Recognition Guide Warships of the Second World War
Kriegsmarine — Submarine

German submarine U-554

Type VIIC submarine

Displacement
757 long tons (769 t)
Length
67.1 m (220.1 ft)
Beam
6.2 m (20.3 ft)
Speed
17.7 knots (32.8 km/h, 20.4 mph)
Main gun
88 mm (3.5 in)

Service

  1. Kriegsmarine as U-55415 January 1941 — 5 May 19451,571 days of the war
Type VIIC submarine Particulars
Name
U-554
Builder
Blohm & Voss, Hamburg
Ordered
25 September 1939
Laid down
1 December 1939
Launched
7 November 1940
Commissioned
15 January 1941
Fate
Scuttled on 5 May 1945 (1945)
Status
Wreck

Specifications

Displacement, surfaced
757 long tons (769 t)
Displacement, submerged
857 long tons (871 t)
Length
67.1 m (220.1 ft) OA
Beam
6.2 m (20.3 ft)
Draught
4.74 m (15.6 ft)
Speed
17.7 knots (32.8 km/h, 20.4 mph)
Range
8,500 nmi (15,742 km)
Main gun
88 mm (3.5 in)

U-554 was a Type VIIC submarine in service with the Kriegsmarine. Blohm & Voss, Hamburg laid her keel on 1 December 1939. She entered service on 15 January 1941, having been launched on 7 November 1940.

Her class ran to 612 ships. The class followed the Type UB III, Vetehinen class and was succeeded by the Type XXI (Late-war replacement).

The boat displaced 757 long tons surfaced and 857 long tons submerged. She measured 67.1 m (220 ft) long with a beam of 6.2 m (20 ft). Her designed speed was 17.7 knots.

Her main battery was one 88 mm (3.5 in) guns.

She was in commission for 1,571 days of the Second World War.

She was scuttled on 5 May 1945, at 53°51′N 8°10′E. The wreck survives.

Written from the harvested record. Every figure above is sourced; the wording is this site's own.

Armament and machinery

Armament and machinery
Propulsion
  • 2 shafts
  • 2 × diesel engines
  • 2 × electric motors.
Power
  • 2800 - 3200 PS (diesels)
  • 750 PS (electric)
Armament
  • 2 × 53.3 cm torpedo tubes (bow)
  • 14 × G7e torpedoes or 26 TMA mines
  • 1 × 8.8 cm deck gun (220 rounds)
  • 1 x 2 cm C/30 AA gun

Sister ships

587 more in the class

Sources