Unterseeboot 54 (1939)
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| Career (Nazi Germany) |  |
|---|---|
| Class and type: | Type VIIB U-boat |
| Name: | U-54 |
| Ordered: | 16 July 1937 |
| Builder: | Germaniawerft, Kiel |
| Laid down: | 13 September 1938 |
| Launched: | 15 August 1939 |
| Commissioned: | 23 September 1939 |
| Fate: | Missing since 20 February 1940 |
| General characteristics | |
| Displacement: | Surfaced 753 tons tons submerged 857 tons |
| Length: | Overall 66.6 m pressure hull 48.8 m |
| Beam: | Overall 6.2 m pressure hull 4.7 m |
| Draught: | 4.74 m |
| Propulsion: | Surfaced: two supercharged MAN, 6 cylinder, 4-stroke M6V 40/46 diesels totalling 2,800 - 3,200bhp(2,400 kW). Max rpm: 470-490. |
| Speed: | Surfaced 17.9 knot (33 km/h) submerged 8 knot (15 km/h) |
| Range: | Surfaced: 16,095 km submerged: 175 km |
| Test depth: | 230 m (754 ft). Calculated crush depth: 250-295 m (820-967 ft) |
| Complement: | 44 to 48 officers & ratings |
| Armament: |
|
Unterseeboot 54 was a German Type VIIB U-boat that served with the Kriegsmarine during the Second World War.
She was ordered on 16 July 1937 and was laid down on 13 September 1938 at Germaniawerft, Kiel, becoming 'werk 589'. She was launched on 15 August 1939 and commissioned under her first commander Kptlt. Georg-Heinz Michel on 23 September of that year. Michel commanded her for her work ups with the 7. Flottille between 23 September until 30 November 1939. He was succeeded by KrvKpt. Günter Kutschmann on 5 December and had completed the training programme by 31 December. She became the front boat of 7. Flottille and set out her first and only war patrol on 1 January 1940 in the North Sea. She did not record any successes during this cruise and was reported missing after failing to check in on 20 February.
She was probably lost with all hands after striking a mine in the mine barrages Field No. 4 or Field No. 6, which had been laid by the Royal Navy destroyers HMS Ivanhoe and HMS Intrepid in early January 1940. This however has not been proven and the reason for her disappearance remains unknown. Part of one of her torpedoes was found on 14 March 1940 by the German patrol boat V1101.
