German World War II submarine
German submarine "U-668" was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's "Kriegsmarine" during World War II. The submarine was laid down on 11 October 1941 at the Howaldtswerke yard at Hamburg, launched on 5 October 1942, and commissioned on 16 November 1942 under the command of "Oberleutnant zur See" Wolfgang von Eickstedt.
Attached to 5th U-boat Flotilla based at Kiel, "U-668" completed her training period on 31 March 1944 and was assigned to front-line service.
Design.
German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. "U-668" had a displacement of when at the surface and while submerged. She had a total length of , a pressure hull length of , a beam of , a height of , and a draught of . The submarine was powered by two Germaniawerft F46 four-stroke, six-cylinder supercharged diesel engines producing a total of for use while surfaced, two Siemens-Schuckert GU 343/38–8 double-acting electric motors producing a total of for use while submerged. She had two shafts and two propellers. The boat was capable of operating at depths of up to .
The submarine had a maximum surface speed of and a maximum submerged speed of . When submerged, the boat could operate for at ; when surfaced, she could travel at . "U-668" was fitted with five torpedo tubes (four fitted at the bow and one at the stern), fourteen torpedoes, one SK C/35 naval gun, 220 rounds, and two twin C/30 anti-aircraft guns. The boat had a complement of between forty-four and sixty.
Service history.
"U-668" completed six war patrols with no ships sunk.
Fate.
The U-boat surrendered at Narvik, Norway on 9 May 1945. On 31 December 1945 "U-668" was sunk by gunfire from in position as part of Operation Deadlight.
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