U-541

Type

IXC/40

Ordered

5 Jun 1941

Laid down

5 Jun 1942

Deutsche Werft AG, Hamburg (werk 362)

Launched

5 Jan 1943

Commissioned

24 Mar 1943

Oblt. Kurt Petersen

Commanders

24 Mar 1943 - 12 May 1945

Kptlt. Kurt Petersen

Career

4 patrols

24 Mar 1943 - 31 Oct 1943  4. Flottille (training)
1 Nov 1943 - 31 Oct 1944  10. Flottille (front boat)
1 Nov 1944 - 8 May 1945  33. Flottille (front boat)

Successes

1 ship sunk for a total of 2,140 GRT

Fate

Surrendered at Gibraltar on 14 May, 1945. Transferred to Lisahally for Operation Deadlight.

Operation Deadlight (post-war Allied operation, info)
Sunk on 5 Jan, 1946 in position 55.38N, 07.35W.

See the 1 ships hit by U-541 - View the 4 war patrols

Attacks on this boat

8 Sep 1944
The boat was preparing a surface torpedo attack in the Gulf of St. Lawrence when HMCS Norsyd (K 520) forced her to dive by gunfire. The U-boat was then hunted by four frigates, a minesweeper and aircraft of the RCAF for two days, but they evaded the searchers. (Sources: Blair, vol 2, page 623)

1 recorded attack on this boat.

General notes on this boat

26 May 1944. On 26 May, 1944, the U-boat stopped the neutral Portuguese passenger liner Serpa Pinto en route to Canada south of Bermuda. The Germans found contraband for the USA and Mexico aboard and men of military age belonging to enemy countries and Jewish refugees among the 200 passengers. All hands were ordered to abandon ship, but the BdU instructed the commander not to sink her. The crew and passengers were allowed to reboard the ship after 9 hours, but three died in the evacuation process. Two American passengers were taken prisoner and landed at Lorient on 22 June.

Schnorchel-fitted U-boat
This boat was fitted with a Schnorchel underwater-breathing apparatus in November 1944. Read more about the Schnorchel and see list of fitted boats.