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 a British Hudson aircraft which dropped 3 depth charges without success. (Sources: Blair, vol 2, page 428)

4 Oct, 1943
Aircraft attack, aircraft shot down:British B-24 Liberator (Sqdn 120/V). Lost with this aircraft was Wing Commander R M Longmore, the commanding officer of the 120 Squadron.

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

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.