U-454

Type

VIIC

Ordered

30 Oct 1939

Laid down

4 Jul 1940

Deutsche Werke AG, Kiel (werk 285)

Launched

30 Apr 1941

Commissioned

24 Jul 1941

Kptlt. Burckhard Hackländer

Commanders

24 Jul 1941 - 1 Aug 1943

Kptlt. Burckhard Hackländer

Career

10 patrols

24 Jul 1941 - 31 Oct 1941 5. Flottille (training)
1 Nov 1941 - 1 Aug 1943 7. Flottille (front boat)

Successes

1 ship sunk for a total of 557 GRT
1 warship sunk for a total of 1,870 tons
1 ship damaged for a total of 5,395 GRT

Fate

Sunk at 1400hrs on 1 Aug, 1943 in the Bay of Biscay north-west of Cape Ortegal, Spain, in position 45.36N, 10.23W, by depth charges from an Australian Sunderland aircraft (RAAF Sqdn. 10/B). 32 dead and 14 survivors.

See the 3 ships hit by U-454 - View the 10 war patrols

Wolfpack operations

U-454 operated with the following Wolfpacks during its career:
   Veilchen (24 Oct 1942 - 6 Nov 1942)
   Landknecht (22 Jan 1943 - 28 Jan 1943)
   Pfeil (2 Feb 1943 - 9 Feb 1943)
   Ritter (14 Feb 1943 - 26 Feb 1943)
   Rhein (8 May 1943 - 11 May 1943)
   Elbe 2 (11 May 1943 - 13 May 1943)

Attacks on this boat

10 May 1943
Around convoy HX 237 a Swordfish from the escort carrier HMS Biter drove the boat down without damages. (Sources: Blair, vol 2, page 327)

1 Aug 1943
The sinking of U-454 Aircraft attack, aircraft shot down:Australian Sunderland W4020 (10 Sqdn RAAF/B, pilot F/L Ken G. Fry)

At 14.40 hours, the outbound boat was attacked by the Sunderland in the Bay of Biscay. AA fire hit the aircraft repeatedly, but the depth charges were right on target and broke U-454 in two. The flying boat tried to ditch due to the damages sustained and crashed, killing the pilot and five crewmen. Six survivors were picked up by HMS Wren of the 2nd Escort Group, while HMS Kite picked up the commander and 13 survivors from the boat.

2 recorded attacks on this boat.