German submarine U-542
German submarine "U-542" was a Type IXC U-boat of Nazi Germany's "Kriegsmarine" during World War II. She was laid down at the Deutsche Werft (yard) in Hamburg as yard number 363 on 12 June 1942, launched on 19 January 1943 and commissioned on 7 April with "Oberleutnant zur See" Christian-Brandt Coester in command. "U-542" began her service career with training as part of the 4th U-boat Flotilla from 7 April 1943. She was reassigned to the 10th flotilla for operations on 1 October. She carried out one patrol and did not sink any  ships. She was a member of three wolfpacks. She was sunk on 28 November 1943 north of Madeira by a British aircraft. Design. German Type IXC/40 submarines were slightly larger than the original Type IXCs. "U-542" had a displacement of when at the surface and while submerged. The U-boat 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 MAN M 9 V 40/46 supercharged four-stroke, nine-cylinder diesel engines producing a total of for use while surfaced, two Siemens-Schuckert 2  GU 345/34 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-542" was fitted with six torpedo tubes (four fitted at the bow and two at the stern), 22 torpedoes, one SK C/32 naval gun, 180 rounds, and a SK C/30 as well as a C/30 anti-aircraft gun. The boat  had a complement of forty-eight. Service history. Patrol and loss. The boat departed Kiel on 21 October 1943, moved through the North Sea, negotiated the gap between Iceland and the Faroe Islands and entered the Atlantic Ocean. She was sunk on 28 November 1943 north of Madeira by depth charges dropped from a British Vickers Wellington of No. 179 Squadron RAF. Fifty-six men died; there were no survivors. Wolfpacks. "U-542" took part in three wolfpacks, namely: