U-54
Type | VIIB | |||||
| Ordered | 16 Jul, 1937 | |||||
| Laid down | 13 Sep, 1938 | Germaniawerft, Kiel (werk 589) | ||||
| Launched | 15 Aug, 1939 | |||||
| Commissioned | 23 Sep, 1939 | Kptlt. Georg-Heinz Michel | ||||
| Commanders |
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| Career | 1 patrol | 23 Sep, 1939 - 31 Dec, 1939 7. Flottille (training) 1 Jan, 1940 - 20 Feb, 1940 7. Flottille (front boat) | ||||
| Successes | No ships sunk or damaged | |||||
| Fate | Missing since 20 Feb, 1940 in North Sea, position unknown, probably lost to a mine. 41 dead (all hands lost). | |||||
The boat was possibly lost to mine barrages Field No. 4 or Field No. 6, both laid by the British destroyers HMS Ivanhoe and HMS Intrepid in early January 1940.
A part of one of its torpedoes was found on 14 March, 1940 by the German patrol boat V1101 in position 54.57N, 06.45E.
Men lost from U-boats
Unlike many other U-boats, which during their service lost men due to accidents and various other causes, U-54 did not suffer any casualties (we know of) until the time of her loss.
 German U-Boat Losses During World War II Niestle, Axel Buy this title at amazon.co.uk See more sellers |
Books dealing with this subject include: German U-Boat Losses During World War II, Niestle, Axel, 1998 U-Boat Operations of the Second World War - Vol 1, Wynn, Kenneth, 1998 U-Boat Operations of the Second World War - Vol 2, Wynn, Kenneth, 1998 |
There was another U-54 in World War One
That boat was launched from its shipyard on 22 Feb, 1916 and commissioned into the Imperial Navy on 22 May, 1916. The Naval war in WWI was brought to an end with the Armistice signed on 11 Nov, 1918. Read about the U 54 during WWI.
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Related page: U-boats Missing in Action. |