U-209

Type

VIIC

Ordered

16 Oct 1939

Laid down

28 Nov 1940

F. Krupp Germaniawerft AG, Kiel (werk 638)

Launched

28 Aug 1941

Commissioned

11 Oct 1941

Kptlt. Heinrich Brodda

Commanders

11 Oct 1941

7 May 1943

Kptlt. Heinrich Brodda

Career
7 patrols

11 Oct 1941	-	28 Feb 1942	6. Flottille (training)
1 Mar 1942	-	30 Jun 1942	6. Flottille (active service)
1 Jul 1942	-	28 Feb 1943	11. Flottille (active service)
1 Mar 1943	-	7 May 1943	1. Flottille (active service)

Successes

3 ships sunk, total tonnage 1,136 GRT
1 ship a total loss, total tonnage 220 GRT

Fate

Missing since 6 May 1943 in the North Atlantic, in approx. position 52N, 38W.

Possibly lost on or about 7 May 1943 in a diving accident after being badly damaged on 4 May south of Cape Farewell, in position 56.38N, 42.32W, by depth charges from a Canadian Canso aircraft (5 Sqn RCAF/W). 46 dead (all hands lost). (FDS/NHB, October 1991).

Loss position

See the 4 ships hit by U-209 - View the 7 war patrols

U-209 reported for the last time on 6 May 1943 via its sister boat U-954 (Loewe) describing the extensive damage suffered from an air attack on 4 May, including the breakdown of its main transmitter. The boat was ordered to return to base shortly afterwards and reported missing on 19 May when it failed to arrive. However, it is likely that U-209 was already lost on or about 7 May in a diving accident as a result of the damage suffered.

Previously recorded fate

Sunk by the British frigate HMS Jed and the British sloop HMS Sennen on 19 May, 1943 in position 54.54N, 34.19W. (Postwar assessment)
Notes. This attack was in fact responsible for the sinking of U-954.

Wolfpack operations

U-209 operated with the following Wolfpacks during its career:
   Ziethen (23 Mar 1942 - 29 Mar 1942)
   Eiswolf (29 Mar 1942 - 31 Mar 1942)
   Robbenschlag (7 Apr 1942 - 14 Apr 1942)
   Blutrausch (15 Apr 1942 - 15 Apr 1942)
   Greif (16 May 1942 - 29 May 1942)
   Boreas (19 Nov 1942 - 7 Dec 1942)
   Meise (25 Apr 1943 - 27 Apr 1943)
   Star (27 Apr 1943 - 4 May 1943)
   Fink (4 May 1943 - 6 May 1943)

Attacks on this boat and other events

28 Mar 1942
At 07.04 hrs, the boat was sighted by HMS Blackfly, escorting the Polish steam merchant Tobruk, a straggler from convoy PQ 13. The guns of the armed trawler were frozen and could not be used, but after U-209 dived, two depth charges were launched, of which only one exploded. At 07.42 hrs, U-209 missed the escort with a stern torpedo, who responded with two more depth charges, also with no success. Shortly afterwards they lost sight of each other in a flurry of snow. (Sources: KTB U-209/ADM 237-164)

29 Mar 1942
11.03 hrs, Barents Sea: the boat dived after being sighted by HMS Hussar and HMS Gossamer. Both minesweepers then carried out seven attacks runs until 12.44 hrs, launching 30 depth charges with difficulty, as the traps were frozen. At the end of the hunt they heard two underwater detonations and claimed the sinking of a U-boat. U-209 had, however, managed to escape undamaged after the first few attacks. (Sources: KTB U-209/ADM 199-1782)

16 Apr 1943
A British Fying Fortress aircraft (RAF Sqn 220/T) dropped six depth charges on the boat southeast of Iceland, damaging the periscope. (Sources: Rohwer/Ritschel)

4 May 1943
The target of the depth charge attack on 4 May 1943 south of Cape Farewell, Greenland in position 56.38N 42.38W by Canadian Canso 9747 (5 BR Sqn RCAF/W), formerly credited with sinking U-630, was actually U-209, which suffered severe damage. (Sources: January 1991, FDS/NHB)

4 recorded attacks on this boat.

Men lost from the boat

9 Jul 1942
Two men died during an accident on the harbour quay at Bergen, Norway. The boat next went on patrol on 17 July. [Funkgefreiter Edmund Kiepulski, Funkgefreiter Alfons Kuklinski]

Related: For more info on such losses see - Men lost from U-boats -