German submarine U-54 was a Type VIIB U-boat of the Nazi German Kriegsmarine during World War II. She was ordered on 16 July 1937 and was laid down on 13 September 1938 at Germaniawerft, Kiel, becoming Werk 589. She was launched on 15 August 1939 and commissioned under her first commander, Kapitänleutnant (Kptlt.) Georg-Heinz Michel, on 23 September of that year. Michel commanded her for her work-ups with the 7th U-boat Flotilla between 23 September and 30 November 1939. He was succeeded by Korvettenkapitän (Krvkpt.) Günter Kutschmann on 5 December, who completed the training programme by 31 December. She became an operational boat of the 7th Flotilla and set out for her first and only war patrol on 1 January 1940 in the North Sea. She did not record any successes during this cruise and wa