German submarine U-609

German submarine U-609 was a Type VIIC U-boat built for Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine for service during World War II. She was laid down on 7 April 1941 by Blohm & Voss, Hamburg as yard number 585, launched on 23 December 1941 and commissioned on 12 February 1942 under Oberleutnant zur See Klaus Rudloff.

History
Nazi Germany
NameU-609
Ordered22 May 1940
BuilderBlohm & Voss, Hamburg
Yard number585
Laid down7 April 1941
Launched23 December 1941
Commissioned12 February 1942
FateSunk on 6 February 1943 in the North Atlantic in position 54°56′N 28°11′W, by depth charges from FFNF Lobelia.[1]
General characteristics
Class and typeType VIIC submarine
Displacement
  • 769 tonnes (757 long tons) surfaced
  • 871 t (857 long tons) submerged
Length
Beam
  • 6.20 m (20 ft 4 in) o/a
  • 4.70 m (15 ft 5 in) pressure hull
Draught4.74 m (15 ft 7 in)
Installed power
  • 2,800–3,200 PS (2,100–2,400 kW; 2,800–3,200 bhp) (diesels)
  • 750 PS (550 kW; 740 shp) (electric)
Propulsion
Speed
  • 17.7 knots (32.8 km/h; 20.4 mph) surfaced
  • 7.6 knots (14.1 km/h; 8.7 mph) submerged
Range
  • 8,500 nmi (15,700 km; 9,800 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) surfaced
  • 80 nmi (150 km; 92 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph) submerged
Test depth
  • 230 m (750 ft)
  • Crush depth: 250–295 m (820–968 ft)
Complement4 officers, 40–56 enlisted
Armament
Service record[1]
Part of:
Commanders:
Operations:
  • 4 patrols:
  • 1st patrol:
  • 16 July – 10 September 1942
  • 2nd patrol:
  • 6 – 22 October 1942
  • 3rd patrol:
  • 30 November – 23 December 1942
  • 4th patrol:
  • 16 January – 6 February 1943
Victories: 2 merchant ships sunk
(10,288 GRT)

Design

German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-609 had a displacement of 769 tonnes (757 long tons) when at the surface and 871 tonnes (857 long tons) while submerged.[2] She had a total length of 67.10 m (220 ft 2 in), a pressure hull length of 50.50 m (165 ft 8 in), a beam of 6.20 m (20 ft 4 in), a height of 9.60 m (31 ft 6 in), and a draught of 4.74 m (15 ft 7 in). The submarine was powered by two Germaniawerft F46 four-stroke, six-cylinder supercharged diesel engines producing a total of 2,800 to 3,200 metric horsepower (2,060 to 2,350 kW; 2,760 to 3,160 shp) for use while surfaced, two BBC GG UB 720/8 double-acting electric motors producing a total of 750 metric horsepower (550 kW; 740 shp) for use while submerged. She had two shafts and two 1.23 m (4 ft) propellers. The boat was capable of operating at depths of up to 230 metres (750 ft).[2]

The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 17.7 knots (32.8 km/h; 20.4 mph) and a maximum submerged speed of 7.6 knots (14.1 km/h; 8.7 mph).[2] When submerged, the boat could operate for 80 nautical miles (150 km; 92 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph); when surfaced, she could travel 8,500 nautical miles (15,700 km; 9,800 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph). U-609 was fitted with five 53.3 cm (21 in) torpedo tubes (four fitted at the bow and one at the stern), fourteen torpedoes, one 8.8 cm (3.46 in) SK C/35 naval gun, 220 rounds, and a 2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 anti-aircraft gun. The boat had a complement of between forty-four and sixty.[2]

Service history

The boat's career began with training at 5th U-boat Flotilla on 12 February 1942, followed by active service on 1 August 1942 as part of the 6th U-boat Flotilla for the remainder of her service. In four patrols she sank two merchant ships, for a total of 10,288 gross register tons (GRT).[3]

Wolfpacks

U-609 took part in six wolfpacks, namely:

  • Vorwärts (25 August – 1 September 1942)
  • Panther (13 – 16 October 1942)
  • Draufgänger (6 – 11 December 1942)
  • Raufbold (11 – 18 December 1942)
  • Landsknecht (19 – 28 January 1943)
  • Pfeil (1 – 7 February 1943)

Fate

U-609 was sunk on 6 February 1943 in the North Atlantic in position 54°56′N 28°11′W, by depth charges from the Free French corvette FFNF Lobelia. All hands were lost.[1]

Previously recorded fate

U-609 was sunk on 7 February 1943 in the North Atlantic in position 55°17′N 26°38′W, by depth charges from the Free French corvette FFNF Lobelia. All hands were lost.[3]

Summary of raiding history

Date Ship Name Nationality Tonnage
(GRT)
Fate[4]
31 August 1942 Capira  Panama 5,625 Sunk
31 August 1942 Bronxville  Norway 4,663 Sunk

References

  1. Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-609". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 23 August 2014.
  2. Gröner 1991, pp. 43–46.
  3. Busch & Röll 1999.
  4. Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U-609". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 23 August 2014.

Bibliography

  • Busch, Rainer; Röll, Hans-Joachim (1999). German U-boat commanders of World War II: a biographical dictionary. Translated by Brooks, Geoffrey. London, Annapolis, Md: Greenhill Books, Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-55750-186-6.
  • Busch, Rainer; Röll, Hans-Joachim (1999). Deutsche U-Boot-Verluste von September 1939 bis Mai 1945 [German U-boat losses from September 1939 to May 1945]. ISBN 3-8132-0514-2. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
  • Edwards, Bernard (1996). Dönitz and the Wolf Packs - The U-boats at War. Cassell. pp. 103, 104, 144, 148, 149. ISBN 0-304-35203-9.
  • Gröner, Erich; Jung, Dieter; Maass, Martin (1991). U-boats and Mine Warfare Vessels. ISBN 0-85177-593-4. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
  • Sharpe, Peter (1998). U-Boat Fact File. Great Britain: Midland Publishing. ISBN 1-85780-072-9.

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