German submarine U-954
| History | |
|---|---|
 Nazi Germany
| |
| Name: | U-954 |
| Ordered: | 10 April 1941 |
| Builder: | Blohm & Voss, Hamburg |
| Yard number: | 154 |
| Laid down: | 10 February 1942 |
| Launched: | 28 October 1942 |
| Commissioned: | 23 December 1942 |
| Fate: | Sunk on 19 May 1943 in the North Atlantic south-east of Cape Farewell, Greenland in position 54°54′N 34°19′W / 54.900°N 34.317°WCoordinates: 54°54′N 34°19′W / 54.900°N 34.317°W, by depth charges from the British frigate HMS Jed and the British sloop HMS Sennen. 47 dead (all hands lost). |
| General characteristics | |
| Class & type: | Type VIIC submarine |
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| Height: | 9.60 m (31 ft 6 in) |
| Draught: | 4.74 m (15 ft 7 in) |
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| Complement: | 4 officers, 40–56 enlisted |
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The German submarine U-954 was a Type VIIC submarine of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine in World War II.
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.[1] 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).[1]
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).[1] 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 an anti-aircraft gun. The boat had a complement of between forty-four and sixty.[1]
Service history
Fate
She 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.[2] One of those killed in the sinking was Admiral Karl Dönitz's son Peter Dönitz.[3]
Wolfpacks
U-954 took part in five wolfpacks, namely.
- Meise (25–27 April 1943)
- Star (27 April - 4 May 1943)
- Fink (4–6 May 1943)
- Inn (11–15 May 1943)
- Donau 2 (15–19 May 1943)
See also
References
Bibliography
- Busch, Rainer; Röll, Hans-Joachim (1999). Deutsche U-Boot-Verluste von September 1939 bis Mai 1945. Der U-Boot-Krieg (in German) IV (Hamburg, Berlin, Bonn: Mittler). ISBN 3-8132-0514-2.
- Edwards, Bernard (1996). Dönitz and the Wolf Packs - The U-boats at War. Cassell Military Classics. p. 212. ISBN 0-304-35203-9.
- Hague, Arnold (2000). The Allied Convoy System 1939-1945. Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-55750-019-3.
- Gröner, Erich; Jung, Dieter; Maass, Martin (1991). U-boats and Mine Warfare Vessels. German Warships 1815–1945 2. Translated by Thomas, Keith; Magowan, Rachel (London: Conway Maritime Press). ISBN 0-85177-593-4.
External links
- Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-954". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 29 December 2014.