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 (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)

Successes

1 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.