U-54

Type

VIIB

 
Ordered16 Jul 1937
Laid down 13 Sep 1938 F. Krupp Germaniawerft AG, Kiel (werk 589)
Launched15 Aug 1939
Commissioned23 Sep 1939Kptlt. Georg-Heinz Michel
Commanders
23 Sep 1939 - 30 Nov 1939   Georg-Heinz Michel
5 Dec 1939 - 20 Feb 1940  KrvKpt. Günter Kutschmann
Career1 patrol 23 Sep 1939 - 31 Dec 1939  7. Flottille (training)
1 Jan 1940 - 20 Feb 1940  7. Flottille (front boat)
SuccessesNo ships sunk or damaged
Fate

Missing since 20 Feb, 1940 in North Sea, position unknown, probably lost to a mine. 41 dead (all hands lost).

View the 1 war patrol

The boat was possibly lost to mine barrages Field No. 4 or Field No. 6, both laid by the British destroyers HMS Ivanhoe and HMS Intrepid in early January 1940.

A part of one of its torpedoes was found on 14 March, 1940 by the German patrol boat V1101 in position 54.57N, 06.45E.

Men lost from U-boats

Unlike many other U-boats, which during their service lost men due to accidents and various other causes, U-54 did not suffer any casualties (we know of) until the time of her loss.



U-Boat Operations of the Second World War - Vol 2
Wynn, Kenneth


Buy this title at


amazon.com
See more sellers

Books dealing with this subject include:

German U-Boat Losses During World War II. Niestle, Axel, 1998.
Hitler's U-boat War. Blair, Clay, 1996.
Hitler's U-boat War, Vol II. Blair, Clay, 1998.
U-Boat Operations of the Second World War - Vol 1. Wynn, Kenneth, 1998.
U-Boat Operations of the Second World War - Vol 2. Wynn, Kenneth, 1998.


There was another U-54 in World War One
That boat was launched from its shipyard on 22 Feb 1916 and commissioned into the Imperial Navy on 22 May 1916. The Naval war in WWI was brought to an end with the Armistice signed on 11 Nov, 1918. Read about the U 54 during WWI.


Related page:
U-boats Missing in Action.