The U-534 was a type IXC/40 U-Boat. The Type IXAs entered service with the Kriegsmarine in 1936 and were designed as large ocean-going U-Boats. The type IX had six torpedo tubes (four forward and two aft) and including external storage, carried a total of 22 torpedoes. They were also fitted with a 105 mm (4.1 inch) deck gun and a total of 180 rounds of ammunition. Anti-aircraft provision varied on the types over the course of the war.
The U-534 was built in Hamburg by Deutsche Werft AG under the yard number 352 in 1942. Launched in September, she was commissioned in December of the same year. The U-534 was used mostly for training exercises and went through the entire war without sinking a single ship. She was sunk by the RAF in the Kattegat (20 km off the Danish island of Anholt) on May 5th, 1945 and was salvaged in 1993, following rumours of there being treasure on board.
After being raised, the U-534 was moved to Birkenhead, near Liverpool on the Mersey, where she was slowly conserved and open for public tours as part of the Birkenhead Historic Ships Collection. The U-534 is one of only four U-boats which were preserved after the war. Following the museum site being sold off for redevelopment, the U534 was moved in 2009, broken into sections and now forms the core of the U-boat story, operated by the Merseytravel Transit Authority.
The items shown here were most likely removed following the move from the Historic Ships Collection.
The U-534 was built in Hamburg by Deutsche Werft AG under the yard number 352 in 1942. Launched in September, she was commissioned in December of the same year. The U-534 was used mostly for training exercises and went through the entire war without sinking a single ship. She was sunk by the RAF in the Kattegat (20 km off the Danish island of Anholt) on May 5th, 1945 and was salvaged in 1993, following rumours of there being treasure on board.
After being raised, the U-534 was moved to Birkenhead, near Liverpool on the Mersey, where she was slowly conserved and open for public tours as part of the Birkenhead Historic Ships Collection. The U-534 is one of only four U-boats which were preserved after the war. Following the museum site being sold off for redevelopment, the U534 was moved in 2009, broken into sections and now forms the core of the U-boat story, operated by the Merseytravel Transit Authority.
The items shown here were most likely removed following the move from the Historic Ships Collection.
Electric lantern
Soap box and contents removed from the U-534. Given the restricted use of the fresh water supply, these remained unused.
A curious selection of single-ply wooden cut-outs of rabbits.
Lens cover from a Kodak Retina camera, also recovered from the U-534.
To read more about the Kodak Retina camera, click here.
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Lens cover from a Kodak Retina camera, also recovered from the U-534. To read more about the Kodak Retina camera, click here.
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