List of all U-boats
U-541
Type | IXC/40 | |||||||||||||
Ordered | 5 Jun 1941 | |||||||||||||
Laid down | 5 Jun 1942 | Deutsche Werft AG, Hamburg (werk 362) | ||||||||||||
Launched | 5 Jan 1943 | |||||||||||||
Commissioned | 24 Mar 1943 | Oblt. Kurt Petersen | ||||||||||||
Commanders |
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Career 4 patrols |
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Successes | 1 ship sunk, total tonnage 2,140 GRT | |||||||||||||
Fate |
Surrendered on 12 May 1945 at Gibraltar. Later transferred to Lisahally. Operation Deadlight (post-war Allied operation, info) | |||||||||||||
Final location |
Wolfpack operations
U-541 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)
Borkum (18 Dec 1943 - 26 Dec 1943)
Attacks on this boat and other events
8 Sep 1944
The boat was preparing a surface torpedo attack in the Gulf of St. Lawrence when HMCS Norsyd (K 520) sighted her and opened fire. U-541 dived and was then hunted for the next two days by four frigates, a minesweeper and aircraft of the RCAF, but managed to evade the pursuers. (Sources: Blair, vol 2, page 623)
1 recorded attack on this boat.
General notes on this boat
26 May 1944. On 26 May 1944, U-541 stopped the neutral Portuguese passenger liner Serpa Pinto, en route to Canada south of Bermuda. The Germans found contraband for the USA and Mexico on board, and men of military age from enemy countries and Jewish refugees among the 200 passengers. All hands were ordered to abandon ship, but the BdU instructed the commander not to sink her. The crew and passengers were allowed to reboard the ship after nine hours, but three had died during the vessel's evacuation. Two American passengers were taken prisoner and landed at Lorient on 22 June.
Schnorchel-fitted U-boat
This boat was fitted with a Schnorchel underwater-breathing apparatus in November 1944.
Read more about the Schnorchel and see list of fitted boats.
Men lost from the boat
12 Nov 1944
One man from U-541 died on 22 Nov following an accident in Flensburg. [Maschinengefreiter Valentin Seile]
Related: For more info on such losses see - Men lost from U-boats -
U-boat Emblems
We have 1 emblem entry for this boat. See the emblem page for this boat or view emblems individually below.
Diving sea Bird |
Media links
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