German submarine U-609

German submarine U-609 was a Type VIIC U-boat built for Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine for service during World War II. She was laid down on 7 April 1941 by Blohm & Voss, Hamburg as yard number 585, launched on 23 December 1941 and commissioned on 12 February 1942 under Oberleutnant zur See Klaus Rudloff.

Design
German Type VIIC submarines were preceded by the shorter Type VIIB submarines. U-609 had a displacement of 769 t when at the surface and 871 t while submerged. She had a total length of 67.10 m, a pressure hull length of 50.50 m, a beam of 6.20 m, a height of 9.60 m, and a draught of 4.74 m. The submarine was powered by two Germaniawerft F46 four-stroke, six-cylinder supercharged diesel engines producing a total of 2800 to 3200 PS for use while surfaced, two BBC GG UB 720/8 double-acting electric motors producing a total of 750 PS for use while submerged. She had two shafts and two 1.23 m propellers. The boat was capable of operating at depths of up to 230 m.

The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 17.7 kn and a maximum submerged speed of 7.6 kn. When submerged, the boat could operate for 80 nmi at 4 kn; when surfaced, she could travel 8500 nmi at 10 kn. U-609 was fitted with five 53.3 cm torpedo tubes (four fitted at the bow and one at the stern), fourteen torpedoes, one 8.8 cm SK C/35 naval gun, 220 rounds, and an anti-aircraft gun. The boat had a complement of between forty-four and sixty.

Service history
The boat's career began with training at 5th U-boat Flotilla on 12 February 1942, followed by active service on 1 December 1942 as part of the 1st Flotilla for the remainder of her service. In four patrols she sank two merchant ships, for a total of.

Wolfpacks
U-609 took part in six wolfpacks, namely
 * Vorwärts (25 August – 1 September 1942)
 * Panther (13–16 October 1942)
 * Draufgänger (6–11 December 1942)
 * Raufbold (11–18 December 1942)
 * Landsknecht (19–28 January 1943)
 * Pfeil (1–7 February 1943)

Fate
U-609 was sunk on 7 February 1943 in the North Atlantic in position 55.28333°N, -26.63333°W, by depth charges from the Free French corvette FFNF Lobelia. All hands were lost.