament |
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| Service record[1] | |
| Part of: |
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| Identification codes: | M 05 024 |
| Commanders: |
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| Operations: |
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| Victories: |
3 merchant ships sunk (19,325 GRT) |
German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-664 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-664 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]
The boat's career began with training at 8th U-boat Flotilla on 17 June 1942, followed by active service on 1 November 1942 as part of the 9th Flotilla for the remainder of her service.
In five patrols she sank three merchant ships, for a total of 19,325 gross register tons (GRT).
First Patrol
On her first day of active service she was attacked by a US Catalina. The depth charge attack was so effective that she had to return to base in France.
Convoy ONS 167
Outward bound from Biscay on her second patrol, U-664 made a chance sighting of the slow convoy and radioed its position to base. Karl Dönitz ordered Graef to shadow the convoy while other boats were rounded up to form Wolfpack Sturmbock. However the boats were well scattered and failed to make contact with the convoy, so on the night of 21 February 1943, Graef became impatient with waiting and decided to attack alone.
With one spread of torpedoes, Graef sank the 4,659 GRT American steamer Rosario and the 8,807 GRT Panamanian tanker H H Rogers.
Wolfpacks
U-664 took part in eight wolfpacks, namely:
- Raufbold (11 – 22 December 1942)
- Spitz (22 – 31 December 1942)
- Sturmbock (21 – 26 February 1943)
- Wildfang (26 February – 5 March 1943)
- Raubgraf (7 – 20 March 1943)
- Without name (5 – 10 May 1943)
- Lech (10 – 15 May 1943)
- Donau 2 (15 – 26 May 1943)
Fate
On 8 August 1943 U-664 fired three torpedoes at the escort carrier USS Card in a surprise attack, before USS Card was able to respond and forced her to dive. The following day, on 9 August 1943, U-664 was sunk in the North Atlantic in position 40°12′N 37°29′W, by depth charges from USN Grumman Avenger aircraft launched from the carrier. Seven crew members were killed and 44 rescued by USS Borie after seven hours in the water.
| Date | Ship Name | Nationality | Tonnage (GRT) |
Fate[3] |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 December 1942 | Emile Francqui |  Belgium |
5,859 | Sunk |
| 21 February 1943 | H H Rogers |  Panama |
8,807 | Sunk |
| 21 February 1943 | Rosario |  United States |
4,659 | Sunk |
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