German submarine U-109 (1940)

For other ships with the same name, see German submarine U-109.
U-107, a U-boat identical to U-109
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History
Nazi Germany
NameU-109
Ordered24 May 1938
BuilderDeSchiMAG AG Weser, Bremen
Yard number972
Laid down9 March 1940
Launched14 September 1940
Commissioned5 December 1940
FateSunk on 4 May 1943 by aircraft, all crew lost.[1][2]
General characteristics
Class and typeType IXB submarine
Displacement
  • 1,051 t (1,034 long tons) surfaced
  • 1,178 t (1,159 long tons) submerged
Length
Beam
  • 6.76 m (22 ft 2 in) overall
  • 4.40 m (14 ft 5 in) pressure hull
Height9.60 m (31 ft 6 in)
Draught4.70 m (15 ft 5 in)
Installed power
  • 4,400 PS (3,200 kW; 4,300 bhp) (diesels)
  • 1,000 PS (740 kW; 990 shp) (electric)
Propulsion
Speed
  • 18.2 knots (33.7 km/h; 20.9 mph) surfaced
  • 7.3 knots (13.5 km/h; 8.4 mph) submerged
Range
  • 12,000 nmi (22,000 km; 14,000 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) surfaced
  • 64 nmi (119 km; 74 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph) submerged
Test depth230 m (750 ft)
Complement48 to 56 officers and ratings
Armament
Service record
Part of:
Identification codes: M 15 099
Commanders:
  • K.Kapt. Hans-Georg Fischer
  • 5 December 1940 – 4 June 1941
  • Kptlt. Heinrich Bleichrodt
  • 5 June 1941 – 31 January 1943
  • Oblt.z.S. Joachim Schramm
  • 1 March – 4 May 1943
Operations:
  • 9 patrols:
  • 1st patrol:
  • 6 – 29 May 1941
  • 2nd patrol:
  • a. 28 June – 17 August 1941
  • b. 21 – 22 September 1941
  • 3rd patrol:
  • 5 October – 18 November 1941
  • 4th patrol:
  • 27 December 1941 – 23 February 1942
  • 5th patrol:
  • 25 March – 3 June 1942
  • 6th patrol:
  • 18 July – 6 October 1942
  • 7th patrol:
  • 28 November 1942 – 23 January 1943
  • 8th patrol:
  • 3 March – 1 April 1943
  • 9th patrol:
  • 28 April – 4 May 1943
Victories:
  • 12 merchant ships sunk
    (79,969 GRT)
  • 1 merchant ship damaged
    (6,548 GRT)

The German submarine U-109 was a Type IXB U-boat of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine that operated during World War II. She conducted nine war-patrols, sinking 12 ships and damaging one.[1] All but one of these were during the six patrols she carried out under the command of Heinrich Bleichrodt.

On 4 May 1943, she was sunk with all hands by a B-24 Liberator, operated by 86 Squadron RAF.[1]

  1. ^ a b c Cite error: The named reference uboatnet was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Kemp 1999, p. 115.