U-966: Submarine Hx & Future

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On 10 November 1943, the crew of U-966 scuttled her in the Bay of Biscay off O Porto de Bares, Galicia, Spain, after several depth charge attacks badly damaged her. U-966 was attacked by an RAF Wellington of 612 Squadron/B and then US Navy B-24 Liberators of squadrons VB-103 and VB-110.

Later that day Liberator GR Mk V BZ774/D of the RAF's Czechoslovak-crewed 311 Squadron/D sighted U-966 at 43°45′N 08°00′W. The submarine headed for the netural Spanish coast at full speed but at 1354 hrs BZ774/D attacked her with wing-mounted SAP60 semi-armour piercing rocket projectiles (RP's).

Several of the RP's failed to function, and the Czechoslovak aircrew was unable to see any effects on the target from those that did. But U-966 slowed to an estimated six to eight knots, and then within 200 yards (180 m) of the Spanish coast she slowed to two knots before running aground. 42 of her 50 crew survived. They scuttled her, took to their dinghies and were interned in Spain.[4]

The wreck is at 43°46′8″N 07°38′0″WCoordinates: 43°46′8″N 07°38′0″W.

U-966
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-44741045

Divers have found wreckage from a Nazi World War Two U-boat near the coast of Galicia in north-western Spain.

U-966 was heavily damaged by Allied bombers in November 1943, so the crew blew it up with timed charges and all but eight reached dry land.

US Navy and RAF Liberator bombers targeted U-966 with depth charges for a whole day, as the German submarine zig-zagged and fired its anti-aircraft gun.

One Allied plane was shot down - reportedly an RAF Catalina flying boat.

An RAF Wellington bomber also took part in the submarine chase and dropped depth charges.

The U-boat was returning from an operation off the coast of North America when it was detected by the Allies. Bombers attacked it repeatedly on 10 November 1943, crippling it.

U-boats had inflicted enormous damage on Allied shipping earlier in the war. They attacked supply convoys as well as naval vessels.

The Gut Holz, 67m (220ft) long, was nearly brand new. It had been launched in January 1943, and had a career lasting just 10 months.

Spain's fascist dictator, Gen Francisco Franco, was not officially allied with Nazi Germany, but the supposedly neutral country was known to assist the Nazi war effort in various ways. Those friendly relations enabled surviving sailors to get back to Germany.
https://plus.google.com/103755316640704343614/posts/CoBczxRicPX

German submarine U-966 - Wikipedia