U-546

Type

IXC/40

Ordered

5 Jun 1941

Laid down

6 Aug 1942

Deutsche Werft AG, Hamburg (werk 367)

Launched

17 Mar 1943

Commissioned

2 Jun 1943

Oblt. Paul Just

Commanders

2 Jun 1943

24 Apr 1945

Kptlt. Paul Just

Career
3 patrols

2 Jun 1943	-	31 Dec 1943	4. Flottille (training)
1 Jan 1944	-	9 Nov 1944	10. Flottille (active service)
10 Nov 1944	-	24 Apr 1945	33. Flottille (active service)

Successes

1 warship sunk, total tonnage 1,200 tons

Fate

Sunk 24 April, 1945 north-west of the Azores, in position 43.53N, 40.07W, by depth charges from the US destroyer escorts USS Flaherty, USS Neunzer, USS Chatelain, USS Varian, USS Hubbard, USS Janssen, USS Pillsbury and USS Keith. 26 dead and 33 survivors.

Loss position

See the 1 ships hit by U-546 - View the 3 war patrols

Wolfpack operations

U-546 operated with the following Wolfpacks during its career:
   Igel 1 (9 Feb 1944 - 17 Feb 1944)
   Hai 1 (17 Feb 1944 - 22 Feb 1944)
   Seewolf (14 Apr 1945 - 24 Apr 1945)

Attacks on this boat

16 Feb 1944
A Sunderland flying boat attacked U-546 in the mid North Atlantic. One man died and there was minor damage to the diesel engines, but the boat reported it was able to continue its patrol. [Matrosengefreiter Wilhelm van de Kamp] (Sources: Blair, vol 2, page 500)

17 Apr 1944
Aircraft attack, aircraft shot down: British Liberator aircraft BZ800 (53 Sqdn RAF/H, pilot F/L C. Roberts)

04.53 hrs, North of Finisterre, off Bay of Biscay: the inbound U-546 was attacked by a Leigh Light equipped Liberator. Six depth charges were dropped, two to starboard and four to port of U-546, causing only minor damage before the boat dived to escape further attacks from aircraft. The aicraft was shot down, crashing into the sea 500 meters from U-546. All 9 crew died.

(Sources: Franks/Zimmerman)

18 Jun 1944
An unidentified Allied aircraft attacked the outbound U-546 SW of Ushant in the Bay of Biscay. The boat used used all its Flak ammo in fending it off, and returned to Lorient, arriving 22 June, re-embarking on 25 June. The date of attack is approximate. (Sources: Blair, vol 2, page 621)

20 Jul 1944
U-546 was detected by an American hunter-killer group west of Funchal on the 20th June after a chase that had started on the 13th. The boat fired a torpedo at the escort carrier but missed, and suffered 3 hours of depth charge attacks from the escorts before escaping. (Sources: Blair, vol 2, page 621)

4 recorded attacks on this boat.