German submarine U-540
History | |
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Nazi Germany | |
Name | U-540 |
Ordered | 5 June 1941 |
Builder | Deutsche Werft, Hamburg |
Yard number | 361 |
Laid down | 12 May 1942 |
Launched | 18 December 1942 |
Commissioned | 10 March 1943 |
Fate | Sunk on 17 October 1943 east of Cape Farewell (Greenland) by two British aircraft[1] |
General characteristics | |
Class and type | Type IXC/40 submarine |
Displacement | |
Length |
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Beam |
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Height | 9.60 m (31 ft 6 in) |
Draught | 4.67 m (15 ft 4 in) |
Installed power |
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Propulsion |
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Speed |
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Range |
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Test depth | 230 m (750 ft) |
Complement | 4 officers, 44 enlisted |
Armament |
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Service record | |
Part of: |
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Identification codes: | M 50 445 |
Commanders: |
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Operations: |
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Victories: | None |
German submarine U-540 was a
.She was laid down at the Deutsche Werft (yard) in Hamburg as yard number 361 on 12 May 1942, launched on 18 December and commissioned on 10 March 1943 with Kapitänleutnant Lorenz Kasch in command.
U-540 began her service career with training as part of the 4th U-boat Flotilla from 10 March 1943. She was reassigned to the 10th flotilla for operations on 1 October.
She carried out one patrol and did not sink any ships. She was a member of one wolfpack.
She was sunk on 17 October 1943 east of Cape Farewell (Greenland) by British aircraft.
Design
The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 18.3 knots (33.9 km/h; 21.1 mph) and a maximum submerged speed of 7.3 knots (13.5 km/h; 8.4 mph).
Service history
Patrol and loss
The boat departed Kiel on 11 September 1943, moved through the North Sea, negotiated the gap between Iceland and the Faroe Islands and entered the Atlantic Ocean.
She was sunk on 17 October 1943 east of Cape Farewell (Greenland) by
Fifty-five men died; there were no survivors.[1]
Wolfpacks
U-540 took part in one wolfpack, namely:
- Schlieffen (16 – 17 October 1943)
References
Bibliography
- Busch, Rainer; Röll, Hans-Joachim (1999). German U-boat commanders of World War II : a biographical dictionary. Translated by Brooks, Geoffrey. London, Annapolis, Md: Greenhill Books, Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-55750-186-6.
- Busch, Rainer; Röll, Hans-Joachim (1999). Deutsche U-Boot-Verluste von September 1939 bis Mai 1945 [German U-boat losses from September 1939 to May 1945]. Der U-Boot-Krieg (in German). Vol. IV. Hamburg, Berlin, Bonn: Mittler. ISBN 3-8132-0514-2.
- Gröner, Erich; Jung, Dieter; Maass, Martin (1991). U-boats and Mine Warfare Vessels. German Warships 1815–1945. Vol. 2. Translated by Thomas, Keith; Magowan, Rachel. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-593-4.
- Kemp, Paul (1997). U-Boats Destroyed - German Submarine Losses in the World Wars. Arms & Armour. ISBN 1-85409-515-3.
External links
- Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type IXC/40 boat U-540". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 7 December 2014.