German submarine U-1209 was a Type VIIC U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine during World War II.
 U-570 Type VIIC submarine that was captured by the British in 1941. This U-boat is almost identical to U-1209.
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| History | |
|---|---|
 Nazi Germany | |
| Name | U-1209 |
| Ordered | 2 April 1942 |
| Builder | F Schichau GmbH, Danzig |
| Yard number | 1579 |
| Laid down | 14 July 1943 |
| Launched | 9 February 1944 |
| Commissioned | 13 April 1944 |
| Fate | Scuttled on 18 December 1944 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Type VIIC submarine |
| Displacement | |
| Length |
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| Beam |
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| Height | 9.60 m (31 ft 6 in) |
| Draught | 4.74 m (15 ft 7 in) |
| Installed power |
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| Propulsion |
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| Speed |
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| Range | |
| Test depth |
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| Complement | 4 officers, 44–52 enlisted |
| Armament |
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| Service record | |
| Part of: |
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| Identification codes: | M 28 716 |
| Commanders: | |
| Operations: |
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| Victories: | None |
She was ordered on 2 April 1942 and was laid down on 14 July 1943 at F Schichau GmbH, Danzig, as yard number 1579. She was launched on 9 February 1944 and commissioned under the command of Oberleutnant zur See Ewald Hülsenbeck on 13 April 1944.[2]
Design
editGerman Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-1209 had a displacement of 769 tonnes (757 long tons) when at the surface and 871 tonnes (857 long tons) while submerged.[3] She had a total length of 67.10 m (220 ft 2 in), a pressure hull length of 50.50 m (165 ft 8 in), a beam of 6.20 m (20 ft 4 in), a height of 9.60 m (31 ft 6 in), and a draught of 4.74 m (15 ft 7 in). The submarine was powered by two Germaniawerft F46 four-stroke, six-cylinder supercharged diesel engines producing a total of 2,800 to 3,200 metric horsepower (2,060 to 2,350 kW; 2,760 to 3,160 shp) for use while surfaced, two AEG GU 460/8-276 double-acting electric motors producing a total of 750 metric horsepower (550 kW; 740 shp) for use while submerged. She had two shafts and two 1.23 m (4 ft) propellers. The boat was capable of operating at depths of up to 230 metres (750 ft).[3]
The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 17.7 knots (32.8 km/h; 20.4 mph) and a maximum submerged speed of 7.6 knots (14.1 km/h; 8.7 mph).[3] When submerged, the boat could operate for 80 nautical miles (150 km; 92 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph); when surfaced, she could travel 8,500 nautical miles (15,700 km; 9,800 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph). U-1209 was fitted with five 53.3 cm (21 in) torpedo tubes (four fitted at the bow and one at the stern), fourteen torpedoes or 26 TMA mines, one 8.8 cm (3.46 in) SK C/35 naval gun, (220 rounds), one 3.7 cm (1.5 in) Flak M42 and two twin 2 cm (0.79 in) C/30 anti-aircraft guns. The boat had a complement of between 44 — 52 men.[3]
Service history
editU-1209 was scuttled by her crew on 18 December 1944, east of the Isles of Scilly, in the English Channel, after running aground on Wolf Rock. Forty-four of her crew of fifty-three survived, Oberleutnant zur See Ewald Hülsenbeck was among the dead.[2]
References
edit- ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ewald Hülsenbeck". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 11 April 2016.
- ^ a b Helgason, Guðmundur. "U-1209". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 11 April 2016.
- ^ a b c d Gröner 1991, pp. 43–46.
Bibliography
edit- Busch, Rainer; Röll, Hans-Joachim (1999). German U-boat commanders of World War II : a biographical dictionary. Translated by Brooks, Geoffrey. London, Annapolis, Md: Greenhill Books, Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-55750-186-6.
- Busch, Rainer; Röll, Hans-Joachim (1999). Deutsche U-Boot-Verluste von September 1939 bis Mai 1945 [German U-boat losses from September 1939 to May 1945]. Der U-Boot-Krieg (in German). Vol. IV. Hamburg, Berlin, Bonn: Mittler. ISBN 3-8132-0514-2.
- Gröner, Erich; Jung, Dieter; Maass, Martin (1991). German Warships 1815–1945, U-boats and Mine Warfare Vessels. Vol. 2. Translated by Thomas, Keith; Magowan, Rachel. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-593-4.
External links
edit- Helgason, Guðmundur. "Patrols by U-1209". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net.
Relevant description of how U-1209 hit Wolf Rock lighthouse and what happened after here https://www.penwithlocalhistorygroup.co.uk/on-this-day/?id=314