U-609

Type

VIIC

Ordered

22 May 1940

Laid down

7 Apr 1941

Blohm & Voss, Hamburg (werk 585)

Launched

23 Dec 1941

Commissioned

12 Feb 1942

Oblt. Klaus Rudloff

Commanders

12 Feb 1942

6 Feb 1943

Kptlt. Klaus Rudloff

Career
4 patrols

12 Feb 1942	-	31 Jul 1942	5. Flottille (training)
1 Aug 1942	-	6 Feb 1943	6. Flottille (active service)

Successes

2 ships sunk, total tonnage 10,288 GRT

Fate

Sunk at 2204hrs on 6 February 1943 in the North Atlantic south-east of Cape Farwell, in position 54.56N, 28.11W, by depth charges from the Free French corvette Lobelia. 47 dead (all hands lost). (Axel Niestlé, January 2004).

Loss position

See the 2 ships hit by U-609 - View the 4 war patrols

Previously recorded fate

Sunk on 7 February 1943 in the North Atlantic, in position 55.17N, 26.38W, by depth charges from the Free French corvette Lobelia.

Wolfpack operations

U-609 operated with the following Wolfpacks during its career:
   Vorwärts (25 Aug 1942 - 1 Sep 1942)
   Panther (13 Oct 1942 - 16 Oct 1942)
   Draufgänger (6 Dec 1942 - 11 Dec 1942)
   Raufbold (11 Dec 1942 - 18 Dec 1942)
   Landsknecht (19 Jan 1943 - 28 Jan 1943)
   Pfeil (1 Feb 1943 - 7 Feb 1943)

Attacks on this boat and other events

12 Oct 1942
Depth charging by escorts of convoy ON(S) 136 caused severe damage, forcing U-609 to abandon her attack. (Sources: Blair, vol 2, page 39.)

17 Oct 1942
Depth charges from HMS Celandine severely damaged U-609 in the action against convoy ONS 137.

2 recorded attacks on this boat.

Men lost from U-boats

Unlike many other U-boats, which during their service lost men due to accidents and various other causes, U-609 did not suffer any casualties (we know of) until the time of her loss.