List of all U-boats

U-709

Type

VIIC

 
Ordered15 Aug 1940
Laid down5 May 1941 H C Stülcken Sohn, Hamburg (werk 773)
Launched14 Apr 1942
Commissioned12 Aug 1942Oblt. 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)
SuccessesNo 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

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)

Attacks on this boat and other events

15 Nov 1943
An unidentified aircraft attacked the boat. No damage. (Sources: Blair, vol 2, page 441)

1 recorded attack on this boat.

Men lost from the boat

12 Jul 1943
A torpedo explosion left two dead and one wounded.

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

U-boat Emblems

We have 1 emblem entry for this boat. See the emblem page for this boat or view emblems individually below.


Sailing Shoe

Media links


German U-Boat Losses During World War II

Niestle, Axel


U-Boat Operations of the Second World War - Vol 2

Wynn, Kenneth


Hitler's U-boat War, Vol II

Blair, Clay




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