U 166
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After
the Japanese surprise attack on Pearl Harbor and the
undeclared war against USA 7. December 1941, Adolf Hitler
quickly followed up with declaring war on USA. Admiral
Dönitz and the Kriegsmarine soon launched their Operation
Paukenschlag, the attack on merchant shipping on the US
east coast. U-166 was launched in November 1941 and was a
large ocean going type IXC uboat. In June 1942 under
command of Oberleutnant Hans-Günther Kuhlman ( also see
his former ill fated U 580 ) she stood ready for duty.
She left Lorient in France 17. June 1942, and sat course
for the US east coast. Between 11. July and 30. July, they
managed to sink four American merchant vessels, including
Robert
E. Lee. After the sinking of Lee, she was spotted by
a Grumman aircraft from the US Navy and sunk by a depth
charge. U 166 went down in the deep with all hands lost.
The wreck was discovered in May 2001 on a depth of 15oo
meter, not far from the wreck of Robert E. Lee. The wreck was filmed
and documented, and declared a war grave.
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| 28°41 N 88°42 W ( Source: Uboat.net)  Picture: U 805, Type IXC class uboat Copyright © uboat.net Interested in uboats and their commanders? Visit Uboat Net Last updated: September
2017
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