U-539

Type

IXC/40

Ordered

5 Jun 1941

Laid down

8 May 1942

Deutsche Werft AG, Hamburg (werk 360)

Launched

4 Dec 1942

Commissioned

24 Feb 1943

Oblt. Hans-Jürgen Lauterbach-Emden

Commanders

24 Feb 1943 - 8 May 1945

Kptlt. Hans-Jürgen Lauterbach-Emden

Career

3 patrols

24 Feb 1943 - 30 Jun 1943  4. Flottille (training)
1 Jul 1943 - 30 Sep 1944  10. Flottille (front boat)
1 Oct 1944 - 8 May 1945  33. Flottille (front boat)

Successes

1 ship sunk for a total of 1,517 GRT
2 ships damaged for a total of 12,896 GRT

Fate

Transferred from Bergen, Norway to Loch Ryan on 30 May, 1945 for Operation Deadlight.

Operation Deadlight (post-war Allied operation, info)
Foundered while in tow for the scuttling grounds on 4 Dec, 1945 in position 55.38N, 07.57W.

See the 3 ships hit by U-539 - View the 3 war patrols

Attacks on this boat

21 Sep 1943
The boat was attacked by the British Hudson aircraft V9161 (269 Sqdn RAF/G, pilot Sgt E.J.L. Brame) southeast of Iceland. During the first approach the aircraft was hit by AA fire in the port aileron, so 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 3 depth charges that were dropped in the following low level attack and then escaped by crash-diving. (Sources: Franks/Zimmerman)

4 Oct 1943
Aircraft attack, aircraft shot down:British B-24 Liberator (120 Sqdn RAF/V, pilot W/C R.M. Longmore, OBE)

Around 11.38 hours, the boat was attacked by the Liberator which escorted the convoy ONS-19. AA fire hit the aircraft during the attack run, set both starboard engines on fire and caused it to crash, killing all 8 crewmen including the CO of the 120 Squadron RAF. The depth charges overshot and caused only minor damages to U-539 and a crewman was slightly wounded by strafing.

(Sources: Franks/Zimmerman)

8 Oct 1943
An unknown B-24 Liberator dropped 2 depth charges on the boat causing serious damages. This was the third attack on the boat in less then 3 weeks. The boat reached port on Oct 20. (Sources: Blair, vol 2, page 430)

11 Jun 1944
While attacking the Dutch tanker Casandra with its deck gun the tanker returned fire causing minor damages but forcing the U-boat to break off its attack. (Sources: Blair, vol 2, page 564)

12 Jun 1944
An American Mariner aircraft attacked the boat but she got away once again (hit by gunfire the day before from Dutch tanker). (Sources: Blair, vol 2, page 564)

5 recorded attacks on this boat.

General notes on this boat

2 Jan 1944. U-539 was the first U-boat to depart on a combat patrol equipped with the Schnorchel breathing device. She left Lorient, France on 2 January, 1944.

Schnorchel-fitted U-boat
This boat was fitted with a Schnorchel underwater-breathing apparatus but the date of fitting or sailing date with the equipment is unknown. Read more about the Schnorchel and see list of fitted boats.

Men lost from U-boats

Unlike many other U-boats, which during their service lost men due to accidents and various other causes, U-539 did not suffer any casualties (we know of) until the time of her loss.