The U-534 is a Type IX Class U-boat (IX-C/40). She was built circa 1942 at Deutsche Werft AG, Hamburg. These were the long range U-boats and only 54 were commissioned between 1939 and 1942. Despite their size and sluggishness, they were actually the most successful U-boat of the War. They were nicknamed the 'Seekuh' or 'Sea Cow' by their crews due to their speed and bulk, but they still managed to navigate to the Far East and the US coast on long patrols.
She was commissioned on December 23 1942. Initially the U-534 was used as a training boat, but then took on the role of front boat and spent many journeys travelling to the Far East. Despite her two and a half year career, she was not responsible for any damage or loss to any Allied vessel.
The last War-time photo of the U-534 before she was depth charged.
The U-534 was the very last U-boat to leave War torn Germany, leaving Kiel on May 4 1945 and heading toward Norway. She was spotted by an RAF Liberator the next day (May 5) in The Kattegat and she was depth charged. One of the charges hit the stern deck and rolled off. It exploded in the water causing damage to the Aft section, this caused the U-boat to take on water and sink. This damage is still very much visible today. All of the crewmen were lucky enough to escape the boat, but three men died of exposure.
The sunken U-boat was descovered by a Danish diver in 1986. In 1993 a salvage operation was implimented to raise the U-534. This was funded by Danish Millionaire Publisher Karsten Ree. After initial worries of her being scrapped, it was agreed that she would live our her days at the Historic Warships Museum at Birkenhead, Liverpool. This site was chosen, due to the Regions envolvement in the Atlantic War. At the museum, lucky visitors could board the U-534 and experience the cramped conditions endured by the crew and soak up the atmosphere onboard.
The U-534 continuing her journey, 48 years after her last!
Due to the development of some luxury apartments (on the land that the Museum sat on), the Historic Warship Museum went ino liquidation and was closed in Late 2005. The other vessels have been relocated since the closure, but the future of the U-534 has been in question ever since. She was moved a few hundred meters from where she sat and she currently sits on waste land waiting her fate!
On June 27 2007, it emerged that there were new plans for the future of the U-534. This is fantastic news indeed and I was ecstatic when I initally heard it. However, on reading the news further, I was horrified to hear that Merseytravel (the new potential owners) would be slicing the U-534 into three sections!
May 1996. The U-534 sails past the Liver Building on the way to her new home.
This would be an out-and-out tragedy, if this was to go ahead as plans would suggest. Not only for the sake of the U-534, but for Maritime History and the memory of Naval Warfare.
There are only two of these historic Type IX U-boats left in the world. The U-534 is an absolutely magnificent boat, her mere size and presence leaves you in complete awe. Since 1942 she has fought for her survival and it now lies in our hands. In hindsight, she should have been left to rest at the bottom of the Sea, instead of becoming a rich man's toy! Now that we have her, we have a responsibility to preserve her as a complete boat and not hack her into pieces which would have no benefit whatsoever.
During WW2, U-boats had a strangle hold around Britain. She represents an important part of our own history. This boat is the only one of her kind in the whole of Europe. We need to fight for her conservation, so future generations can appreciate her historical value. She should be preserved as a whole, in remembrance of all the men of every nation that served and died at sea, during the Battle of the Atlantic.
How the U-534 looks today. Please help to keep her this way.
The U-534 needs our help. Let us try and help her survive these plans to chop her up (see bbc report). We want to preserve her as a whole, so that people can see and appreciate her for what she is. We have started a petition to show that her conservation is important to us. Please show your support for Preservation and History and click on one of the links below. The No 10 Petition goes directly to the Prime Minister, but unfortunately it is only open to UK Citizens and Residents. The other is a Global Petition, so anyone can sign it. If you are in the UK, it would be great if you could spend a minuite or two extra and sign both! We need your names on these petitions, so that our voice can be heard. Any possitve comments would also be appreciated. Please ask your friends and familily members to do the same. If we sit back and let this happen, we will all be kicking ourselves in a few months time.. Lets step up and take action.
Thank you.
