05(b). In Detail

05(b). In Detail - U-534

29th May 2008

U-534 was launched in February 1942 and spent its first eighteen months as a school boat, kept in the Baltic to train new crews and test new systems. In May 1944 U-534 was released for operational duty but, rather than being sent on offensive patrols, it was assigned to meteorological duties and required to avoid contact with the enemy to ensure regular reports. On May 5th, 1945 U-534 was sailing in the Kattegat, North-West of Helsingor and although Admiral Dönitz had ordered all his U-boats to surrender as from 08:00 May 5th, U-534 refused to do so. She was heading north towards Norway when she was attacked by a Liberator aircraft from RAF 547 Squadron which dropped depth charges. U-534 took heavy damage and began to sink by the stern. Forty-nine of the fifty-two crew members survived, including five who escaped via a torpedo hatch as she lay on the sea bed. In 1993 Danish media millionaire, Karsten Ree, sponsored the raising of the submarine. In 1996 she was transported to Birkenhead, UK and formed part of the Warship Preservation Trust's collection at Birkenhead docks which saldly closed 2006. The Merseytravel transit authority came to the rescue in 2007 and purchased the vessel. It will form a new visitor attraction at Woodside ferry terminal, Birkenhead. To facilitate the economical transportation of the boat to its new site, it was cut into four sections. U-534 will then be displayed in this form to allow visitors better access and visibility. Merseytravel said that preserving the hull intact would have created prohibitive transport costs. These pictures show the hull sections being prepared for display at Woodside. I will add pictures of the completed exhibit when it opens to the public later in 2008.

The bow section seen from the rear. 19th April 2008.	The bow section with sheeting removed. 28th May 2008.	The conning tower on the forward amidships section. 19th April 2008.	The aft amidships section seen from the bow end. 19th April 2008.
The aft amidships section seen from the stern end. 19th April 2008.	The cut end of the aft amidships section with the sheeting removed to reveal the inner hull, a bulkhead and a watertight door. 28th May 2008.	Depth charge damage on the stern section. 19th May 2008.	Stern section. 19th April 2008.
Stern detail showing the rudders and torpedo tubes. 19th April 2008.	Detail of one of the propellers. 19th April 2008.	Artists impression of the completed U-534 display at Birkenhead Woodside. (Image courtesy of Merseytravel).	Artists impression of the completed U-534 display at Birkenhead Woodside. (Image courtesy of Merseytravel).