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  • 21 Aug, 2019

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German Submarine U-954

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. 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).

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). 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.

Service history

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)

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. One of those killed in the sinking was Admiral Karl Dönitz's son Peter Dönitz.

See also

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. ^ 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