German submarine U-954


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

Design

German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-954 had a displacement of when at the surface and while submerged. She 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 Germaniawerft F46 four-stroke, six-cylinder supercharged diesel engines producing a total of for use while surfaced, two Brown, Boveri & Cie GG UB 720/8 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-954 was fitted with five torpedo tubes, fourteen torpedoes, one SK C/35 naval gun, 220 rounds, and one twin C/30 anti-aircraft gun. The boat had a complement of between forty-four and sixty.

Service history

Wolfpacks

U-954 took part in five wolfpacks, namely:

Fate

On 19 May 1943, U-954 was sunk with all hands at by hedgehog attacks from the and the HMS Jed, both escorting Convoy SC 130. One of those killed in the sinking was Admiral Karl Dönitz's son Peter Dönitz.