Historically Speaking.... a Question! - Page 3

Barbarossa · 10-10-05, 12:22 AM

U-66
Type

IXC

Laid down 20 Mar, 1940 AG Weser, Bremen
Commissioned 2 Jan, 1941 Kptlt. Richard Zapp (Knights Cross)
Commanders
2 Jan, 1941 - 21 Jun, 1942 KrvKpt. Richard Zapp (Knights Cross)
22 Jun, 1942 - 1 Sep, 1943 Kptlt. Friedrich Markworth (Knights Cross)
6 Aug, 1943 - 1 Sep, 1943 Oblt. Paul Frerks
2 Sep, 1943 - 6 May, 1944 Gerhard Seehausen
Career 9 patrols 2 Jan, 1941 - 30 Apr, 1941 2. Flottille (training)
1 May, 1941 - 6 May, 1944 2. Flottille (front boat)
Successes 33 ships sunk for a total of 200.021 GRT
2 ships damaged for a total of 22.674 GRT
2 warships damaged for a total of 64 tons
Fate Sunk 6 May, 1944 west of the Cape Verde Islands, in position 17.17N, 32.29W, by depth charges, ramming and gunfire from Avenger and Wildcat aircraft of the US escort carrier USS Block Island and by the destroyer escort USS Buckley. 24 dead and 36 survivors.

* U-66 was on her 10th Patrol when she was attacked on 3 Aug, 1943 by aircraft from the US escort carrier USS Card. The II WO was killed and the Commander, the I WO and 7 other men were wounded. On 7 Aug, 1943 they met the oil supply U-boat U-117 and the WO Oblt. Frerks from that boat took over the command. Immediately afterwards the U-117 was sunk with all hands, U-66 was still along its side at the time of the attack but managed to escape.

U-66 brought no luck to the supply-boats. On the night from 25th to 26th Apr, 1944 they were planning to be supplied from U-488, but the Milk Cow was sunk during that night, 4 days before U-66 herself was also sunk.

U-66 was hunted by aircraft and surface escorts of the escort carrier USS Block Island from May 1. Several attacks were made, including 3 Fido homing torpedoes that were dropped on the boat. Finally on the morning of the 6th U-66 was seen by the destroyer escort USS Buckley. After exchange of gunfire the escort rammed the boat at 0329 and many Germans climbed on the escort's forecastle. The Americans believed they were being boarded as some Germans carried small arms and a small brawl ensued. The escort backed away from the U-boat leaving 5 armed Germans on the escort who were promptly subdued and taken below. The U-boat started to draw ahead but then turned and hit the escort near its engine room and for the second time the boat was raked with gunfire. The boat then finally sank after a final salvo from the escort's 3in gun after one of the longest fights in the war.

U-66 was one of the five boats that started Operation Drumbeat in Jan, 1942.

On 20 January, 1943 this boat landed espionage agent Jean Lallart on the coast of Mauritania near Cape Blanc. Lallart and the two crewmen who rowed him ashore (Bootsmaat Wagner and Matrosenobergefreiter Daschkey) were immediately captured by the French. After waiting in vain for over 13 hours for the crewmen to return, Kptlt. Markworth was forced to abandon his crewmen to whatever fate they had suffered. Ten days later Markworth learned of the capture of his men.

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10-10-05, 12:22 AM	#31
Barbarossa Swabbie Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Chicago, Illinois. usa Posts: 6 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	U-66 Type IXC Laid down 20 Mar, 1940 AG Weser, Bremen Commissioned 2 Jan, 1941 Kptlt. Richard Zapp (Knights Cross) Commanders 2 Jan, 1941 - 21 Jun, 1942 KrvKpt. Richard Zapp (Knights Cross) 22 Jun, 1942 - 1 Sep, 1943 Kptlt. Friedrich Markworth (Knights Cross) 6 Aug, 1943 - 1 Sep, 1943 Oblt. Paul Frerks 2 Sep, 1943 - 6 May, 1944 Gerhard Seehausen Career 9 patrols 2 Jan, 1941 - 30 Apr, 1941 2. Flottille (training) 1 May, 1941 - 6 May, 1944 2. Flottille (front boat) Successes 33 ships sunk for a total of 200.021 GRT 2 ships damaged for a total of 22.674 GRT 2 warships damaged for a total of 64 tons Fate Sunk 6 May, 1944 west of the Cape Verde Islands, in position 17.17N, 32.29W, by depth charges, ramming and gunfire from Avenger and Wildcat aircraft of the US escort carrier USS Block Island and by the destroyer escort USS Buckley. 24 dead and 36 survivors. * U-66 was on her 10th Patrol when she was attacked on 3 Aug, 1943 by aircraft from the US escort carrier USS Card. The II WO was killed and the Commander, the I WO and 7 other men were wounded. On 7 Aug, 1943 they met the oil supply U-boat U-117 and the WO Oblt. Frerks from that boat took over the command. Immediately afterwards the U-117 was sunk with all hands, U-66 was still along its side at the time of the attack but managed to escape. U-66 brought no luck to the supply-boats. On the night from 25th to 26th Apr, 1944 they were planning to be supplied from U-488, but the Milk Cow was sunk during that night, 4 days before U-66 herself was also sunk. U-66 was hunted by aircraft and surface escorts of the escort carrier USS Block Island from May 1. Several attacks were made, including 3 Fido homing torpedoes that were dropped on the boat. Finally on the morning of the 6th U-66 was seen by the destroyer escort USS Buckley. After exchange of gunfire the escort rammed the boat at 0329 and many Germans climbed on the escort's forecastle. The Americans believed they were being boarded as some Germans carried small arms and a small brawl ensued. The escort backed away from the U-boat leaving 5 armed Germans on the escort who were promptly subdued and taken below. The U-boat started to draw ahead but then turned and hit the escort near its engine room and for the second time the boat was raked with gunfire. The boat then finally sank after a final salvo from the escort's 3in gun after one of the longest fights in the war. U-66 was one of the five boats that started Operation Drumbeat in Jan, 1942. On 20 January, 1943 this boat landed espionage agent Jean Lallart on the coast of Mauritania near Cape Blanc. Lallart and the two crewmen who rowed him ashore (Bootsmaat Wagner and Matrosenobergefreiter Daschkey) were immediately captured by the French. After waiting in vain for over 13 hours for the crewmen to return, Kptlt. Markworth was forced to abandon his crewmen to whatever fate they had suffered. Ten days later Markworth learned of the capture of his men.