Name U-4709 Yard number 951 Commissioned 3 March 1945 Construction started 1 December 1944 Draft 3.66 m | Ordered 7 July 1944 Laid down 1 December 1944 Fate Scuttled on 4 May 1945 Launched 8 February 1945 Part of 5th U-boat Flotilla | |
 | ||
Builder Friedrich Krupp Germaniawerft | ||
German submarine U-4709 was a Type XXIII U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. She was ordered on 7 July 1944, and was laid down on 1 December 1944 at Friedrich Krupp Germaniawerft AG, Kiel, as yard number 951. She was launched on 8 February 1945 and commissioned under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Paul Berkemann on 3 March 1945.
Contents
Design
Like all Type XXIII U-boats, U-4709 had a displacement of 234 tonnes (230 long tons) when at the surface and 258 tonnes (254 long tons) while submerged. She had a total length of 34.68 m (113 ft 9 in) (o/a), a beam width of 3.02 m (9 ft 11 in) (o/a), and a draught depth of 3.66 m (12 ft). The submarine was powered by one MWM six-cylinder RS134S diesel engine providing 575–630 metric horsepower (423–463 kilowatts; 567–621 shaft horsepower), one AEG GU4463-8 double-acting electric motor electric motor providing 580 PS (430 kW; 570 shp), and one BBC silent running CCR188 electric motor providing 35 PS (26 kW; 35 shp).
The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 9.7 knots (18.0 km/h; 11.2 mph) and a submerged speed of 12.5 knots (23.2 km/h; 14.4 mph). When submerged, the boat could operate at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph) for 194 nautical miles (359 km; 223 mi); when surfaced, she could travel 2,600 nautical miles (4,800 km; 3,000 mi) at 8 knots (15 km/h; 9.2 mph). U-4709 was fitted with two 53.3 cm (21 in) torpedo tubes in the bow. She could carry two preloaded torpedoes. The complement was 14–18 men. This class of U-boat did not carry a deck gun.
Service history
On 4 May 1945, U-4709 was scuttled at Germaniawerft, Kiel, as part of Operation Regenbogen. The wreck was later raised and broken up.