List of all U-boats

U-541

Type

IXC/40

 
Ordered5 Jun 1941
Laid down5 Jun 1942 Deutsche Werft AG, Hamburg (werk 362)
Launched5 Jan 1943
Commissioned24 Mar 1943Oblt. Kurt Petersen
Commanders
24 Mar 1943 - 12 May 1945  Kptlt. Kurt Petersen (German Cross in Gold)
Career
4 patrols
24 Mar 1943-31 Oct 1943  4. Flottille (training)
1 Nov 1943-31 Oct 1944  10. Flottille (active service)
1 Nov 1944-8 May 1945  33. Flottille (active service)
Successes1 ship sunk, total tonnage 2,140 GRT
Fate

Surrendered on 12 May 1945 at Gibraltar.

Later transferred to Lisahally.

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

Final location

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

Wolfpack operations

U-541 operated with the following Wolfpacks during its career:
   Coronel (4 Dec 1943 - 8 Dec 1943)
   Coronel 2 (8 Dec 1943 - 14 Dec 1943)
   Coronel 3 (14 Dec 1943 - 17 Dec 1943)
   Borkum (18 Dec 1943 - 26 Dec 1943)

Attacks on this boat and other events

8 Sep 1944
The boat was preparing a surface torpedo attack in the Gulf of St. Lawrence when HMCS Norsyd (K 520) sighted her and opened fire. U-541 dived and was then hunted for the next two days by four frigates, a minesweeper and aircraft of the RCAF, but managed to evade the pursuers. (Sources: Blair, vol 2, page 623)

1 recorded attack on this boat.

General notes on this boat

26 May 1944. On 26 May 1944, U-541 stopped the neutral Portuguese passenger liner Serpa Pinto, en route to Canada south of Bermuda. The Germans found contraband for the USA and Mexico on board, and men of military age from 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 nine hours, but three had died during the vessel's evacuation. 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.

Men lost from the boat

12 Nov 1944
One man from U-541 died on 22 Nov following an accident in Flensburg. [Maschinengefreiter Valentin Seile]

  Related: For more info on such losses see - Men lost from U-boats -

U-boat Emblems

We have 1 emblem entry for this boat. See the emblem page for this boat or view emblems individually below.


Diving sea Bird

Media links


The Grey Wolves of Eriboll

David M. Hird


U-Boat Operations of the Second World War - Vol 2

Wynn, Kenneth


Hitler's U-boat War, Vol II

Blair, Clay


German U-Boat Losses During World War II

Niestle, Axel


The Royal Navy and German Naval Disarmament, 1942-1947

Madsen, Chris


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