German submarine U-609

History
Nazi Germany
Name:	U-609
Ordered:	22 May 1940
Builder:	Blohm & Voss, Hamburg
Yard number:	585
Laid down:	7 April 1941
Launched:	23 December 1941
Commissioned:	12 February 1942
Fate:	Sunk 7 February 1943 in the North Atlantic in position , by depth charges from FFNF Lobelia.
General characteristics
Class & type:	Type VIIC submarine
Displacement:	769 tonnes (757 long tons) surfaced 871 t (857 long tons) submerged
Length:	67.10 m (220 ft 2 in) o/a 50.50 m (165 ft 8 in) pressure hull
Beam:	6.20 m (20 ft 4 in) o/a 4.70 m (15 ft 5 in) pressure hull
Draught:	4.74 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:	2 shafts 2 × diesel engines 2 × electric motors
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)
Complement:	4 officers, 40–56 enlisted
Armament:	5 × 53.3 cm (21 in) torpedo tubes (four bow, one stern) 14 × torpedoes or 26 TMA mines 1 × 8.8 cm (3.46 in) deck gun (220 rounds) various AA guns
Service record
Part of:	5th U-boat Flotilla 12 February 1942 – 31 July 1942 - Training 6th U-boat Flotilla 1 August 1942 – 7 February 1943
Commanders:	Oblt.z.S. Klaus Rudloff 12 February 1942 – 7 February 1943
Operations:	1st patrol: 16 July – 10 September 1942 2nd patrol: 6–22 October 1942 3rd patrol: 30 November – 23 December 1942 4th patrol: 16 January – 7 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.

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. 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).

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). 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 an anti-aircraft gun. The boat had a complement of between forty-four and sixty.

Service history

The boat's career began with training at 5th U-boat Flotilla on 12 February 1942, followed by active service on 1 December 1942 as part of the 1st 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).

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 7 February 1943 in the North Atlantic in position , by depth charges from the Free French corvette FFNF Lobelia. All hands were lost.

Summary of raiding history

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