German submarine U-854

German submarine U-854 was a Type IXC/40 U-boat built for Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

Design
German Type IXC/40 submarines were slightly larger than the original Type IXCs. U-854 had a displacement of 1144 t when at the surface and 1257 t while submerged. The U-boat had a total length of 76.76 m, a pressure hull length of 58.75 m, a beam of 6.86 m, a height of 9.60 m, and a draught of 4.67 m. The submarine was powered by two MAN M 9 V 40/46 supercharged four-stroke, nine-cylinder diesel engines producing a total of 4400 PS for use while surfaced, two Siemens-Schuckert 2 GU 345/34 double-acting electric motors producing a total of 1000 shp for use while submerged. She had two shafts and two 1.92 m propellers. The boat was capable of operating at depths of up to 230 m.

The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 18.3 kn and a maximum submerged speed of 7.3 kn. When submerged, the boat could operate for 63 nmi at 4 kn; when surfaced, she could travel 13850 nmi at 10 kn. U-854 was fitted with six 53.3 cm torpedo tubes (four fitted at the bow and two at the stern), 22 torpedoes, one 10.5 cm SK C/32 naval gun, 180 rounds, and a 3.7 cm SK C/30 as well as a 2 cm C/30 anti-aircraft gun. The boat had a complement of forty-eight.

Service history
U-854 was ordered on 5 June 1941 from DeSchiMAG AG Weser in Bremen under the yard number 1060. Her keel was laid down on 21 September 1942 and the U-boat was launched the following year on 5 April 1943. She was commissioned into service under the command of Kapitänleutnant Horst Weiher (Crew 36) in 4th U-boat Flotilla.

While training in the Baltic Sea, U-854 rescued survivors of GS U-983 on 9 September 1943 and brought them to Hel. On 4 February 1944 the U-boat was on its way back to Swinemünde, when she struck a mine - one of a barrage 'Geranium', that had been laid by the British Royal Air Force. 51 crew members died, seven survived.