German submarine U-609

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History
War ensign of Germany (1938-1945).svg Nazi Germany
NameU-609
Ordered22 May 1940
Builder Blohm & 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′N28°11′W / 54.933°N 28.183°W / 54.933; -28.183 , by depth charges from FFNF Lobelia. [1]
General characteristics
Class and type Type VIIC submarine
Displacement
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:
Identification codes: M 42 154
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)

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.

Contents

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:

Fate

U-609 was sunk on 6 February 1943 in the North Atlantic in position 54°56′N28°11′W / 54.933°N 28.183°W / 54.933; -28.183 , 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′N26°38′W / 55.283°N 26.633°W / 55.283; -26.633 , by depth charges from the Free French corvette FFNF Lobelia. All hands were lost. [3]

Summary of raiding history

DateShip NameNationalityTonnage
(GRT)
Fate [4]
31 August 1942 Capira Flag of Panama.svg  Panama 5,625Sunk
31 August 1942 Bronxville Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 4,663Sunk

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References

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

Bibliography