U-166
A Photographic Record

U-166 never completed a war patrol, and none of her crew that sailed from Lorient returned home. Despite that, there remains an unusual and remarkable photographic record of her brief life. Her commander, Hans-Günther Kuhlmann, was an avid photographer, and had many pictures taken of both his major commands, U-580 and U-166. These photographs, packed away after his death in 1942, remained undiscovered until 2001, when a German film crew doing a story about the discovery of the submarine tracked down his widow, Gertrude, who told them of her husband's collection of images. This remarkable collection was subsequently transferred to the PAST Foundation in the United States which, in conjunction with the D-Day Museum of New Orleans, is working to use these long-lost images to tell a nearly-forgotten tale of the Second World War.

Oberleutnant zur See (First Lieutenant) Hans-Günther Kuhlmann (saluting) is congratulated by senior officers prior to the commissioning ceremony.  Image courtesy the PAST Foundation and the D-Day Museum, New Orleans.

A naval rating hoists the Kriegsmarine ensign on U-166 at the boat's
commissioning ceremony, March 23, 1942. Image courtesy the PAST Foundation
and the D-Day Museum, New Orleans.

The reviewing officer, with Kuhlmann at his left, congratulates the crew of U-166 after the commissioning ceremony. Most of these men had survived the sinking of U-580 just four months before.  Image courtesy the PAST Foundation and the D-Day Museum, New Orleans.

Kuhlmann on the bridge of U-166. By tradition, U-boat commanders wore a white cap cover, while all other officers wore dark blue. Image courtesy the PAST Foundation and the D-Day Museum, New Orleans.

The after deck of U-166, looking forward.  Image courtesy the PAST Foundation and the D-Day Museum, New Orleans.

The conning tower of U-166, viewed from the fore deck. The boat's 105mm deck gun appears at center. This photograph, as well as the two that precede it, may have been taken on May 30-31, 1942, when the boat was transiting the Kiel Canal between the Baltic and North Seas. Image courtesy the PAST Foundation and the D-Day Museum, New Orleans.

The engine compartment of U-166, looking aft from the main control room. The circular outline of the pressure hatch between compartments can be seen at bottom right. The two, 2,200 horsepower diesel engines shown propelled the boat when on the surface; when dived, the boat ran on electric motors powered by huge banks of batteries. In the right foreground is a vise and workbench used for making repairs. Image courtesy the PAST Foundation and the D-Day Museum, New Orleans.

Looking forward from the control room of U-166 into the officers' quarters. Kuhlmann's cabin, separated from the rest of the compartment by a curtain, is at left. At right is the table where the boat's officers would meet and take their meals. Beyond the doorway, where the crewman is standing (center), are the accommodations for senior enlisted crew members. Beyond that is the forward torpedo room. Image courtesy the PAST Foundation and the D-Day Museum, New Orleans.

The officers of U-166: Hans-Günther Kuhlmann (left); Hans Traun (bottom) and Erwin Klein (right). The man at center top is probably Leutnant zur See Claus von Oppel, the only one of the four who had not come from U-580.  Image courtesy the PAST Foundation and the D-Day Museum, New Orleans.

Additional data from: Uboat.net