German submarine U-2509

German submarine U-2509 was a Type XXI U-boat (one of the "Elektroboote") of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine, built for service in World War II. She was ordered on 6 November 1943, and was laid down on 17 June 1944 at the Blohm & Voss yard at Hamburg, as yard number 2509. She was launched on 27 August 1944, and commissioned under the command of Kapitänleutnant Rudolf Schendel on 21 September 1944.

Design
Like all Type XXI U-boats, U-2509 had a displacement of 1621 t when at the surface and 1819 t while submerged. She had a total length of 76.70 m (o/a), a beam of 8 m, and a draught of 6.32 m. The submarine was powered by two MAN SE supercharged six-cylinder M6V40/46KBB diesel engines each providing 4000 PS, two Siemens-Schuckert GU365/30 double-acting electric motors each providing 5000 PS, and two Siemens-Schuckert silent running GV232/28 electric motors each providing 226 PS.

The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 15.6 kn and a submerged speed of 17.2 kn. When running on silent motors the boat could operate at a speed of 6.1 kn. When submerged, the boat could operate at 5 kn for 340 nmi; when surfaced, she could travel 15500 nmi at 10 kn. U-2509 was fitted with six 53.3 cm torpedo tubes in the bow and four 2 cm C/30 anti-aircraft guns. She could carry twenty-three torpedoes or seventeen torpedoes and twelve mines. The complement was five officers and fifty-two men.

Fate
U-2509 was sunk on 8 April 1945, by bombs, in the Blohm & Voss shipyard in Hamburg. U-2509 was caught in an RAF Bomber Command raid made up of Lancaster and Halifax bombers.