German submarine U-509

Last updated

U-505chicago.jpg
U-505, a typical Type IXC boat
History
War ensign of Germany (1938-1945).svg Nazi Germany
NameU-509
Ordered20 October 1939
Builder Deutsche Werft, Hamburg
Yard number305
Laid down1 November 1940
Launched19 August 1941
Commissioned4 November 1941
FateSunk on 15 July 1943 [1]
General characteristics
Class and type Type IXC submarine
Displacement
  • 1,120  t (1,100 long tons) surfaced
  • 1,232 t (1,213 long tons) submerged
Length
Beam
  • 6.76 m (22 ft 2 in) o/a
  • 4.40 m (14 ft 5 in) pressure hull
Height9.60 m (31 ft 6 in)
Draught4.70 m (15 ft 5 in)
Installed power
  • 4,400 PS (3,200 kW; 4,300 bhp) (diesels)
  • 1,000 PS (740 kW; 990 shp) (electric)
Propulsion
Speed
  • 18.3 knots (33.9 km/h; 21.1 mph) surfaced
  • 7.7 knots (14.3 km/h; 8.9 mph) submerged
Range
  • 13,450  nmi (24,910 km; 15,480 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) surfaced
  • 64 nmi (119 km; 74 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph) submerged
Test depth230 m (750 ft)
Complement4 officers, 44 enlisted
Armament
Service record [2] [3]
Part of:
Identification codes: M 37 143
Commanders:
  • K.Kapt. Karl-Heinz Wolff
  • 4 November 1941 – September 1942
  • K.Kapt. Werner Witte
  • September 1942 – 15 July 1943
Operations:
  • 4 patrols:
  • 1st patrol:
  • 25 June – 12 September 1942
  • 2nd patrol:
  • 15 October – 26 November 1942
  • 3rd patrol:
  • 23 December 1942 – 11 May 1943
  • 4th patrol:
  • 3 – 15 July 1943
Victories:
  • 5 merchant ships sunk
    (29,091  GRT)
  • 1 merchant ship total loss
    (7,129  GRT)
  • 3 merchant ships damaged
    (20,014  GRT)

German submarine U-509 was a Type IXC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. The submarine was laid down on 1 November 1940 at the Deutsche Werft yard in Hamburg as yard number 305. She was launched on 19 August 1941, and commissioned on 4 November 1941 under the command of Korvettenkapitän Karl-Heinz Wolff.

Contents

The U-boat served with the 4th U-boat Flotilla for training, before being assigned to the 10th U-boat Flotilla from 1 July 1942, for front-line service.

Design

German Type IXC submarines were slightly larger than the original Type IXBs. U-509 had a displacement of 1,120 tonnes (1,100 long tons) when at the surface and 1,232 tonnes (1,213 long tons) while submerged. [4] The U-boat had a total length of 76.76 m (251 ft 10 in), a pressure hull length of 58.75 m (192 ft 9 in), a beam of 6.76 m (22 ft 2 in), a height of 9.60 m (31 ft 6 in), and a draught of 4.70 m (15 ft 5 in). The submarine was powered by two MAN M 9 V 40/46 supercharged four-stroke, nine-cylinder diesel engines producing a total of 4,400 metric horsepower (3,240 kW; 4,340 shp) for use while surfaced, two Siemens-Schuckert 2 GU 345/34 double-acting electric motors producing a total of 1,000 shaft horsepower (1,010 PS; 750 kW) for use while submerged. She had two shafts and two 1.92 m (6 ft) propellers. The boat was capable of operating at depths of up to 230 metres (750 ft). [4]

The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 18.3 knots (33.9 km/h; 21.1 mph) and a maximum submerged speed of 7.3 knots (13.5 km/h; 8.4 mph). [4] When submerged, the boat could operate for 63 nautical miles (117 km; 72 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph); when surfaced, she could travel 13,450 nautical miles (24,910 km; 15,480 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph). U-509 was fitted with six 53.3 cm (21 in) torpedo tubes (four fitted at the bow and two at the stern), 22 torpedoes, one 10.5 cm (4.13 in) SK C/32 naval gun, 180 rounds, and a 3.7 cm (1.5 in) SK C/30 as well as a 2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 anti-aircraft gun. The boat had a complement of forty-eight. [4]

Service history

First patrol

U-509 sailed from Kiel on 25 June 1942, across the Atlantic, into the Caribbean Sea and along the coast of South America, without any successes. She arrived at her new home port of Lorient in occupied France on 12 September after 80 days at sea. [5]

Second patrol

U-509 departed from Lorient on 15 October 1942, now under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Werner Witte. Operating in the waters west of the Canary Islands as part of wolfpack Streitaxt (English : "Battle axe") she attacked Convoy SL 125, sinking four ships and damaging three more. [6]

Convoy SL 125

At 17:40 on 26 October the U-boat attacked the 7,705 GRT British tanker Anglo Mærsk, a straggler, with a single torpedo with no apparent effect. However the damaged ship was sunk at 21:06 the next day by U-604. The entire crew: master, 32 crewmen, and two gunners, landed at Hierro Island, Canary Islands, on 27 October. [7]

At 22.33 and 22.38 hours on 27 October, U-509 fired torpedoes at the convoy and sank two British merchant ships. The 7,951 GRT Pacific Star did not sink immediately, but the crew abandoned ship, and she was last seen on 30 October, very low in the water, and probably sank shortly afterwards. [8] The 6,148 GRT Stentor was the ship of the vice-commodore of the convoy Captain Richard Hart Garstin, CBE, RNR, and was carrying 125 passengers, including 26 army personnel, 11 nursing sisters and six naval staff members. The master, Vice-Commodore, 20 crewmen, three army personnel, four nurses and 15 passengers were lost. 93 crew members, seven gunners and 107 passengers were picked up by HMS Woodruff. [9]

On 28 October, U-509 fired five torpedoes at the convoy and hit two more British merchant ships, while on 10 November, the fourth engineer and 18 men landed at La Orotava, Tenerife, Canary Islands, after being adrift for 14 days. [10] The 5,178 GRT Hopecastle was badly damaged. Three crewmen and two gunners were lost, and her crew abandoned ship. The master and 20 survivors were picked up by the British merchant ship Mano, and another 19 survivors later landed at Funchal, Madeira. Around 05:00 on 29 October, the abandoned Hopecastle was hit by torpedoes from U-203, but the ship stayed afloat and was finally sunk at 10:10 by gunfire. [11]

At 22:16 on 29 October 1942, the U-boat hit the 7,131 GRT British merchant ship Corinaldo with a single torpedo. The ship, loaded with 5,141 tons of frozen meat from Buenos Aires, dropped out of the convoy and was abandoned. Seven crew members and one gunner were lost. The master, 41 crewmen and eight gunners were picked up by HMS Cowslip. At 02:07 the next day, U-659 struck the ship with two torpedoes, but she remained afloat. At 04:16 on the 30th the wreck was finally sunk by a torpedo and gunfire from U-203. [12]

Finally, at midnight on 30 October the U-boat torpedoed and sank the 4,772 GRT British merchant ship Brittany near Madeira. Twelve crewmen, one gunner, and one passenger were lost. The master, 32 crewmen, seven gunners, and three passengers were picked up by the British auxiliary patrol vessel HMS Kelantan. [13]

U-509 then sailed for the waters off Morocco to operate against the Allied ships taking part in the Operation Torch landings. The U-boat operated for three days in waters less than 200 feet (61 m) deep and was constantly bombed and depth charged by Allied surface vessels and aircraft. U-509 received some damage, forcing her to abort the patrol and return to Lorient on 26 November after 43 days at sea. [6]

Third patrol

U-509's next patrol took her far south, to the waters off South Africa. [14] Leaving Lorient on 23 December 1942, she made her first kill at 02:19 on 10 February, sinking the 4,937 GRT British merchant ship Queen Anne eight miles south-south-west of Cape Agulhas. The U-boat was attacked by the ASW trawler HMS St. Zeno with gunfire and seven depth charges, but was not damaged and made her escape. The master, two crewmen and two gunners from Queen Anne were lost. Eighteen survivors were picked up by St. Zeno, while 22 survivors later made landfall at Bredasdorp. [15]

The U-boat struck again at 22:00 on 2 April, torpedoing the 7,129 GRT British passenger ship City of Baroda of Convoy NC-9 north-west of Cape Town. The badly damaged vessel was towed to Lüderitz Bay, South West Africa and beached. Later she broke in two, and was declared a total loss. One crewman and seven passengers were lost. The master, 124 crewmen, four gunners, and 196 passengers were picked up by HMS Cape Warwick. [16]

U-509 returned to Lorient on 11 May after a voyage lasting 140 days.

Fourth patrol

The U-boat's final patrol began on 3 July 1943, under the command of the newly promoted Korvettenkapitän Werner Witte, and sailing south-west to the waters south of the Azores. [17] There on 15 July, north-west of Madeira, in position 34°02′N26°01′W / 34.033°N 26.017°W / 34.033; -26.017 , she was sunk with all hands by aerial FIDO torpedoes from a Grumman TBF Avenger bombers of Navy squadron VC-29 flying from the escort carrier USS Santee. [2]

Wolfpacks

U-509 took part in two wolfpacks, namely:

Summary of raiding history

DateShip NameNationalityTonnage
(GRT)		Fate [18]
26 October 1942 Anglo Mærsk Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 7,705Damaged
27 October 1942 Pacific Star Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 7,951Sunk
27 October 1942 Stentor Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 6,148Sunk
28 October 1942 Hopecastle Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 5,178Damaged
28 October 1942 Nagpore Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 5,283Sunk
29 October 1942 Corinaldo Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 7,131Damaged
30 October 1942 Brittany Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 4,772Sunk
10 February 1943 Queen Anne Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 4,937Sunk
2 April 1943 City of Baroda Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 7,129Total loss

Related Research Articles

German submarine U-556 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. She was laid down on 2 January 1940 at the Blohm & Voss yard in Hamburg as yard number 532, launched on 7 December 1940, and commissioned on 6 February 1941 under the command of Kapitänleutnant Herbert Wohlfarth, who commanded her for her entire career. U-556 conducted only two patrols, sinking six ships totalling 29,552 gross register tons (GRT) and damaging one other of 4,986 GRT, before she was sunk on 27 June 1941.

German submarine <i>U-502</i> German World War II submarine

German submarine U-502 was a Type IXC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. The submarine was laid down on 2 April 1940 at the Deutsche Werft yard in Hamburg with yard number 292, launched on 18 February 1941 and commissioned on 31 May under the command of Kapitänleutnant Jürgen von Rosenstiel.

German submarine <i>U-504</i> German World War II submarine

German submarine U-504 was a Type IXC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. The submarine was laid down on 29 April 1940 at the Deutsche Werft yard in Hamburg as yard number 294, launched on 24 April 1941 and commissioned on 30 July 1941 under the command of Korvettenkapitän Hans-Georg Friedrich "Fritz" Poske. Initially attached to the 4th U-boat Flotilla for training, the U-boat was transferred to the 2nd flotilla on 1 January 1942 for front-line service. She was a member of six wolfpacks.

German submarine <i>U-125</i> (1940) German World War II submarine

German submarine U-125 was a Type IXC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. She was laid down at the DeSchiMAG AG Weser as yard number 988 on 10 May 1940, launched on 10 December and commissioned on 3 March 1941. In seven patrols, she sank 17 ships for a total of 82,873 gross register tons (GRT). The boat was a member of three wolfpacks. She was sunk on 6 May 1943. All 54 men on board died.

German submarine <i>U-185</i> German World War II submarine

German submarine U-185 was a Type IXC/40 U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine built for service during World War II.

German submarine U-539 was a Type IXC/40 U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. The submarine was laid down on 8 May 1942 at the Deutsche Werft yard in Hamburg as yard number 360, launched on 4 December 1942, and commissioned on 24 February 1943 under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Hans-Jürgen Lauterbach-Emden. After training with the 4th U-boat Flotilla in the Baltic Sea, the boat was transferred to the 10th U-boat Flotilla for front-line service on 1 July 1943. She carried out three war patrols, sinking one ship and damaged two more. Transferred to the 33rd U-boat Flotilla on 1 October 1944, she sailed on no further patrols, and surrendered to Allied forces on 9 May 1945. Transferred from Bergen, Norway, to Loch Ryan, Scotland, she foundered on 4 December 1945 while being towed to the scuttling grounds as part of "Operation Deadlight".

German submarine <i>U-176</i> German World War II submarine

German submarine U-176 was a Type IXC U-boat in Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

German submarine <i>U-625</i> German World War II submarine

German submarine U-625 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. The submarine was laid down on 28 July 1941 at the Blohm & Voss yard in Hamburg, launched on 15 April 1942, and commissioned on 4 June 1942 under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Hans Benker.

German submarine U-843 was a Type IXC/40 U-boat of the German Kriegsmarine during World War II. The submarine was laid down on 21 April 1942 at the DeSchiMAG AG Weser yard in Bremen, launched on 15 December 1942, and commissioned on 24 March 1943 under the command of Kapitänleutnant Oskar Herwartz. After training with 4th U-boat Flotilla in the Baltic Sea, U-843 was transferred to 2nd U-boat Flotilla on 1 November 1943 for front-line service, and was transferred to 33rd U-boat Flotilla on 1 October 1944. She carried out three war patrols, sinking one ship, and was sunk by a British aircraft on 9 April 1945.

German submarine <i>U-255</i> German World War II submarine

German submarine U-255 was a Type VIIC U-boat that served in Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. The submarine was laid down on 21 December 1940 at the Bremer Vulkan yard at Bremen-Vegesack, launched on 8 October 1941 and commissioned on 29 November 1941 under the command of Kapitänleutnant Reinhart Reche.

German submarine <i>U-511</i> German World War II submarine

German submarine U-511 was a Type IXC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. The submarine was laid down on 21 February 1941 at the Deutsche Werft yard in Hamburg as yard number 307, launched on 22 September 1941 and commissioned on 8 December 1941 under the command of Kapitänleutnant Friedrich Steinhoff.

Hecht was the name of two "wolfpacks" of German U-boats that operated during World War II.

German submarine <i>U-43</i> (1939) German world war II submarine

German submarine U-43 was a Type IXA U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. The keel for U-43 was laid down in August 1938 at Bremen; she was launched in May 1939 and commissioned in August.

German submarine <i>U-523</i> German World War II submarine

German submarine U-523 was a Type IXC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. The submarine was laid down on 4 August 1941 at the Deutsche Werft yard in Hamburg as yard number 338. She was launched on 15 April 1942, and commissioned on 25 June under the command of Kapitänleutnant Werner Pietzsch. After training with the 4th U-boat Flotilla in the Baltic Sea, the U-boat was transferred to the 10th flotilla for front-line service on 1 February 1943.

German submarine <i>U-66</i> (1940) German World War II submarine

German submarine U-66 was a Type IXC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. The submarine was laid down on 20 March 1940 at the AG Weser yard at Bremen, launched on 10 October and commissioned on 2 January 1941 under the command of Kapitänleutnant Richard Zapp as part of the 2nd U-boat Flotilla.

Vorwärts was a wolfpack of German U-boats that operated from 25 August to 26 September 1942, in the Battle of the Atlantic during World War II. They attacked several convoys, principally Convoy ON 127, sailing from Liverpool to New York, and sank fifteen ships for a total of 79,331 gross register tons (GRT), and damaged nine (81,141 GRT).

German submarine <i>U-515</i> German World War II submarine

German submarine U-515 was a Type IXC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine built for service during World War II. She was commissioned on 21 February 1942 and sunk on 9 April 1944. U-515 completed seven operational patrols and sank 23 ships, badly damaged two ships which later sank, and damaged two additional ships.

German submarine <i>U-510</i> German World War II submarine

German submarine U-510 was a Type IXC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II, which later served in the French Navy. The submarine was laid down on 1 November 1940 at the Deutsche Werft yard at Hamburg as yard number 306, launched on 4 September 1941, and commissioned on 25 November 1941 under the command of Korvettenkapitän Karl Neitzel.

German submarine U-177 was a Type IXD2 U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. The submarine was laid down on 25 November 1940, at the DeSchiMAG AG Weser yard in Bremen, as yard number 1017. She was launched on 1 October 1941, and commissioned on 14 March 1942, under the command of Kapitänleutnant Wilhelm Schulze. After a period of training with the 4th U-boat Flotilla at Stettin, the boat was transferred to the 10th flotilla on 1 October 1942, and based at Lorient, for front-line service, she was then reassigned to the 12th flotilla at Bordeaux on 1 December.

German submarine U-65 was a Type IXB U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. Over the course of six war patrols between 9 April 1940 and 28 April 1941, she sank twelve ships and damaged three others for a total loss of 88,664 gross register tons (GRT).

References

  1. ↑ Kemp 1999, p. 132.
  2. 1 2 Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type IXC boat U-509 - German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 30 January 2010.
  3. ↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "War Patrols by German U-boat U-509 - Boats - uboat.net". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 30 January 2010.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Gröner 1991, p. 68.
  5. ↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Patrol of U-boat U-509 from 25 Jun 1942 to 12 Sep 1942". U-boat patrols - uboat.net. Retrieved 30 January 2010.
  6. 1 2 Helgason, Guðmundur. "Patrol of U-boat U-509 from 15 Oct 1942 to 26 Nov 1942". U-boat patrols - uboat.net. Retrieved 30 January 2010.
  7. ↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Anglo Mærsk (Motor tanker)". Ships hit by U-boats - uboat.net. Retrieved 30 January 2010.
  8. ↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Pacific Star (Steam merchant)". Ships hit by U-boats - uboat.net. Retrieved 30 January 2010.
  9. ↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Stentor (Motor merchant)". Ships hit by U-boats - uboat.net. Retrieved 30 January 2010.
  10. ↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Nagpore (Steam merchant)". Ships hit by U-boats - uboat.net. Retrieved 30 January 2010.
  11. ↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Hopecastle (Motor merchant)". Ships hit by U-boats - uboat.net. Retrieved 30 January 2010.
  12. ↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Corinaldo (Steam merchant)". Ships hit by U-boats - uboat.net. Retrieved 30 January 2010.
  13. ↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Brittany (Motor merchant)". Ships hit by U-boats - uboat.net. Retrieved 30 January 2010.
  14. ↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Patrol of U-boat U-509 from 23 December 1942 to 11 May 1943". U-boat patrols - uboat.net. Retrieved 30 January 2010.
  15. ↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Queen Anne (Motor merchant)". Ships hit by U-boats - uboat.net. Retrieved 30 January 2010.
  16. ↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "City of Baroda (Steam passenger ship)". Ships hit by U-boats - uboat.net. Retrieved 30 January 2010.
  17. ↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Patrol of U-boat U-509 from 3 Jul 1943 to 15 Jul 1943". U-boat patrols - uboat.net. Retrieved 30 January 2010.
  18. ↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U-509". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 3 October 2014.

Bibliography

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.