German submarine U-954

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History
War ensign of Germany (1938-1945).svg Nazi Germany
NameU-954
Ordered10 April 1941
Builder Blohm & Voss, Hamburg
Yard number154
Laid down10 February 1942
Launched28 October 1942
Commissioned23 December 1942
FateSunk on 19 May 1943 in the North Atlantic south-east of Cape Farewell, Greenland in position 54°54′N34°19′W / 54.900°N 34.317°W / 54.900; -34.317 , by depth charges from the British frigate HMS Jed and the British sloop HMS Sennen. 47 dead (all hands lost).
General characteristics
Class and type Type VIIC submarine
Displacement
Length
Beam
  • 6.20 m (20 ft 4 in) o/a
  • 4.70 m (15 ft 5 in) pressure hull
Height9.60 m (31 ft 6 in)
Draught4.74 m (15 ft 7 in)
Installed power
  • 2,800–3,200 PS (2,100–2,400 kW; 2,800–3,200 bhp) (diesels)
  • 750 PS (550 kW; 740 shp) (electric)
Propulsion
Speed
  • 17.7 knots (32.8 km/h; 20.4 mph) surfaced
  • 7.6 knots (14.1 km/h; 8.7 mph) submerged
Range
  • 8,500  nmi (15,700  km; 9,800  mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) surfaced
  • 80 nmi (150 km; 92 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph) submerged
Test depth
  • 230 m (750 ft)
  • Crush depth: 250–295 m (820–968 ft)
Complement4 officers, 40–56 enlisted
Armament
Service record [1] [2]
Part of:
Identification codes: M 49 568
Commanders:
  • Kptlt. Odo Loewe
  • 23 December 1942 – 19 May 1943
Operations:
  • 1 patrol:
  • 8 April – 19 May 1943
Victories: None

German submarine U-954 was a Type VIIC submarine of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine in World War II.

Contents

Design

German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-954 had a displacement of 769 tonnes (757 long tons) when at the surface and 871 tonnes (857 long tons) while submerged. [3] She had a total length of 67.10 m (220 ft 2 in), a pressure hull length of 50.50 m (165 ft 8 in), a beam of 6.20 m (20 ft 4 in), a height of 9.60 m (31 ft 6 in), and a draught of 4.74 m (15 ft 7 in). The submarine was powered by two Germaniawerft F46 four-stroke, six-cylinder supercharged diesel engines producing a total of 2,800 to 3,200 metric horsepower (2,060 to 2,350 kW; 2,760 to 3,160 shp) for use while surfaced, two Brown, Boveri & Cie GG UB 720/8 double-acting electric motors producing a total of 750 metric horsepower (550 kW; 740 shp) for use while submerged. She had two shafts and two 1.23 m (4 ft) propellers. The boat was capable of operating at depths of up to 230 metres (750 ft). [3]

The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 17.7 knots (32.8 km/h; 20.4 mph) and a maximum submerged speed of 7.6 knots (14.1 km/h; 8.7 mph). [3] When submerged, the boat could operate for 80 nautical miles (150 km; 92 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph); when surfaced, she could travel 8,500 nautical miles (15,700 km; 9,800 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph). U-954 was fitted with five 53.3 cm (21 in) torpedo tubes (four fitted at the bow and one at the stern), fourteen torpedoes, one 8.8 cm (3.46 in) SK C/35 naval gun, 220 rounds, and one twin 2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 anti-aircraft gun. The boat had a complement of between forty-four and sixty. [3]

Service history

Wolfpacks

U-954 took part in five wolfpacks, namely:

Fate

On 19 May 1943, U-954 was sunk with all hands by hedgehog attacks from the Banff-class sloop HMS Sennen and the River-class frigate HMS Jed, both escorting Convoy SC 130. [4] One of those killed in the sinking was Admiral Karl Dönitz's son Peter Dönitz. [5]

See also

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References

  1. ↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-954". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 19 February 2010.
  2. ↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "War Patrols by German U-boat U-954". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 19 February 2010.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Gröner 1991, pp. 43–46.
  4. ↑ Rohwer, J. and Hummelchen, G. (1992). Chronology of the War at Sea 1939-1945. Naval Institute Press. ISBN   1-55750-105-X., p212
  5. ↑ Blair, Clay (1998). Hitler's U-Boat War, The Hunted 1942–1945. Random House. ISBN   0-679-45742-9, pp.333-334

Bibliography

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