Name U-709 Ordered 15 August 1940 Laid down 5 May 1941 Construction started 5 May 1941 Length 67 m Beam 6.2 m | Operator Kriegsmarine Yard number 773 Commissioned 12 August 1942 Launched 14 April 1942 Draft 4.74 m Builder H. C. Stülcken Sohn | |
German submarine U-709 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.
Contents
Ordered 15 August 1940, she was laid down on 5 May 1941 and launched 14 April 1942. From 12 August 1942 to 2 December 1943, she was commanded by Oberleutnant Karl-Otto Weber, then captained by Oberleutnant Rudolf Ites from 3 December 1943 till 1 March 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. 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).
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-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 an anti-aircraft gun. The boat had a complement of between forty-four and sixty.
Service history
U-709 had five patrols, from 12 August 1942 to 1 March 1944, in which time she sunk no ships. She was sunk while on patrol North of the Azores, by depth charges from the US destroyer escorts USS Thomas, USS Bostwick and USS Bronstein. Lost with all hands, 52 dead.
Wolfpacks
U-709 took part in 15 wolfpacks, namely.