U-543
Type | IXC/40 | |||||||||
| Ordered | 5 Jun 1941 | |||||||||
| Laid down | 3 Jul 1942 | Deutsche Werft AG, Hamburg (werk 364) | ||||||||
| Launched | 3 Feb 1943 | |||||||||
| Commissioned | 21 Apr 1943 | Kptlt. Hans-Jürgen Hellriegel | ||||||||
| Commanders |
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| Career 2 patrols |
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| Successes | No ships sunk or damaged | |||||||||
| Fate | Sunk 2 July, 1944 in the mid-Atlantic south-west of Tenerife, in position 25.34N, 21.36W, by depth charges & a homing torpedo from Avenger aircraft (VC-58) of the US escort carrier USS Wake Island. 58 dead (all hands lost). | |||||||||
Wolfpack operations
U-543 operated with the following Wolfpacks during its career:
Coronel (4 Dec 1943 - 8 Dec 1943)
Coronel 2 (8 Dec 1943 - 14 Dec 1943)
Coronel 3 (14 Dec 1943 - 17 Dec 1943)
Attacks on this boat
9 Apr 1944
The boat found a small convoy but its escorts drove the boat off with depth charges. (Sources: Blair, vol 2, page 556)
19 Apr 1944
After refueling from the U-488 the U-543 was located by an Avenger aircraft (pilot C. B. Humphrey) from the escort carrier Tripoli. The Avenger fired rockets and finally a Fido homing torpedo but the boat escaped. (Sources: Blair, vol 2, page 557)
2 recorded attacks on this boat.
Schnorchel-fitted U-boat
This boat was fitted with a Schnorchel underwater-breathing apparatus in February 1944. 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-543 did not suffer any casualties (we know of) until the time of her loss.
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