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 (German Cross in Gold)

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 on 24 April 1945 in the North Atlantic 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 and other events

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

17 Apr 1944
Aircraft attack, aircraft shot down: British B-24 Liberator bomber BZ800 (RAF Sqdn 53/H, pilot F/L C. Roberts)

04.53 hrs, North of Finisterre, off the Bay of Biscay, inbound: after approaching using the Leigh Light, the Liberator dropped six depth charges, two to starboard and four to port of U-546 (which caused only minor damage) before the boat dived. The aircraft crashed into the sea 500m (547 yds) from U-546. All nine aircrew died.

(Sources: Franks/Zimmerman)

18 Jun 1944
Bay of Biscay, SW of Ushant, outbound: After using all the flak ammunition fending off an unidentified Allied aircraft, U-546 returned to Lorient, arriving 22 June and re-embarking 25 June. 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 three hours of depth charging from the escorts before escaping. (Sources: Blair, vol 2, page 621)

4 recorded attacks on this boat.