| History | |
|---|---|
| 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 & type | Type VIICsubmarine |
| Displacement | |
| Length |
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| Beam |
|
| Draught | 4.74 m (15 ft 7 in) |
| Installed power |
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| Propulsion |
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| Speed |
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| Range | |
| Test depth |
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| Complement | 4 officers, 40–56 enlisted |
| Armament |
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| Service record[1] | |
| Part of: |
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| Identification codes: | M 25 463 |
| Commanders: |
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| Operations: |
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| Victories: | 1 merchant ship sunk (7,134 GRT) |
German submarineU-665 was aType VIICU-boat built forNazi Germany'sKriegsmarine for service duringWorld War II.She waslaid down on 10 June 1941 byDeutsche Werft,Hamburg as yard number 814,launched on 9 June 1942 andcommissioned on 22 July 1942 underLeutnant zur See Hans-Jürgen Haupt.
German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorterType 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), apressure hull length of 50.50 m (165 ft 8 in), abeam of 6.20 m (20 ft 4 in), a height of 9.60 m (31 ft 6 in), and adraught of 4.74 m (15 ft 7 in). The submarine was powered by twoGermaniawerft F46 four-stroke, six-cylindersuperchargeddiesel 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, twoSiemens-Schuckert GU 343/38–8double-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), fourteentorpedoes, one8.8 cm (3.46 in) SK C/35 naval gun, 220 rounds, and two twin2 cm (0.79 in) C/30anti-aircraft guns. The boat had acomplement of between forty-four and sixty.[2]
The boat's career began with training at5th U-boat Flotilla on 22 July 1942, followed by active service on 1 February 1943 as part of the1st 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).
U-665 took part in threewolfpacks, namely:
U-665 has been missing since 22 March 1943 in theBay of Biscay, west ofLa Pallice.[1]
U-665 was thought to have been sunk on 22 March 1943 in the Bay of Biscay west of Nantes at46°47′N09°58′W / 46.783°N 9.967°W /46.783; -9.967, by depth charges fromVickers Wellington aircraft ofNo. 172 Squadron RAF (call-signG). This attack was actually againstU-448, inflicting no damage.
U-665 was also thought to have been sunk on 22 March 1943 in the North Atlantic at48°04′N10°26′W / 48.067°N 10.433°W /48.067; -10.433, by depth charges from anArmstrong Whitworth Whitley VII ofNo. 10 Operational Training Unit RAF (10 OTU) (call-signQ), for the loss of all hands.[1]
| Date | Ship Name | Nationality | Tonnage (GRT) | Fate[3] |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17 March 1943 | Fort Cedar Lake | 7,134 | Sunk |