U-534
Type | IXC/40 | |||||||||||||
| Ordered | 10 Apr 1941 | |||||||||||||
| Laid down | 20 Feb 1942 | Deutsche Werft AG, Hamburg (werk 352) | ||||||||||||
| Launched | 23 Sep 1942 | |||||||||||||
| Commissioned | 23 Dec 1942 | Oblt. Herbert Nollau | ||||||||||||
| Commanders |
| |||||||||||||
| Career 3 patrols |
| |||||||||||||
| Successes | No ships sunk or damaged | |||||||||||||
| Fate | Sunk 5 May, 1945 in the Kattegat north-west of Helsingör, in position 56.39N, 11.48E, by 10 depth charges from a British Liberator aircraft (Sqdn. 86/G). 3 dead and 49 survivors. | |||||||||||||
U-534 was first attacked by another Liberator which was shot down with loss of all of its crew. Then it was time G for George entered into his attack. The first attack was unsuccessful. The depth charges overshot U-534 but on the second attack, one of the depth charges landed on the deck of U-534, rolled off, exploding directly beneath U-534.
All of the German crew escaped U-534, but three died from exposure in the water. They were then picked-up by lifeboats from a lightship approximately one mile away. One Argentinean radio operator also died in the water.
The bomb aimer of G for George was Flying Officer Neville Baker. The Captain of the Liberator was Warrant Officer John Nicol who was awarded the DFC.
Previously recorded fate
(Last revised by FDS/NHB during June 1985. More on revised fates.)
The attack by the British Liberator aircraft (RAF 206/T) on 5 May, 1945 in position 56.59N, 11.48E formerly credited with the loss of this boat instead severly damaged the U-3523.
Attacks on this boat
27 Aug 1944
Aircraft attack, aircraft shot down:British Wellington (Sqdn 172/B)
5 May 1945
Aircraft attack, aircraft shot down:British B-24 Liberator (Sqdn 547/E). The boat was sunk by another aircraft during this attack.
2 recorded attacks on this boat.
General notes on this boat
Her Salvage in 1993
The U-534 was raised in the Kattegat, out of Denmark, in 1993 and almost ended up in a scrap yard before being taken over by the Warship Preservation Trust. She was brought to England in May 1996 and she is on display at the Nautilus Maritime Museum in Birkenhead, Wirral near Liverpool in England.
Check out U-534's Gallery page with over 20 photos!
The U-534 will be moved
News in June 2007 report that the boat will be cut in 3 parts (in Sept) and then moved on the Mersey River and finally put on display there at Woodside. The boat has been bought by Merseytravel who plan to use it as a tourist attraction.Schnorchel-fitted U-boat
This boat was fitted with a Schnorchel underwater-breathing apparatus and sailed equipped with it in August 1944 but it was of course installed prior to that date. Read more about the Schnorchel and see list of fitted boats.
Annoucements related to this boat
U-534 being broken up into 4 pieces (6 Feb 2008)U-534\'s future in doubt (22 Jan 2006)
Men lost from U-boats
Unlike many other U-boats, which during their service lost men due to accidents and various other causes, U-534 did not suffer any casualties (we know of) until the time of her loss.
Buy this title at amazon.com See more sellers |
Books dealing with this subject include:
|
