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German submarine U-509

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German submarine U-509 was a Type IXC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II. The submarine was laid down on 1 November 1940 at the Deutsche Werft yard in Hamburg as yard number 305. She was launched on 19 August 1941, and commissioned on 4 November 1941 under the command of Korvettenkapitän Karl-Heinz Wolff.

U-505, a typical Type IXC boat
History
Nazi Germany
NameU-509
Ordered20 October 1939
BuilderDeutsche Werft, Hamburg
Yard number305
Laid down1 November 1940
Launched19 August 1941
Commissioned4 November 1941
FateSunk on 15 July 1943[1]
General characteristics
Class and typeType IXC submarine
Displacement
  • 1,120 t (1,100 long tons) surfaced
  • 1,232 t (1,213 long tons) submerged
Length
Beam
  • 6.76 m (22 ft 2 in) o/a
  • 4.40 m (14 ft 5 in) pressure hull
Height9.60 m (31 ft 6 in)
Draught4.70 m (15 ft 5 in)
Installed power
  • 4,400 PS (3,200 kW; 4,300 bhp) (diesels)
  • 1,000 PS (740 kW; 990 shp) (electric)
Propulsion
Speed
  • 18.3 knots (33.9 km/h; 21.1 mph) surfaced
  • 7.7 knots (14.3 km/h; 8.9 mph) submerged
Range
  • 13,450 nmi (24,910 km; 15,480 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) surfaced
  • 64 nmi (119 km; 74 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph) submerged
Test depth230 m (750 ft)
Complement4 officers, 44 enlisted
Armament
Service record[2][3]
Part of:
Identification codes: M 37 143
Commanders:
  • K.Kapt. Karl-Heinz Wolff
  • 4 November 1941 – September 1942
  • K.Kapt. Werner Witte
  • September 1942 – 15 July 1943
Operations:
  • 4 patrols:
  • 1st patrol:
  • 25 June – 12 September 1942
  • 2nd patrol:
  • 15 October – 26 November 1942
  • 3rd patrol:
  • 23 December 1942 – 11 May 1943
  • 4th patrol:
  • 3 – 15 July 1943
Victories:
  • 5 merchant ships sunk
    (29,091 GRT)
  • 1 merchant ship total loss
    (7,129 GRT)
  • 3 merchant ships damaged
    (20,014 GRT)

The U-boat served with the 4th U-boat Flotilla for training, before being assigned to the 10th U-boat Flotilla from 1 July 1942, for front-line service.

Design

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German Type IXC submarines were slightly larger than the original Type IXBs. U-509 had a displacement of 1,120 tonnes (1,100 long tons) when at the surface and 1,232 tonnes (1,213 long tons) while submerged.[4] The U-boat had a total length of 76.76 m (251 ft 10 in), a pressure hull length of 58.75 m (192 ft 9 in), a beam of 6.76 m (22 ft 2 in), a height of 9.60 m (31 ft 6 in), and a draught of 4.70 m (15 ft 5 in). The submarine was powered by two MAN M 9 V 40/46 supercharged four-stroke, nine-cylinder diesel engines producing a total of 4,400 metric horsepower (3,240 kW; 4,340 shp) for use while surfaced, two Siemens-Schuckert 2 GU 345/34 double-acting electric motors producing a total of 1,000 shaft horsepower (1,010 PS; 750 kW) for use while submerged. She had two shafts and two 1.92 m (6 ft) propellers. The boat was capable of operating at depths of up to 230 metres (750 ft).[4]

The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 18.3 knots (33.9 km/h; 21.1 mph) and a maximum submerged speed of 7.3 knots (13.5 km/h; 8.4 mph).[4] When submerged, the boat could operate for 63 nautical miles (117 km; 72 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph); when surfaced, she could travel 13,450 nautical miles (24,910 km; 15,480 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph). U-509 was fitted with six 53.3 cm (21 in) torpedo tubes (four fitted at the bow and two at the stern), 22 torpedoes, one 10.5 cm (4.13 in) SK C/32 naval gun, 180 rounds, and a 3.7 cm (1.5 in) SK C/30 as well as a 2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 anti-aircraft gun. The boat had a complement of forty-eight.[4]

Service history

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First patrol

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U-509 sailed from Kiel on 25 June 1942, across the Atlantic, into the Caribbean Sea and along the coast of South America, without any successes. She arrived at her new home port of Lorient in occupied France on 12 September after 80 days at sea.[5]

Second patrol

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U-509 departed from Lorient on 15 October 1942, now under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Werner Witte. Operating in the waters west of the Canary Islands as part of wolfpack Streitaxt (English : "Battle axe") she attacked Convoy SL 125, sinking four ships and damaging three more.[6]

Convoy SL 125

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At 17:40 on 26 October the U-boat attacked the 7,705 GRT British tanker Anglo Mærsk, a straggler, with a single torpedo with no apparent effect. However the damaged ship was sunk at 21:06 the next day by U-604. The entire crew: master, 32 crewmen, and two gunners, landed at Hierro Island, Canary Islands, on 27 October.[7]

At 22.33 and 22.38 hours on 27 October, U-509 fired torpedoes at the convoy and sank two British merchant ships. The 7,951 GRT Pacific Star did not sink immediately, but the crew abandoned ship, and she was last seen on 30 October, very low in the water, and probably sank shortly afterwards.[8] The 6,148 GRT Stentor was the ship of the vice-commodore of the convoy Captain Richard Hart Garstin, CBE, RNR, and was carrying 125 passengers, including 26 army personnel, 11 nursing sisters and six naval staff members. The master, Vice-Commodore, 20 crewmen, three army personnel, four nurses and 15 passengers were lost. 93 crew members, seven gunners and 107 passengers were picked up by HMS Woodruff.[9]

On 28 October, U-509 fired five torpedoes at the convoy and hit two more British merchant ships, while on 10 November, the fourth engineer and 18 men landed at La Orotava, Tenerife, Canary Islands, after being adrift for 14 days.[10] The 5,178 GRT Hopecastle was badly damaged. Three crewmen and two gunners were lost, and her crew abandoned ship. The master and 20 survivors were picked up by the British merchant ship Mano, and another 19 survivors later landed at Funchal, Madeira. Around 05:00 on 29 October, the abandoned Hopecastle was hit by torpedoes from U-203, but the ship stayed afloat and was finally sunk at 10:10 by gunfire.[11]

At 22:16 on 29 October 1942, the U-boat hit the 7,131 GRT British merchant ship Corinaldo with a single torpedo. The ship, loaded with 5,141 tons of frozen meat from Buenos Aires, dropped out of the convoy and was abandoned. Seven crew members and one gunner were lost. The master, 41 crewmen and eight gunners were picked up by HMS Cowslip. At 02:07 the next day, U-659 struck the ship with two torpedoes, but she remained afloat. At 04:16 on the 30th the wreck was finally sunk by a torpedo and gunfire from U-203.[12]

Finally, at midnight on 30 October the U-boat torpedoed and sank the 4,772 GRT British merchant ship Brittany near Madeira. Twelve crewmen, one gunner, and one passenger were lost. The master, 32 crewmen, seven gunners, and three passengers were picked up by the British auxiliary patrol vessel HMS Kelantan.[13]

U-509 then sailed for the waters off Morocco to operate against the Allied ships taking part in the Operation Torch landings. The U-boat operated for three days in waters less than 200 feet (61 m) deep and was constantly bombed and depth charged by Allied surface vessels and aircraft. U-509 received some damage, forcing her to abort the patrol and return to Lorient on 26 November after 43 days at sea.[6]

Third patrol

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U-509's next patrol took her far south, to the waters off South Africa.[14] Leaving Lorient on 23 December 1942, she made her first kill at 02:19 on 10 February, sinking the 4,937 GRT British merchant ship Queen Anne eight miles south-south-west of Cape Agulhas. The U-boat was attacked by the ASW trawler HMS St. Zeno with gunfire and seven depth charges, but was not damaged and made her escape. The master, two crewmen and two gunners from Queen Anne were lost. Eighteen survivors were picked up by St. Zeno, while 22 survivors later made landfall at Bredasdorp.[15]

The U-boat struck again at 22:00 on 2 April, torpedoing the 7,129 GRT British passenger ship City of Baroda of Convoy NC-9 north-west of Cape Town. The badly damaged vessel was towed to Lüderitz Bay, South West Africa and beached. Later she broke in two, and was declared a total loss. One crewman and seven passengers were lost. The master, 124 crewmen, four gunners, and 196 passengers were picked up by HMS Cape Warwick.[16]

U-509 returned to Lorient on 11 May after a voyage lasting 140 days.

Fourth patrol

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The U-boat's final patrol began on 3 July 1943, under the command of the newly promoted Korvettenkapitän Werner Witte, and sailing south-west to the waters south of the Azores.[17] There on 15 July, north-west of Madeira, in position 34°02′N 26°01′W / 34.033°N 26.017°W / 34.033; -26.017, she was sunk with all hands by aerial FIDO torpedoes from a Grumman TBF Avenger bombers of Navy squadron VC-29 flying from the escort carrier USS Santee.[2]

Wolfpacks

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U-509 took part in two wolfpacks, namely:

  • Streitaxt (20 October – 2 November 1942)
  • Schlagetot (9 – 15 November 1942)

Summary of raiding history

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Date Ship Name Nationality Tonnage
(GRT) 		Fate[18]
26 October 1942 Anglo Mærsk   United Kingdom 7,705 Damaged
27 October 1942 Pacific Star   United Kingdom 7,951 Sunk
27 October 1942 Stentor   United Kingdom 6,148 Sunk
28 October 1942 Hopecastle   United Kingdom 5,178 Damaged
28 October 1942 Nagpore   United Kingdom 5,283 Sunk
29 October 1942 Corinaldo   United Kingdom 7,131 Damaged
30 October 1942 Brittany   United Kingdom 4,772 Sunk
10 February 1943 Queen Anne   United Kingdom 4,937 Sunk
2 April 1943 City of Baroda   United Kingdom 7,129 Total loss

References

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  1. ^ Kemp 1999, p. 132.
  2. ^ a b Helgason, Guðmundur. "The Type IXC boat U-509 - German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 30 January 2010.
  3. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "War Patrols by German U-boat U-509 - Boats - uboat.net". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 30 January 2010.
  4. ^ a b c d Gröner 1991, p. 68.
  5. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Patrol of U-boat U-509 from 25 Jun 1942 to 12 Sep 1942". U-boat patrols - uboat.net. Retrieved 30 January 2010.
  6. ^ a b Helgason, Guðmundur. "Patrol of U-boat U-509 from 15 Oct 1942 to 26 Nov 1942". U-boat patrols - uboat.net. Retrieved 30 January 2010.
  7. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Anglo Mærsk (Motor tanker)". Ships hit by U-boats - uboat.net. Retrieved 30 January 2010.
  8. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Pacific Star (Steam merchant)". Ships hit by U-boats - uboat.net. Retrieved 30 January 2010.
  9. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Stentor (Motor merchant)". Ships hit by U-boats - uboat.net. Retrieved 30 January 2010.
  10. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Nagpore (Steam merchant)". Ships hit by U-boats - uboat.net. Retrieved 30 January 2010.
  11. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Hopecastle (Motor merchant)". Ships hit by U-boats - uboat.net. Retrieved 30 January 2010.
  12. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Corinaldo (Steam merchant)". Ships hit by U-boats - uboat.net. Retrieved 30 January 2010.
  13. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Brittany (Motor merchant)". Ships hit by U-boats - uboat.net. Retrieved 30 January 2010.
  14. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Patrol of U-boat U-509 from 23 December 1942 to 11 May 1943". U-boat patrols - uboat.net. Retrieved 30 January 2010.
  15. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Queen Anne (Motor merchant)". Ships hit by U-boats - uboat.net. Retrieved 30 January 2010.
  16. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "City of Baroda (Steam passenger ship)". Ships hit by U-boats - uboat.net. Retrieved 30 January 2010.
  17. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Patrol of U-boat U-509 from 3 Jul 1943 to 15 Jul 1943". U-boat patrols - uboat.net. Retrieved 30 January 2010.
  18. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U-509". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 3 October 2014.

Bibliography

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  • 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]. Der U-Boot-Krieg (in German). Vol. IV. Hamburg, Berlin, Bonn: Mittler. ISBN 3-8132-0514-2.
  • Gröner, Erich; Jung, Dieter; Maass, Martin (1991). U-boats and Mine Warfare Vessels. German Warships 1815–1945. Vol. 2. Translated by Thomas, Keith; Magowan, Rachel. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-593-4.
  • Kemp, Paul (1999). U-Boats Destroyed - German Submarine Losses in the World Wars. London: Arms & Armour. ISBN 1-85409-515-3.
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