German submarine U-366

German submarine U-366 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

She carried out two patrols. She did not sink or damage any ships.

She was a member of three wolfpacks.

She was sunk by a British aircraft, Swordfish "F" of 816 Squadron FAA, northwest of Hammerfest on 5 March 1944.

Design
German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-366 had a displacement of 769 t when at the surface and 871 t while submerged. She had a total length of 67.10 m, a pressure hull length of 50.50 m, a beam of 6.20 m, a height of 9.60 m, and a draught of 4.74 m. The submarine was powered by two Germaniawerft F46 four-stroke, six-cylinder supercharged diesel engines producing a total of 2800 to 3200 PS for use while surfaced, two AEG GU 460/8–27 double-acting electric motors producing a total of 750 PS for use while submerged. She had two shafts and two 1.23 m propellers. The boat was capable of operating at depths of up to 230 m.

The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 17.7 kn and a maximum submerged speed of 7.6 kn. When submerged, the boat could operate for 80 nmi at 4 kn; when surfaced, she could travel 8500 nmi at 10 kn. U-366 was fitted with five 53.3 cm torpedo tubes (four fitted at the bow and one at the stern), fourteen torpedoes, one 8.8 cm SK C/35 naval gun, 220 rounds, and two twin 2 cm C/30 anti-aircraft guns. The boat had a complement of between forty-four and sixty.

Service history
The submarine was laid down on 22 May 1942 at the Flensburger Schiffbau-Gesellschaft yard at Flensburg as yard number 485, launched on 16 April 1943 and commissioned on 16 July under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Bruno Langenberg.

She served with the 5th U-boat Flotilla from 16 July 1943 and the 13th flotilla from 1 March 1944.

The boat was moved from Kiel in Germany to Bergen in Norway in February 1944.

First patrol
U-359's first patrol took her from Bergen to Hammerfest, along the Norwegian coastline, also in February.

Second patrol and loss
During another move from Hammerfest, she was attacked and sunk on 5 March 1944 by rockets fired from a Fairey Swordfish of 816 Naval Air Squadron, FAA (Fleet Air Arm). The aircraft had flown from the escort carrier HMS Chaser.

50 men died in the U-boat; there were no survivors.

Wolfpacks
U-366 took part in three wolfpacks, namely:
 * Hartmut (23 – 28 February 1944)
 * Boreas (4 – 5 March 1944)
 * Orkan (5 March 1944)