German submarine U-954

German submarine U-954 was a Type VIIC submarine of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine in World War II.

History
Nazi Germany
Name	U-954
Ordered	10 April 1941
Builder	Blohm & Voss, Hamburg
Yard number	154
Laid down	10 February 1942
Launched	28 October 1942
Commissioned	23 December 1942
Fate	Sunk on 19 May 1943 in the North Atlantic south-east of Cape Farewell, Greenland in position 54°54′N 34°19′W, by depth charges from the British frigate HMS Jed and the British sloop HMS Sennen. 47 dead (all hands lost).
General characteristics
Class and type	Type VIIC submarine
Displacement	769 tonnes (757 long tons) surfaced 871 t (857 long tons) submerged
Length	67.10 m (220 ft 2 in) o/a 50.50 m (165 ft 8 in) pressure hull
Beam	6.20 m (20 ft 4 in) o/a 4.70 m (15 ft 5 in) pressure hull
Height	9.60 m (31 ft 6 in)
Draught	4.74 m (15 ft 7 in)
Installed power	2,800–3,200 PS (2,100–2,400 kW; 2,800–3,200 bhp) (diesels) 750 PS (550 kW; 740 shp) (electric)
Propulsion	2 shafts 2 × diesel engines 2 × electric motors
Speed	17.7 knots (32.8 km/h; 20.4 mph) surfaced 7.6 knots (14.1 km/h; 8.7 mph) submerged
Range	8,500 nmi (15,700 km; 9,800 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) surfaced 80 nmi (150 km; 92 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph) submerged
Test depth	230 m (750 ft) Crush depth: 250–295 m (820–968 ft)
Complement	4 officers, 40–56 enlisted
Armament	5 × 53.3 cm (21 in) torpedo tubes (four bow, one stern) 14 × torpedoes or 26 TMA mines 1 × 8.8 cm (3.46 in) deck gun (220 rounds) 1 × twin 2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 anti-aircraft gun
Service record[1][2]
Part of:	5th U-boat Flotilla 23 December 1942 – 30 April 1943 9th U-boat Flotilla 1 – 19 May 1943
Identification codes:	M 49 568
Commanders:	Kptlt. Odo Loewe 23 December 1942 – 19 May 1943
Operations:	1 patrol: 8 April – 19 May 1943
Victories:	None

Design

German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-954 had a displacement of 769 tonnes (757 long tons) when at the surface and 871 tonnes (857 long tons) while submerged.^[3] She had a total length of 67.10 m (220 ft 2 in), a pressure hull length of 50.50 m (165 ft 8 in), a beam of 6.20 m (20 ft 4 in), a height of 9.60 m (31 ft 6 in), and a draught of 4.74 m (15 ft 7 in). The submarine was powered by two Germaniawerft F46 four-stroke, six-cylinder supercharged diesel engines producing 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, two Brown, Boveri & Cie GG UB 720/8 double-acting electric motors producing 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).^[3]

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).^[3] 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-954 was fitted with five 53.3 cm (21 in) torpedo tubes (four fitted at the bow and one at the stern), fourteen torpedoes, one 8.8 cm (3.46 in) SK C/35 naval gun, 220 rounds, and one twin 2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 anti-aircraft gun. The boat had a complement of between forty-four and sixty.^[3]

Service history

Wolfpacks

U-954 took part in five wolfpacks, namely:

• Meise (25 – 27 April 1943)
• Star (27 April – 4 May 1943)
• Fink (4 – 6 May 1943)
• Inn (11 – 15 May 1943)
• Donau 2 (15 – 19 May 1943)

Fate

On 19 May 1943, U-954 was sunk with all hands by hedgehog attacks from the Banff-class sloop HMS Sennen and the River-class frigate HMS Jed, both escorting Convoy SC 130.^[4] One of those killed in the sinking was Admiral Karl Dönitz's son Peter Dönitz.^[5]

See also

• Convoy SC 130