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  Front page - The U-boats - Listing of all U-boats

W3C
08 November, 2009
Server time: 05:43

Type	IXC
Ordered	25 Sep 1939
Laid down	6 Dec 1940	Deutsche Schiff und Maschinenbau AG, Bremen (werk 705)
Launched	1 Nov 1941
Commissioned	23 Mar 1942	Oblt. Hans-Günther Kuhlmann
Commanders	23 Mar 1942 - 30 Jul 1942   Oblt. Hans-Günther Kuhlmann
Career	2 patrols	23 Mar 1942 - 31 May 1942  4. Flottille (training) 1 Jun 1942 - 30 Jul 1942  10. Flottille (front boat)
Successes	4 ships sunk for a total of 7,593 GRT
Fate	Sunk on 30 July, 1942 Gulf of Mexico, in position 28.5N, 89W, by depth charges from a US Navy escort vessel PC-566. 52 dead (all hands lost).

See the 4 ships hit by U-166 - View the 2 war patrols

General notes on this boat

The discovery of U-166 (June 10, 2001)
This boat was finally discovered and documented in late May 2001 after years and years of unsuccessful research and wreck-hunting. The wreck was located some 45 miles south of the mouth of Mississippi River, by C & C Technologies with their AUV during oil-survey work for BP Amoco and Shell.

We're compiling an article on the loss and eventual discovery of the boat right now, should be ready in the next few days.

Its discovery also changes its official fate since it's now certain that she was lost right after sinking her fourth and last victim, Robert E. Lee on July 30, 1942. Their wrecks are less than one mile from each other.

She is of course a gravesite now and cannot be disturbed, she is protected by some 5000feet of water in this regard.

uboat.net had published a theory on its location for a long time and that theory was proven correct although most did not subscribe to that one :)