Loading AI tools
German submarine U-669 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. The submarine was laid down on 3 November 1941 at the Howaldtswerke yard at Hamburg, launched on 5 October 1942, and commissioned on 16 December 1942 under the command of Oberleutnant zur See d.R. Kurt Köhl.
| History | |
|---|---|
 Nazi Germany | |
| Name | U-669 |
| Ordered | 20 January 1941 |
| Builder | Howaldtswerke, Hamburg |
| Yard number | 818 |
| Laid down | 3 November 1941 |
| Launched | 5 October 1942 |
| Commissioned | 16 December 1942 |
| Fate | Missing since 30 August 1943 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Type VIIC submarine |
| Displacement | |
| Length |
|
| Beam |
|
| Height | 9.60 m (31 ft 6 in) |
| Draught | 4.74 m (15 ft 7 in) |
| Installed power |
|
| Propulsion |
|
| Speed |
|
| Range |
|
| Test depth |
|
| Complement | 4 officers, 40–56 enlisted |
| Armament |
|
| Service record | |
| Part of: |
|
| Identification codes: | M 49 427 |
| Commanders: |
|
| Operations: |
|
| Victories: | None |
Attached to 5th U-boat Flotilla based at Kiel, U-669 completed her training period on 31 May 1943 and was assigned to front-line service.
German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-669 had a displacement of 769 tonnes (757 long tons) when at the surface and 871 tonnes (857 long tons) while submerged.[1] 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).[1]
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).[1] 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-669 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.[1]
On the second war patrol U-669 went missing in the Bay of Biscay since 30 August 1943. The U-boat had left St. Nazaire on 29 August and had not been heard of since. Subsequently, U-669 and her crew of 52 was declared missing on 8 September 1943.[2]
Previously recorded fate
U-669 was originally thought to have been sunk on September 7, 1943 in the Bay of Biscay at position 43.36°N 10.13°W by depth charges from a Canadian aircraft. This attack was actually against U-584, inflicting no damage.
Wikiwand in your browser!
Seamless Wikipedia browsing. On steroids.
Every time you click a link to Wikipedia, Wiktionary or Wikiquote in your browser's search results, it will show the modern Wikiwand interface.
Wikiwand extension is a five stars, simple, with minimum permission required to keep your browsing private, safe and transparent.
