List of all U-boats

U-661

Type

VIIC

 
Ordered9 Oct 1939
Laid down12 Mar 1941 Howaldtswerke Hamburg AG, Hamburg (werk 810)
Launched11 Dec 1941
Commissioned12 Feb 1942Oblt. Erich von Lilienfeld
Commanders
12 Feb 1942 - 15 Oct 1942  Oblt. Erich von Lilienfeld
Career
1 patrol
12 Feb 1942-30 Sep 1942  5. Flottille (training)
1 Oct 1942-15 Oct 1942  3. Flottille (active service)
Successes1 ship sunk, total tonnage 3,672 GRT
Fate

Sank on 15 October 1942 in the North Atlantic south-east of Cape Farewell, Greenland, in position 53.42N, 35.56W, after being rammed by the British destroyer HMS Viscount. 44 dead (all hands lost). (FDS/NHB, June 1987).

Loss position

See the 1 ships hit by U-661 - View the 1 war patrol

Previously recorded fate

  • The attack by a British Liberator aircraft (RAF 120/H) on 15 Oct, 1942 in position 53.58N, 33.43W. (Postwar assessment)
    Notes. This attack was instead against the U-615, causing no damage.

Wolfpack operations

U-661 operated with the following Wolfpacks during its career:
   Pfeil (12 Sep 1942 - 22 Sep 1942)
   Blitz (22 Sep 1942 - 26 Sep 1942)
   Wotan (12 Oct 1942 - 15 Oct 1942)

General notes on this boat

There was going to be another loss around convoy SC-104 as U-353 was sunk the next day.

Men lost from U-boats

Unlike many other U-boats, which during their service lost men due to accidents and various other causes, U-661 did not suffer any casualties (we know of) until the time of her loss.


Media links


German U-Boat Losses During World War II

Niestle, Axel


U-Boat Operations of the Second World War - Vol 2

Wynn, Kenneth


Hitler's U-boat War

Blair, Clay




As an Amazon Associate uboat.net earns a commission from qualifying purchases.