Recognition Guide Warships of the Second World War
Kriegsmarine — Submarine

German submarine U-854

Type IXC/40 submarine

Displacement
1,126 long tons (1,144 t)
Length
76.76 m (251.8 ft)
Beam
6.86 m (22.5 ft)
Speed
18.3 knots (33.9 km/h, 21.1 mph)
Complement
48
Main gun
105 mm (4.1 in)

Service

  1. Kriegsmarine as U-85419 July 1943 — 4 February 1944200 days of the war
Type IXC/40 submarine Particulars
Name
U-854
Builder
DeSchiMAG AG Weser, Bremen
Ordered
5 June 1941
Laid down
21 September 1942
Launched
5 April 1943
Commissioned
19 July 1943
Fate
Sunk by mine off Swinemünde on 4 February 1944 in position 54
By mine (1944)
Status
Wreck

Specifications

Displacement, surfaced
1,126 long tons (1,144 t)
Displacement, submerged
1,237 long tons (1,257 t)
Length
76.76 m (251.8 ft) OA
Beam
6.86 m (22.5 ft)
Draught
4.67 m (15.3 ft)
Speed
18.3 knots (33.9 km/h, 21.1 mph)
Range
13,850 nmi (25,650 km)
Complement
48
Main gun
105 mm (4.1 in)

U-854 was a Type IXC/40 submarine built for the Kriegsmarine. DeSchiMAG AG Weser, Bremen laid her keel on 21 September 1942. She entered service on 19 July 1943, having been launched on 5 April 1943.

She was one of 142 ships of her class. The class followed the Type I and was succeeded by the Type XXI.

The boat displaced 1,126 long tons surfaced and 1,237 long tons submerged. She measured 76.8 m (252 ft) long with a beam of 6.9 m (23 ft). Her designed speed was 18.3 knots, and she carried a complement of 48.

Her main battery was one 105 mm (4.1 in) guns.

She was in commission for 200 days of the Second World War.

She was sunk on 4 February 1944 by mine, at 54°01′N 14°16′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
  • 4400 PS (diesels)
  • 1000 PS (electric)
Armament
  • 6 × torpedo tubes (4 bow, 2 stern)
  • 22 × 53.3 cm torpedoes
  • 1 × 10.5 cm SK C/32 deck gun (180 rounds)
  • 1 × 3.7 cm SK C/30 AA gun
  • 1 × twin 2 cm FlaK 30 AA guns

Sister ships

117 more in the class

Sources