German submarine U-660

German submarine U-660 was a Type VIIC U-boat built for Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine for service during World War II. She was laid down on 15 February 1941 by Howaldtswerke, Hamburg as yard number 809, launched on 17 November 1941 and commissioned on 8 January 1942 under Oberleutnant zur See Götz Baur.

History
Nazi Germany
Name	U-660
Ordered	9 October 1939
Builder	Howaldtswerke, Hamburg
Yard number	809
Laid down	15 February 1941
Launched	17 November 1941
Commissioned	8 January 1942
Fate	Sunk on 12 November 1942 in the Mediterranean in position 36°07′N 01°00′W, by depth charges from HMS Lotus and HMS Starwort.
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) 1 x 2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 AA gun
Service record
Part of:	5th U-boat Flotilla 8 January – 31 July 1942 9th U-boat Flotilla 1 August – 31 October 1942 29th U-boat Flotilla 1 – 12 November 1942
Identification codes:	M 31 117
Commanders:	Oblt.z.S. / Kptlt. Götz Baur 8 January – 12 November 1942
Operations:	3 patrols: 1st patrol: 25 July - 6 September 1942 2nd patrol: 3 – 15 October 1942 3rd patrol: 24 October – 12 November 1942
Victories:	2 merchant ships sunk (10,066 GRT) 2 merchant ships damaged (10,447 GRT)

German Submarine U-660 under way in the Mediterranean Sea in 12 November 1942

Design

German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-660 had a displacement of 769 tonnes (757 long tons) when at the surface and 871 tonnes (857 long tons) while submerged. 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).

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). 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-660 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.

Service history

The boat's career began with training at 5th U-boat Flotilla on 8 January 1942, followed by active service on 1 August 1942 as part of the 9th Flotilla. Later, on 1 November 1942, she transferred to operations in the Mediterranean with 29th Flotilla where she served for the remainder of her service.

In 3 patrols she sank 2 merchant ships, for a total of 10,066 gross register tons (GRT), and damaged 2 others.

Wolfpacks

U-660 took part in four wolfpacks, namely:

• Steinbrinck (6 – 11 August 1942)
• Lohs (11 – 28 August 1942)
• Tümmler (3 – 11 October 1942)
• Wal (10 – 12 November 1942)

Fate

U-660 was sunk on 12 November 1942 in the Mediterranean in position 36°07′N 01°00′W, after sustaining damage by depth charges from HMS Lotus and HMS Starwort.

Summary of raiding history

Date	Ship Name	Nationality	Tonnage (GRT)	Fate
10 August 1942	Condylis	Greece	4,439	Damaged
10 August 1942	Cape Race	United Kingdom	3,807	Sunk
10 August 1942	Empire Reindeer	United Kingdom	6,259	Sunk
10 August 1942	Oregon	United Kingdom	6,008	Damaged

See also

• Mediterranean U-boat Campaign (World War II)
• Convoy SC 94

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.
• Edwards, Bernard (1996). Dönitz and the Wolf Packs - The U-boats at War. pp. 91, 98. ISBN 0-304-35203-9.
• 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-660". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 29 December 2014.