German submarine U-665

German submarine U-665 was a Type VIIC U-boat built for Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine for service during World War II. She was laid down on 10 June 1941 by Deutsche Werft, Hamburg as yard number 814, launched on 9 June 1942 and commissioned on 22 July 1942 under Leutnant zur See Hans-Jürgen Haupt.

History
Nazi Germany
Name	U-665
Ordered	15 August 1940
Builder	Deutsche Werft, Hamburg
Yard number	814
Laid down	10 June 1941
Launched	9 June 1942
Commissioned	22 July 1942
Fate	Missing since 22 March 1943 in the Bay of Biscay west of La Pallice. No explanation for her loss.[1]
General characteristics
Class and type	Type VIIC submarine
Displacement	769 tonnes (757 long tons) surfaced 871 t (857 long tons) submerged
Length	67.10 m (220 ft 2 in) o/a 50.50 m (165 ft 8 in) pressure hull
Beam	6.20 m (20 ft 4 in) o/a 4.70 m (15 ft 5 in) pressure hull
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	2 shafts 2 × diesel engines 2 × electric motors
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	5 × 53.3 cm (21 in) torpedo tubes (four bow, one stern) 14 × torpedoes 1 × 8.8 cm (3.46 in) deck gun (220 rounds) 2 × twin 2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 anti-aircraft guns
Service record[1]
Part of:	5th U-boat Flotilla 22 July 1942 – 31 January 1943 1st U-boat Flotilla 1 February – 22 March 1943
Identification codes:	M 25 463
Commanders:	Oblt.z.S. Hans-Jürgen Haupt 22 July 1942 – 22 March 1943
Operations:	1 patrol: 20 February – 22 March 1943
Victories:	1 merchant ship sunk (7,134 GRT)

Design

German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-665 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-665 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 22 July 1942, followed by active service on 1 February 1943 as part of the 1st Flotilla for the remainder of her short service. In her sole patrol she sank one merchant ship, for a total of 7,134 gross register tons (GRT).

Wolfpacks

U-665 took part in three wolfpacks, namely:

• Neuland (4 – 6 March 1943)
• Ostmark (6 – 11 March 1943)
• Stürmer (11 – 20 March 1943)

Fate

U-665 has been missing since 22 March 1943 in the Bay of Biscay, west of La Pallice.^[1]

Previously recorded fate

U-665 was thought to have been sunk on 22 March 1943 in the Bay of Biscay west of Nantes at 46°47′N 09°58′W, by depth charges from Vickers Wellington aircraft of No. 172 Squadron RAF (call-sign G). This attack was actually against U-448, inflicting no damage.

U-665 was also thought to have been sunk on 22 March 1943 in the North Atlantic at 48°04′N 10°26′W, by depth charges from an Armstrong Whitworth Whitley VII of No. 10 Operational Training Unit RAF (10 OTU) (call-sign Q), for the loss of all hands.^[1]

Summary of raiding history

Date	Ship Name	Nationality	Tonnage (GRT)	Fate[3]
17 March 1943	Fort Cedar Lake	United Kingdom	7,134	Sunk

References

1. Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-665". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 31 August 2014.
2. Gröner 1991, pp. 43–46.
3. Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U-665". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 31 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). 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.
• 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

• Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-665". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 29 December 2014.