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U-667

Type

VIIC

 
Ordered15 Aug, 1940
Laid down 16 Aug, 1941 Howaldtswerke, Hamburg (werk 816)
Launched29 Aug, 1942
Commissioned21 Oct, 1942Oblt. Heinrich Schroeteler (Knights Cross)
Commanders
21 Oct, 1942 - May, 1944  Kptlt. Heinrich-Andreas Schroeteler (Knights Cross)
10 Jul, 1944 - 25 Aug, 1944  Kptlt. Karl-Heinz Lange
Career5 patrols 21 Oct, 1942 - 31 May, 1943  5. Flottille (training)
1 Jun, 1943 - 25 Aug, 1944  7. Flottille (front boat)
Successes1 ship sunk for a total of 7.176 GRT
2 warships sunk for a total of 1.171 tons
1 warship a total loss for a total of 1.653 tons
Fate

Sunk 25 Aug, 1944 in the Bay of Biscay near La Rochelle, in position 46.00N, 01.30W, by a mine in the minefield Cinnamon. 45 dead (all hands lost).

See the 4 ships hit by U-667 - View the 5 war patrols

Attacks on this boat

29 May, 1943
At 15.40 hours, the boat was attacked by the British Catalina aircraft FP183 (190 Sqdn RAF/V, pilot S/L J.A. Holmes) between Iceland and the Faeroes. The aircraft was hit by AA fire during the strafing attack, but dropped six depth charges that fell about 30 metres astern. They then exchanged some gunfire, but U-667 soon dived. The Catalina had been hit in the port engine and the hull and the co-pilot was slightly wounded by a shell splinter. The aircraft made it safely back to Sullom Voe. (Sources: Franks/Zimmerman)

19 Jul, 1943
At 15.42 hours, the inbound boat was attacked by the British Liberator aircraft FL977 (59 Sqdn RAF/H, pilot F/L E.E. Allen, RCAF) in the Bay of Biscay. The port wing of the aircraft was hit by AA fire in the first attack run, so they broke off the attack, circled U-667 and exchanged gunfire. The Liberator then dropped a depth charge from 3300 feet to force the boat to dive, but it overshot by 75 yards and did not explode. At 16.33 hours, the next attack was made from low level, but the two depth charges missed ahead. AA fire hit the aircraft ten times and the port waist gunner was badly wounded, so the pilot decided to head for home. (Sources: Franks/Zimmerman)

25 Sep, 1943
Aircraft attack, aircraft shot down:British Wellington (Sqdn 179/F)

In the Gibraltar Straits, one of many attacks on this boat.

26 Sep, 1943
Another day, another attack. The boat had suffered multiple aircraft attacks the day before and was now attacked by rockets from two Hudson aircraft. The boat, after all those attacks during 2 days, was severely damaged and had to abort its mission and return to base. (Sources: Blair, vol 2, page 412)

16 Apr, 1944
The boat unsuccessfully attacked a "destroyer escort" from a hunter-killer group with a torpedo but was in turn hunted by same group for 12 hours before managing to slip away. (Sources: Blair, vol 2, page 510)

5 recorded attacks on this boat.

Schnorchel-fitted U-boat
This boat was fitted with a Schnorchel underwater-breathing apparatus in March 1944. Read more about the Schnorchel and see list of fitted boats.

Men lost from U-boats

Unlike many other U-boats, which during their service lost men due to accidents and various other causes, U-667 did not suffer any casualties (we know of) until the time of her loss.



German U-Boat Losses During World War II

Niestle, Axel

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Books dealing with this subject include:

German U-Boat Losses During World War II, Niestle, Axel, 1998
U-Boat Operations of the Second World War - Vol 1, Wynn, Kenneth, 1998
U-Boat Operations of the Second World War - Vol 2, Wynn, Kenneth, 1998