Name U-954 Yard number 154 Commissioned 23 December 1942 Launched 28 October 1942 Draft 4.74 m Builder Blohm + Voss | Ordered 10 April 1941 Laid down 10 February 1942 Construction started 10 February 1942 Length 67 m Beam 6.18 m | |
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Fate Sunk on 19 May 1943 in the North Atlantic south-east of Cape Farewell, Greenland in position , by depth charges from the British frigate HMS Jed and the British sloop HMS Sennen. 47 dead (all hands lost). | ||
The German submarine U-954 was a Type VIIC submarine of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine in World War II.
Contents
Design
German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-954 had a displacement of 769 tonnes (757 long tons) when at the surface and 871 tonnes (857 long tons) while submerged. She had a total length of 67.10 m (220 ft 2 in), a pressure hull length of 50.50 m (165 ft 8 in), a beam of 6.20 m (20 ft 4 in), a height of 9.60 m (31 ft 6 in), and a draught of 4.74 m (15 ft 7 in). The submarine was powered by two Germaniawerft F46 four-stroke, six-cylinder supercharged diesel engines producing a total of 2,800 to 3,200 metric horsepower (2,060 to 2,350 kW; 2,760 to 3,160 shp) for use while surfaced, two Brown, Boveri & Cie GG UB 720/8 double-acting electric motors producing a total of 750 metric horsepower (550 kW; 740 shp) for use while submerged. She had two shafts and two 1.23 m (4 ft) propellers. The boat was capable of operating at depths of up to 230 metres (750 ft).
The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 17.7 knots (32.8 km/h; 20.4 mph) and a maximum submerged speed of 7.6 knots (14.1 km/h; 8.7 mph). When submerged, the boat could operate for 80 nautical miles (150 km; 92 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph); when surfaced, she could travel 8,500 nautical miles (15,700 km; 9,800 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph). U-954 was fitted with five 53.3 cm (21 in) torpedo tubes (four fitted at the bow and one at the stern), fourteen torpedoes, one 8.8 cm (3.46 in) SK C/35 naval gun, 220 rounds, and an anti-aircraft gun. The boat had a complement of between forty-four and sixty.
Fate
She was sunk with all hands by hedgehog attacks from the Banff class sloop HMS Sennen and the River class frigate HMS Jed, both escorting Convoy SC 130. One of those killed in the sinking was Admiral Karl Dönitz's son Peter Dönitz.
Wolfpacks
U-954 took part in five wolfpacks, namely.