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U-3538

CountryGermany
Ship ClassType XXI-class Submarine
BuilderF. Schichau Danzig
Yard Number1683
Slip/Drydock NumberIII
Ordered6 May 1944

Contributor:

ww2dbaseU-3538 was laid down in 1944, but her construction was ultimately cancelled in late Jan 1945 as Soviet troops advanced steadily up the Vistula river. Her incomplete hull was captured by by the Soviets on 30 Mar 1945. Under Soviet supervision, she was launched in Jul 1945 as TS-8 and transferred to the Soviet Baltic Fleet as she received additional work toward her final completion. She moved to Liepaja (Russian: Libau), Latvia where an inspection done in Oct 1945 ruled that she was not ready for commissioning. In late 1945 or early 1946, she was moved to Kronstadt in Leningrad, Russia. In Mar 1947, she was renamed R-4. She was struck from the Soviet Navy list and was broken up for scrap in 1948.

ww2dbaseSource: uboat.net

Last Major Revision: Jul 2023

Submarine U-3538 Interactive Map

U-3538 Operational Timeline

6 May 1944 The order for the construction of U-3538, U-3539, U-3540, U-3541, and U-3542 was issued.
29 Jan 1945 The construction of U-3538, U-3539, U-3540, U-3541, and U-3542 was suspended at the F. Schichau shipyard in Danzig.
30 Mar 1945 U-3538, U-3539, U-3540, U-3541, and U-3542, still under construction, were captured by the Soviets at the F. Schichau shipyard in Danzig.
12 Apr 1945 At Danzig, U-3538 was renamed TS-8, U-3539 was renamed TS-9, U-3540 was renamed TS-10, U-3541 was renamed TS-11, and U-3542 was renamed TS-12
8 Oct 1945 TS-8, TS-10, and TS-12 were deemed not yet ready for commissioning at Liepaja, Latvia. TS-8 was still suffering from flooding due to war time bomb damage, and TS-10 was still without a rudder.
6 Dec 1945 On a report issued by the US-UK-Soviet Tripartite Naval Commission, TS-8, TS-9, TS-10, TS-11, and TS-12 were listed as an unallocated submarines afloat.
8 Mar 1947 In Russia, TS-8 was renamed R-4, TS-9 was renamed R-5, TS-10 was renamed R-6, TS-11 was renamed R-7, and TS-12 was renamed R-8.
28 Feb 1948 R-4, R-5, R-6, R-7, and R-8 were struck from the Soviet Navy list.




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