German submarine U-509

Unterseeboot 509 (usually abbreviated to U-509) was a Type IXC U-Boat of Nazi Germany during World War II. Her keel was laid down on November 1 1940 at Deutsche Werft in Hamburg, and commissioned on November 4 1941. It was first commanded by Captain Karl-Heinz Wolff, then later commanded by Captain Werner Witte. It's homebase was Lorient with the 10. Unterseebootsflottille.

War record

U-509 first launched on August 19, 1941, with a crew of 59. It was first commanded by Captain Karl-Heinz Wolff, then later commanded by Captain Werner Witte. Its most deadly month was October, 1942, when it came into contact with British convoy SL-125, and shadowed it for several days. During that time it sank or damaged the following vessels:

• October 26, 1942: damaged the British SS Anglo Maersk, 7,705 tons
• October 27, 1942: sank the British SS Stentor, 6,148 tons
• October 27, 1942: sank the British SS Pacific Star, 7,951 tons
• October 28, 1942: damaged the British MV Hopecastle, 5,178 tons
• October 28, 1942: sank the British SS Nagpore, 5,283 tons
• October 29, 1942: damaged the British SS Corinaldo, 7,131 tons
• October 30, 1942: sank the British MV Brittany, 4,772 tons

Following that stroke of luck, U-509 returned to port in December, 1942. Although due to the liaison with SL-125 the convoys for Operation Torch were able to get through unmolested.

On its next patrol, U-509 had the following encounters;

• February 10, 1943: sank the British SS Queen Anne, 4,937 tons
• March 7, 1943: U-509 was attacked by SAAF squadron 25, but was not damaged during the attack
• April 2, 1943: fatally damaged the British SS City of Baroda, 7,129 tons

After returning once again to port for resupply, U-509 departed for its fourth patrol on July 3, 1943. It was sunk July 15, 1943 in the Atlantic Ocean north-west of Madeira, Portugal, in position 34°02′N 26°01′W, by aerial Fido torpedoes from an TBF Avenger aircraft of the US escort carrier USS Santee. 54 dead (all hands lost).

References

• U-boat.net webpage for U-509
• Ubootwaffe.net webpage for U-509
• convoyweb.org.uk webpage for british convoy SL-125

See Also: List of U-boats