U-709

Type

VIIC

Ordered

15 Aug 1940

Laid down

5 May 1941

H C Stülcken Sohn, Hamburg (werk 773)

Launched

14 Apr 1942

Commissioned

12 Aug 1942

Oblt. Karl-Otto Weber

Commanders

12 Aug 1942	-	2 Dec 1943		Oblt. Karl-Otto Weber (German Cross in Gold)
3 Dec 1943	-	19 Feb 1944		Oblt. (R) Rudolf Ites

Career
5 patrols

12 Aug 1942	-	28 Feb 1943	5. Flottille (training)
1 Mar 1943	-	19 Feb 1944	9. Flottille (active service)

Successes

No ships sunk or damaged

Fate

Missing since 19 February 1944 in the North Atlantic. There is no explanation for its loss. 52 dead (all hands lost). (Axel Niestlé, January 2001).

Loss position

View the 5 war patrols

U-709 sent its last radio message from approx. position 49.15N, 23.14W early on 19 February 1944 while operating as part of wolfpack Hai 1 against the convoys ONS-29 and ON-224. The boat was reported missing after repeatedly failing to report its position on 16 March 1944.

Previously recorded fate

Sunk 1 March 1944 north of the Azores, in approximate position 49.10N, 26.00W, by depth charges from the US destroyer escorts USS Thomas, USS Bostwick and USS Bronstein.

Wolfpack operations

U-709 operated with the following Wolfpacks during its career:
   Westmark (6 Mar 1943 - 11 Mar 1943)
   Amsel (22 Apr 1943 - 3 May 1943)
   Amsel 3 (3 May 1943 - 6 May 1943)
   Rhein (7 May 1943 - 10 May 1943)
   Elbe 1 (10 May 1943 - 14 May 1943)
   Without name (11 Jul 1943 - 29 Jul 1943)
   Siegfried (22 Oct 1943 - 27 Oct 1943)
   Siegfried 3 (27 Oct 1943 - 30 Oct 1943)
   Jahn (30 Oct 1943 - 2 Nov 1943)
   Tirpitz 4 (2 Nov 1943 - 8 Nov 1943)
   Eisenhart 6 (9 Nov 1943 - 13 Nov 1943)
   Schill 2 (17 Nov 1943 - 22 Nov 1943)
   Igel 2 (3 Feb 1944 - 17 Feb 1944)
   Hai 1 (17 Feb 1944 - 22 Feb 1944)
   Preussen (22 Feb 1944 - 1 Mar 1944)