Unterseeboot 166

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Unterseeboot 166 (usually abbreviated to U-166) was a Type IXC U-Boat that first entered service in May of 1942, under the command of Captain Hans-Gunther Kuhlmann, and with a crew of 52.

[edit] Combat actions, declared missing

From June 1 1942 until July 30 1942 the U-166 operated in the Gulf of Mexico, with the assignment of hampering United States shipping. The U-166 is credited during that time with the following kills; [1]

July 11, 1942: Carmen, 84 tons
July 13, 1942: Oneida, 2,309 tons
July 16, 1942: Gertrude, 16 tons
July 30, 1942: Robert E. Lee, 5,184 tons

The USS Robert E. Lee was under escort from the United States Navy's Patrol Craft class USS PC-566, which immediately attacked U-166 following its torpedo attack which resulted in the sinking of the USS Robert E. Lee. The attack occurred approximately 45 miles south of the Mississippi River Delta. It was believed until recently that the USS PC-566 missed U-166 in its attack. On August 1, 1942, a United States Coast Guard plane, a Grumman Widgeon amphibious aircraft, spotted a u-boat trolling approximately 100 miles off the coast of Houma, Louisiana. The American aircraft attacked, and it appeared that the u-boat was hit in the attack. The U-166 was reported missing in action on July 30, 1942, which coincided with the American plane's attack on "a U-Boat", and leading to that US aircraft being wrongly credited with the sinking of U-166. Both airmen were decorated for the action. [2] [3] [4]

[edit] Wreckage located in 2001

However, in 2001, when the wreck of the USS Robert E. Lee was located, in a depth of more than 5,000 feet of water, the wreck of U-166 was also located, less than two miles from the location where it had attacked the USS Robert E. Lee. Upon investigation, it was discovered that another U-Boat, U-171, also operating in the Gulf of Mexico, had reported coming under attack from an American aircraft on August 1, 1942, with little damage. Therefore, the actual credit for the sinking of U-166 should have gone to the USS PC-566, which had reported that they believed they were successful in their depth charge attack on the U-Boat, but were believed by investigating officials to have missed. [5] [6] [7]

The site where U-166 lies, at 28°37′N 90°45′W, at a depth of around 5,000 feet, has now been designated a war grave due its crew of 52 being entombed there, and is protected from any future attempts to salvage it or bring it up. [8]