German submarine U-109 (1940)

	U-107, a U-boat identical to U-109
History
Nazi Germany
Name	U-109
Ordered	24 May 1938
Builder	DeSchiMAG AG Weser, Bremen
Yard number	972
Laid down	9 March 1940
Launched	14 September 1940
Commissioned	5 December 1940
Fate	Sunk on 4 May 1943 by aircraft, all crew lost.
General characteristics
Class and type	German Type IXB submarine
Displacement	1,051 t (1,034 long tons) surfaced; 1,178 t (1,159 long tons) submerged;
Length	76.50 m (251 ft) o/a; 58.75 m (192 ft 9 in) pressure hull;
Beam	6.76 m (22 ft 2 in) overall; 4.40 m (14 ft 5 in) pressure hull;
Height	9.60 m (31 ft 6 in)
Draught	4.70 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	2 shafts; 2 × diesel engines; 2 × electric motors;
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 depth	230 m (750 ft)
Complement	48 to 56 officers and ratings
Armament	6 × torpedo tubes (4 bow, 2 stern); 22 × 53.3 cm (21 in) torpedoes; 1 × 10.5 cm (4.1 in) SK C/32 deck gun (180 rounds); 1 × 3.7 cm (1.5 in) SK C/30 AA gun; 1 × twin 2 cm FlaK 30 AA guns;
Service record
Part of:	2nd U-boat Flotilla; 5 Dec 1940 – 4 May 1943;
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. 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.

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