German submarine U-866

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History
War ensign of Germany (1938-1945).svg Nazi Germany
NameU-866
Ordered25 August 1941
Builder DeSchiMAG AG Weser, Bremen
Yard number1074
Laid down23 January 1943
Launched29 July 1943
Commissioned17 November 1943
FateSunk on 18 March 1945
General characteristics
Class and type Type IXC/40 submarine
Displacement
  • 1,144  t (1,126 long tons) surfaced
  • 1,257 t (1,237 long tons) submerged
Length
Beam
  • 6.86 m (22 ft 6 in) o/a
  • 4.44 m (14 ft 7 in) pressure hull
Height9.60 m (31 ft 6 in)
Draught4.67 m (15 ft 4 in)
Installed power
  • 4,400 PS (3,200 kW; 4,300 bhp) (diesels)
  • 1,000 PS (740 kW; 990 shp) (electric)
Propulsion
Speed
  • 18.3 knots (33.9 km/h; 21.1 mph) surfaced
  • 7.3 knots (13.5 km/h; 8.4 mph) submerged
Range
  • 13,850  nmi (25,650 km; 15,940 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) surfaced
  • 63 nmi (117 km; 72 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph) submerged
Test depth230 m (750 ft)
Complement4 officers, 44 enlisted
Armament
Service record
Part of:
Identification codes: M 54 899
Commanders:
  • K.Kapt. Walter Pommerehne
  • 17 November 1943 – December 1944
  • Oblt.z.S. Peter Rogowsky
  • December 1944 – 18 March 1945
Operations:
  • 1 patrol:
  • 6 February – 18 March 1945
Victories: None

German submarine U-866 was a Type IXC/40 U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine built for service during the Second World War. She was ordered on 25 August 1941, laid down in Bremen, Germany on 23 January 1943 and launched on 29 July 1943. She had one patrol.

Contents

Design

German Type IXC/40 submarines were slightly larger than the original Type IXCs. U-866 had a displacement of 1,144 tonnes (1,126 long tons) when at the surface and 1,257 tonnes (1,237 long tons) while submerged. [1] The U-boat had a total length of 76.76 m (251 ft 10 in), a pressure hull length of 58.75 m (192 ft 9 in), a beam of 6.86 m (22 ft 6 in), a height of 9.60 m (31 ft 6 in), and a draught of 4.67 m (15 ft 4 in). The submarine was powered by two MAN M 9 V 40/46 supercharged four-stroke, nine-cylinder diesel engines producing a total of 4,400 metric horsepower (3,240 kW; 4,340 shp) for use while surfaced, two Siemens-Schuckert 2 GU 345/34 double-acting electric motors producing a total of 1,000 shaft horsepower (1,010 PS; 750 kW) for use while submerged. She had two shafts and two 1.92 m (6 ft) propellers. The boat was capable of operating at depths of up to 230 metres (750 ft). [1]

The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 18.3 knots (33.9 km/h; 21.1 mph) and a maximum submerged speed of 7.3 knots (13.5 km/h; 8.4 mph). [1] When submerged, the boat could operate for 63 nautical miles (117 km; 72 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph); when surfaced, she could travel 13,850 nautical miles (25,650 km; 15,940 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph). U-866 was fitted with six 53.3 cm (21 in) torpedo tubes (four fitted at the bow and two at the stern), 22 torpedoes, one 10.5 cm (4.13 in) SK C/32 naval gun, 180 rounds, and a 3.7 cm (1.5 in) Flak M42 as well as two twin 2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 anti-aircraft guns. The boat had a complement of forty-eight. [1]

Service history

Her commander from 17 November 1943 until December 1944 was Korvettenkapitän Walter Pommerehne, followed by Oberleutnant zur See Peter Rogowsky, who commanded her from December 1944 until 18 March 1945. [2]

While under command of Rogowsky, on 18 March, USS Lowe acquired U-866 on sonar and commenced a hedgehog attack. This attack missed the U-boat, which then settled on the ocean floor, attempting to hide from the attacking surface ships. Unfortunately for the U-boat, the seabed in the area was ideal for the surface ship's sonar and USS Lowe, USS Menges, USS Mosley, and USS Pride, all destroyer escorts, continued to attack with depth charges, until the U-boat was judged destroyed. [3] [4]

She did not sink or damage any ships while on patrol.

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Gröner 1991, p. 68.
  2. ↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type IXC/40 boat U-866". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 7 December 2014.
  3. ↑ U.S. Coast Guard History
  4. ↑ Sinking of U 866

Bibliography

43°11′N61°05′W / 43.18°N 61.08°W / 43.18; -61.08

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