German submarineU-554
History | |
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Nazi Germany | |
Name | U-554 |
Ordered | 25 September 1939 |
Builder | Blohm & Voss,Hamburg |
Yard number | 530 |
Laid down | 1 December 1939 |
Launched | 7 November 1940 |
Commissioned | 15 January 1941 |
Fate | Scuttled on 5 May 1945 |
General characteristics | |
Class and type | Type VIICsubmarine |
Displacement | |
Length |
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Beam |
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Height | 9.60 m (31 ft 6 in) |
Draught | 4.74 m (15 ft 7 in) |
Installed power |
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Propulsion |
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Speed |
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Range | |
Test depth |
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Complement | 4 officers, 40–56 enlisted |
Armament |
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Service record[1] | |
Part of: |
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Identification codes: | M 31 279 |
Commanders: |
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Operations: | None |
Victories: | None |
German submarineU-554was aType VIICU-boatofNazi Germany'sKriegsmarineduringWorld War II.The submarine waslaid downon 1 December 1939 at theBlohm & Vossyard inHamburgas yard number 530,launchedon 7 November 1940, andcommissionedon 15 January 1941 under the command ofKapitänleutnantDietrich Lohmann.[1]
Design
[edit]German Type VIIC submarineswere preceded by the shorterType VIIB submarines.U-554had a displacement of 769 tonnes (757 long tons) when at the surface and 871 tonnes (857 long tons) while submerged.[2]She had a total length of 67.10 m (220 ft 2 in), apressure hulllength of 50.50 m (165 ft 8 in), abeamof 6.20 m (20 ft 4 in), a height of 9.60 m (31 ft 6 in), and adraughtof 4.74 m (15 ft 7 in). The submarine was powered by twoGermaniawerftF46 four-stroke, six-cylindersuperchargeddiesel enginesproducing a total of 2,800 to 3,200 metric horsepower (2,060 to 2,350 kW; 2,760 to 3,160 shp) for use while surfaced, twoBBCGG UB 720/8double-acting electric motorsproducing a total of 750 metric horsepower (550 kW; 740 shp) for use while submerged. She had two shafts and two 1.23 m (4 ft)propellers.The boat was capable of operating at depths of up to 230 metres (750 ft).[2]
The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 17.7 knots (32.8 km/h; 20.4 mph) and a maximum submerged speed of 7.6 knots (14.1 km/h; 8.7 mph).[2]When submerged, the boat could operate for 80 nautical miles (150 km; 92 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph); when surfaced, she could travel 8,500 nautical miles (15,700 km; 9,800 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph).U-554was fitted with two 53.3 cm (21 in)torpedo tubesfitted at the bow, fourteentorpedoes,one8.8 cm (3.46 in) SK C/35 naval gun,220 rounds, and a2 cm (0.79 in) C/30anti-aircraft gun. The boat had acomplementof between forty-four and sixty.[2]
Service history
[edit]Assigned to the24th U-boat Flotilla,the U-boat served throughout the war under a number of commanders, but always as a training vessel, seeing no combat service. She was transferred to the22nd U-boat Flotillaon 1 July 1944, and then to the31st U-boat Flotillaon 1 February 1945.[1]
The submarine was scuttled on 5 May 1945 nearWilhelmshaven,in position53°51′N08°10′E/ 53.850°N 8.167°E,only a few days before theGerman surrender.[1]
References
[edit]- ^abcdHelgason, Guðmundur."The Type VIIC boat U-554".German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net.Retrieved9 February2010.
- ^abcdGröner 1991,pp. 43–46.
Bibliography
[edit]- Busch, Rainer; Röll, Hans-Joachim (1999).German U-boat commanders of World War II: a biographical dictionary.Translated by Brooks, Geoffrey. London, Annapolis, Md: Greenhill Books, Naval Institute Press.ISBN1-55750-186-6.
- Busch, Rainer; Röll, Hans-Joachim (1999).Deutsche U-Boot-Verluste von September 1939 bis Mai 1945[German U-boat losses from September 1939 to May 1945]. Der U-Boot-Krieg (in German). Vol. IV. Hamburg, Berlin, Bonn: Mittler.ISBN3-8132-0514-2.
- Gröner, Erich; Jung, Dieter; Maass, Martin (1991).German Warships 1815–1945, U-boats and Mine Warfare Vessels.Vol. 2. Translated by Thomas, Keith; Magowan, Rachel. London: Conway Maritime Press.ISBN0-85177-593-4.
External links
[edit]- Helgason, Guðmundur."The Type VIIC boat U-554".German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net.Retrieved28 December2014.