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German submarine U-538
Career (Nazi Germany) War Ensign of Germany 1938-1945
Name: U-538
Ordered: 10 April 1941
Builder: Deutsche Werft, Hamburg
Yard number: 356
Laid down: 18 April 1942
Launched: 20 November 1942
Commissioned: 10 February 1943
Fate: Sunk, November 1943 southwest of Ireland by British warships[1]
General characteristics
Type: Type IXC/40 submarine
Displacement: 1,120 t (1,100 long tons) surfaced
1,232 t (1,213 long tons) submerged
Length: 76.8 m (252 ft 0 in) o/a
58.7 m (192 ft 7 in) pressure hull
Beam: 6.9 m (22 ft 8 in) o/a
4.4 m (14 ft 5 in) pressure hull
Height: 9.6 m (31 ft 6 in)
Draft: 4.7 m (15 ft 5 in)
Propulsion: 2 × MAN M9V40/46 supercharged 9-cylinder diesel engines, 4,400 hp (3,281 kW)
2 × SSW GU345/34 double-acting electric motors, 1,000 hp (746 kW)
Speed: 19 knots (35 km/h) surfaced
7.3 knots (13.5 km/h) submerged
Range: 25,620 nmi (47,450 km) at 10 knots (19 km/h) surfaced
117 nmi (217 km) at 4 kn (7.4 km/h) submerged
Test depth: 230 m (750 ft)
Complement: 48 to 56
Armament: • 6 × torpedo tubes (four bow, two stern)
• 22 × 533 mm (21 in) torpedoes
• 1 × Utof 105 mm/45 deck gun (110 rounds)
• AA guns
Service record
Part of: 4th U-boat Flotilla
(10 February–31 October 1943)
2nd U-boat Flotilla
(1–21 November 1943)
Commanders: Kptlt. Johann-Egbert Gossler
(10 February–21 November 1943)
Operations: 24 October–21 November 1943
Victories: None

German submarine U-538 was a Type IXC/40 U-boat of the Nazi German Kriegsmarine during World War II.

She was laid down at the Deutsche Werft (yard) in Hamburg as 'werk' 356 on 18 April 1942, launched on 20 August and commissioned on 10 February 1943 with Kapitänleutnant Johann-Egbert Gosseler in command.

U-538 began her service career with training as part of the 4th U-boat Flotilla from 10 February 1943. She was re-assigned to the 2nd flotilla for operations on 1 November.

She carried out one patrol and did not sink any ships. She was a member of one wolfpack. She was sunk in November 1943 southwest of Ireland by British warships.

Operational career[]

Patrol and loss[]

The boat departed Kiel on 10 April 1943, moved through the North Sea, negotiated the 'gap' between Iceland and the Faroe Islands and entered the Atlantic Ocean. She was heading for the French Atlantic ports.

She was sunk on 21 November 1943 southwest of Ireland by depth charges dropped from the British frigate, HMS Foley and the sloop Crane.

Fifty-five men died; there were no survivors.[2]

References[]


Notes[]

  1. Kemp, Paul: U-Boats Destroyed - German Submarine Losses in the World Wars, 1997, Arms & Armour, ISBN 1-85409-515-3, p. 159
  2. Kemp, p. 159

External links[]


Coordinates: 45°40′N 19°35′W / 45.667°N 19.583°W / 45.667; -19.583

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