German submarine U-540
German submarine U-540 was a Type IXC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.
She was laid down at the Deutsche Werft in Hamburg as yard number 361 on 12 May 1942, launched on 18 December and commissioned on 10 March 1943 with Kapitänleutnant Lorenz Kasch in command.
U-540 began her service career with training as part of the 4th U-boat Flotilla from 10 March 1943. She was reassigned to the 10th flotilla for operations on 1 October.
She carried out one patrol and did not sink any ships. She was a member of one wolfpack.
She was sunk on 17 October 1943 east of Cape Farewell by British aircraft.
Design
German Type IXC/40 submarines were slightly larger than the original Type IXCs. U-540 had a displacement of when at the surface and while submerged. The U-boat had a total length of, a pressure hull length of, a beam of, a height of, and a draught of. The submarine was powered by two MAN M 9 V 40/46 supercharged four-stroke, nine-cylinder diesel engines producing a total of for use while surfaced, two Siemens-Schuckert 2 GU 345/34 double-acting electric motors producing a total of for use while submerged. She had two shafts and two propellers. The boat was capable of operating at depths of up to.The submarine had a maximum surface speed of and a maximum submerged speed of. When submerged, the boat could operate for at ; when surfaced, she could travel at. U-540 was fitted with six torpedo tubes, 22 torpedoes, one SK C/32 naval gun, 180 rounds, and a SK C/30 as well as a C/30 anti-aircraft gun. The boat had a complement of forty-eight.
Service history
Patrol and loss
The boat departed Kiel on 11 September 1943, moved through the North Sea, negotiated the gap between Iceland and the Faroe Islands and entered the Atlantic Ocean.She was sunk on 17 October 1943 east of Cape Farewell by depth charges dropped from two British Liberators of No. 59 Squadron RAF and 120 Squadron.
Fifty-five men died; there were no survivors.