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 (active service)

Successes

1 ship sunk, total tonnage 557 GRT
1 warship sunk, total tonnage 1,870 tons
1 ship damaged, total tonnage 5,395 GRT

Fate

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

Loss position

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:
   Ulan (25 Dec 1941 - 18 Jan 1942)
   Aufnahme (7 Mar 1942 - 10 Mar 1942)
   Umhang (10 Mar 1942 - 15 Mar 1942)
   Eiswolf (28 Mar 1942 - 31 Mar 1942)
   Robbenschlag (8 Apr 1942 - 14 Apr 1942)
   Blutrausch (15 Apr 1942 - 19 Apr 1942)
   Wolf (13 Jul 1942 - 30 Jul 1942)
   Pirat (30 Jul 1942 - 3 Aug 1942)
   Steinbrinck (3 Aug 1942 - 11 Aug 1942)
   Panther (6 Oct 1942 - 20 Oct 1942)
   Veilchen (20 Oct 1942 - 7 Nov 1942)
   Kreuzotter (9 Nov 1942 - 18 Nov 1942)
   Landsknecht (20 Jan 1943 - 28 Jan 1943)
   Pfeil (1 Feb 1943 - 9 Feb 1943)
   Ritter (16 Feb 1943 - 23 Feb 1943)
   Amsel (26 Apr 1943 - 3 May 1943)
   Amsel 4 (3 May 1943 - 6 May 1943)
   Rhein (7 May 1943 - 10 May 1943)
   Elbe 2 (10 May 1943 - 14 May 1943)

Attacks on this boat and other events

10 May 1943
Mid Atlantic: a Swordfish aircraft from HMS Biter (D 97), escorting convoy HX 237 forced the boat to dive. No damage. (Sources: Blair, vol 2, page 327)

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

14.40 hrs, NW of Finisterre: Six days into her patrol after leaving La Pallice, U-454 was broken in two by fatally accurate depth charges from the Sunderland, despite its suffering severe damage from the U-boat flak barrage. An attempt to ditch failed, and the subsequent crash killed the pilot and five aircrew. Six survivors were rescued by HMS Wren of the 2nd Escort Group, while HMS Kite saved the commander and 13 survivors from U-454.

2 recorded attacks on this boat.