U-boat patrols

Patrol info for U-539


DepartureArrival / FateDuration
14 Sep 1943Bergen23 Oct 1943Lorient40 days

Commander

Officers *


Oblt. Hans-Jürgen Lauterbach-Emden
1WO

Hans Götze
WO

Johannes van Stipriaan

Daily positions, sinkings and allied attacks during the patrol of U-539


We have daily positions for all 40 days on this patrol.

Wolfpack operations during this patrol

U-539 operated with the following Wolfpacks during this patrol
   Rossbach (24 Sep 1943 - 9 Oct 1943)

Ships hit by U-539 during this patrol

General Events during this patrol

We have no events listed for this patrol.

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Attacks on U-539 during this patrol

21 Sep 1943
The boat was attacked by British Hudson V9161 (269 Sqn RAF/G, pilot F/Sgt E.J.L. Brame) SE of Iceland. On the first approach the port aileron was damaged by flak and the pilot decided to drop two 100lb A/S bombs from a higher altitude to force the boat to dive. The bombs fell close, but U-539 stayed on the surface, evaded the three depth charges dropped in the following low level attack, and then escaped by diving. (Sources: Franks/Zimmerman)

4 Oct 1943
Aircraft attack, aircraft shot down:
British Liberator (120 Sqn RAF/V, pilot W/C R.M. Longmore, OBE)

11.38 hrs, the Denmark Strait, between Greenland and Iceland: the aircraft, escorting convoy ONS-19 was hit by flak on its first approach. Fires started in both starboard engines and the aircraft crashed, killing the crew of eight, which included the CO of 120 Squadron RAF. The depth charges overshot, causing only minor damage. One of U-539's crew was slightly wounded by strafing.

(Sources: Franks/Zimmerman)

8 Oct 1943
Two depth charges from an unidentified Liberator caused serious damage. This was the third attack on U-539 in less than three weeks. The boat reached port on 20 Oct. (Sources: Blair, vol 2, page 430)

About this data
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See all patrols for U-539


* These are officers that later became commanders themselves.

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