History
Nazi Germany
NameU-709
Ordered15 August 1940
BuilderH. C. Stülcken Sohn, Hamburg
Yard number773
Laid down5 May 1941
Launched14 April 1942
Commissioned12 August 1942
FateMissing since 19 February 1944
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
Height9.60 m (31 ft 6 in)
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
Range8,500 nautical miles (15,700 km; 9,800 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph)
Test depth
  • 230 m (750 ft)
  • Crush depth: 250–295 m (820–968 ft)
Complement44–60 officers & ratings
Armament
Service record
Part of:
Identification codes: M 49 765
Commanders:
  • Oblt.z.S. Karl-Otto Weber
  • 12 August 1942 – 2 December 1943
  • Oblt.z.S. Rudolf Ites
  • 3 December 1943 – 19 February 1944
Operations:
  • 5 patrols:
  • 1st patrol:
  • 13 February – 18 March 1943
  • 2nd patrol:
  • 15 April – 23 May 1943
  • 3rd patrol:
  • 5 – 20 July 1943
  • 4th patrol:
  • a. 2 – 3 October 1943
  • b. 6 October – 28 November 1943
  • 5th patrol:
  • 25 January – 19 February 1944
Victories: None

German submarine U-709 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.

Ordered 15 August 1940, she was laid down on 5 May 1941 and launched 14 April 1942. From 12 August 1942 until 2 December 1943, she was commanded by Oberleutnant zur See Karl-Otto Weber, then captained by Oberleutnant zur See Rudolf Ites from 3 December 1943 until 19 February 1944.

Design

German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-709 had a displacement of 769 tonnes (757 long tons) when at the surface and 871 tonnes (857 long tons) while submerged.[1] 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 Garbe, Lahmeyer & Co. RP 137/c 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).[1]

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).[1] 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-709 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 two twin 2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 anti-aircraft guns. The boat had a complement of between forty-four and sixty.[1]

Service history

U-709 had five patrols, from 12 August 1942 until 19 February 1944, during which she sank no ships.

Wolfpacks

U-709 took part in 15 wolfpacks, namely:

  • Westmark (6 – 11 March 1943)
  • Amsel (22 April – 3 May 1943)
  • Amsel 3 (3 – 6 May 1943)
  • Rhein (7 – 10 May 1943)
  • Elbe 1 (10 – 14 May 1943)
  • Without name (11 – 29 July 1943)
  • Siegfried (22 – 27 October 1943)
  • Siegfried 3 (27 – 30 October 1943)
  • Jahn (30 October – 2 November 1943)
  • Tirpitz 4 (2 – 8 November 1943)
  • Eisenhart 6 (9 – 13 November 1943)
  • Schill 2 (17 – 22 November 1943)
  • Igel 2 (3 – 17 February 1944)
  • Hai 1 (17 – 22 February 1944)
  • Preussen (22 February – 1 March 1944)

Fate

She has been missing since 19 February 1944 in the North Atlantic. No explanation for its loss. All hands lost.[2]

Previously recorded fate

She was sunk by depth charges from the US destroyer escorts USS Thomas, USS Bostwick, and USS Bronstein while on patrol north of the Azores; all 52 crew members aboard died. Niestlé disagreed with the official account, and conclude that there was no known explanation for its loss. [3]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Gröner 1991, pp. 43–46.
  2. ↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "U-709". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 7 April 2016.
  3. ↑ Niestlé 2014, p. 111.

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] (in German). Vol. IV. Hamburg, Berlin, Bonn: Mittler. ISBN 3-8132-0514-2. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
  • Gröner, Erich; Jung, Dieter; Maass, Martin (1991). U-boats and Mine Warfare Vessels. Vol. 2. Translated by Thomas, Keith; Magowan, Rachel. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-593-4. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
  • Niestlé, Axel (30 June 2014). German U-Boat Losses During World War II: Details of Destruction. Frontline Books. ISBN 978-1-4738-3829-1.
  • Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type VIIC boat U-709". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 29 December 2014.
  • Helgason, Guðmundur. "Oberleutnant zur See Rudolf Ites". German U-boat commanders of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 26 September 2015.
  • Hofmann, Markus. "U 709". Deutsche U-Boote 1935-1945 - u-boot-archiv.de (in German). Retrieved 29 December 2014.

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