German submarine U-542
History | |
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Nazi Germany | |
Name | U-542 |
Ordered | 5 June 1941 |
Builder | Deutsche Werft, Hamburg |
Yard number | 363 |
Laid down | 12 June 1942 |
Launched | 19 January 1943 |
Commissioned | 7 April 1943 |
Fate | Sunk on 28 November 1943 north of Madeira by a 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 51 111 |
Commanders: |
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Operations: |
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Victories: | None |
German submarine U-542 was a
.She was laid down at the Deutsche Werft (yard) in Hamburg as yard number 363 on 12 June 1942, launched on 19 January 1943 and commissioned on 7 April with Oberleutnant zur See Christian-Brandt Coester in command.
U-542 began her service career with training as part of the 4th U-boat Flotilla from 7 April 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 three wolfpacks.
She was sunk on 28 November 1943 north of Madeira by a 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 21 October 1943, moved through the North Sea, negotiated the gap between Iceland and the Faroe Islands and entered the Atlantic Ocean.
She was sunk on 28 November 1943 north of Madeira by depth charges dropped from a British Vickers Wellington of No. 179 Squadron RAF.[3]
Fifty-six men died; there were no survivors.[1]
Wolfpacks
U-542 took part in three wolfpacks, namely:
- Eisenhart 1 (9 – 15 November 1943)
- Schill 3 (18 – 22 November 1943)
- Weddigen (22 – 28 November 1943)
References
- ^ a b Kemp 1997, p. 160.
- ^ a b c d Gröner 1991, p. 68.
- ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type IXC/40 boat U-542". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 27 November 2012.
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-542". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 7 December 2014.