List of all U-boats

U-667

Type

VIIC

 
Ordered15 Aug 1940
Laid down16 Aug 1941 Howaldtswerke Hamburg AG, 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 - 26 Aug 1944  Kptlt. Karl-Heinz Lange (German Cross in Gold)
Career
5 patrols
21 Oct 1942-31 May 1943  5. Flottille (training)
1 Jun 1943-26 Aug 1944  7. Flottille (active service)
Successes1 ship sunk, total tonnage 7,176 GRT
2 warships sunk, total tonnage 1,171 tons
1 warship a total loss, total tonnage 1,653 tons
Fate

Sunk on 26 August 1944 in the Bay of Biscay west of La Rochelle, in position 46.06,4N, 01.35,3W, by an air-laid mine in the British field Cinnamon. 45 dead (all hands lost).

Loss position

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

U-667 sent its last radio message on 25 August 1944 announcing its arrival at the rendezvous point off La Pallice for the next day. The boat was posted as missing on 26 August 1944 when it failed meet its escort or to report its position. The wreck of U-667 was located in October 1971.

Wolfpack operations

U-667 operated with the following Wolfpacks during its career:
   Coronel (4 Dec 1943 - 8 Dec 1943)
   Coronel 2 (8 Dec 1943 - 14 Dec 1943)
   Coronel 3 (14 Dec 1943 - 17 Dec 1943)
   Borkum (18 Dec 1943 - 26 Dec 1943)
   Preussen (13 Mar 1944 - 22 Mar 1944)

Attacks on this boat and other events

29 May 1943
15.40 hrs, between Iceland and the Faeroes: the boat was attacked by British Catalina flying boat FP183 (190 Sqn RAF/V, pilot S/L J.A. Holmes). The Catalina was hit by flak during a strafing run, but dropped six depth charges that fell approx. 30m (98ft) astern. More gunfire was exchanged, but U-667 soon dived. The Catalina was hit in the port engine and hull, and the co-pilot slightly wounded by a shell splinter, but reached base at Sullom Voe and landed safely. (Sources: Franks/Zimmerman)

19 Jul 1943
15.42 hrs, Bay of Biscay, inbound: the boat was attacked by British B-24 Liberator FL977 (59 Sqn RAF/H, pilot F/L E.E. Allen, RCAF). The aircraft broke off the first attack after being hit by flak in the port wing, then circled U-667 and exchanged gunfire. It then dropped a depth charge from 3,300 ft (1006 m) to force the boat to dive, which overshot by 75 yards (69 m) and did not explode. At 16.33 hrs, the next attack was made from low level, but the two depth charges released fell ahead and missed. After the aircraft had been hit by flak ten times and the port waist gunner badly wounded, the pilot decided to return to base. (Sources: Franks/Zimmerman)

24 Sep 1943
Shortly before dawn the boat fought off a Leigh Light attack by a British Wellington bomber (179 Sqn RAF/P, pilot Sgt A.W. Ellis) off Portugal. Neither side suffered any damage, but U-667 was on her way to the Mediterranean and the Allied aircraft were now alerted.

In the evening of the 24th an attack by another Wellington (RAF Sqdn 179/D, pilot F/O A. Chiltern) caused some minor damage.

(Sources: Franks/Zimmerman)

25 Sep 1943
At 03.09 hours, the boat fought off an attack from a British Wellington (179 Sqn RAF/Q, pilot F/S R.W. Dix). Its depth charges hung up due to flak damage and further hits in the port engine and starboard wing forced the aircraft to return to base.

At 10.35 hours, another Wellington (Sqdn 179/R, pilot F/S D.J. McMahon) dropped six depth charges that fell close.

(Sources: Franks/Zimmerman)

25 Sep 1943
Aircraft attack, aircraft shot down:British Wellington Mk.XIV (179 Sqn RAF/F, pilot S/L G.H.M. Riddell)

22.18 hrs, SW of Cape St Vincent, Portugal: After being hit by flak while dropping depth charges, the Wellington was seen to fly away with the Leigh Light still switched on, and later an SOS message was heard. It did not return from patrol and was reported missing with its crew of six.

(Sources: Franks/Zimmerman)

26 Sep 1943
10.40 hrs, 75 miles SW of Cape St Vincent: the boat was located and attacked by yet another Wellington (179 Sqn RAF/X, pilot F/O S.H. Nicholson) searching for the missing Wellington, but the depth charges exploded astern.

The Germans sighted two more aircraft shortly afterwards identified as Beaufighters, but which were in fact Hudsons. Hudsons AE505 (233 Sqn RAF/T, F/O A.G. Frandson) and EW924 (48 Sqn RAF/N, F/O E.L. Ashbury) strafed and fired rockets, but were both forced to return to base by flak damage. U-667 was finally forced to give up her attempt to enter the Mediterranean and returned to base with extensive damage. Over two days the boat had endured no less than eight air attacks, shooting down one attacker and damaging three others.

(Sources: Franks/Zimmerman)

16 Apr 1944
The boat fired a torpedo at a "destroyer escort" from a hunter-killer group which missed, and was then hunted by the same group for 12 hours before managing to slip away. (Sources: Blair, vol 2, page 510)

7 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.

U-boat Emblems

We have 1 emblem entry for this boat. See the emblem page for this boat or view emblems individually below.


Crossed Hammers

Media links


U-Boat Attack Logs

Daniel Morgan and Bruce Taylor


amazon.co.uk
(£ 38.25)


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

Wynn, Kenneth


Hitler's U-boat War, Vol II

Blair, Clay


German U-Boat Losses During World War II

Niestle, Axel




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