SM U-109
| History | |
|---|---|
 German Empire
| |
| Name: | U-109 |
| Ordered: | 5 May 1916 |
| Builder: | Germaniawerft, Kiel |
| Yard number: | 278 |
| Launched: | 25 September 1917 |
| Commissioned: | 7 November 1917 |
| Fate: | Sunk 26 January 1918 |
| General characteristics [1] | |
| Class and type: | German Type U 93 submarine |
| Displacement: |
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| Length: |
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| Beam: |
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| Height: | 8.25 m (27 ft 1 in) |
| Draught: | 3.90 m (12 ft 10 in) |
| Installed power: | |
| Propulsion: | 2 shafts, 2 × 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in) propellers |
| Speed: |
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| Range: |
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| Test depth: | 50 m (164 ft 1 in) |
| Complement: | 4 officers, 32 enlisted |
| Armament: |
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| Service record | |
| Part of: |
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| Commanders: | |
| Operations: | 1 patrol |
| Victories: | None |
SM U-109 was a Type U 93 submarine of the Imperial German Navy in World War I, taking part in the First Battle of the Atlantic.[3] The building contract was confirmed 5 May 1916, and was awarded to Germaniawerft, Kiel.[4] A Type 93 boat, she was launched 25 September 1917 and commissioned 7 November. She was under the command of Otto Ney. On 28 January 1918, she was sunk in the English Channel, possibly by a mine, while diving to avoid ships from the Dover Patrol (particularly drifter H.M. Beryl III).[5] She sank no ships.[3][6][7]
Design
German Type U 93 submarines were preceded by the shorter Type U 87 submarines. U-109 had a displacement of 798 tonnes (785 long tons) when at the surface and 1,000 tonnes (980 long tons) while submerged.[1] It had a total length of 234 ft 9 in (71.55 m), a pressure hull length of 183 ft 11 in (56.06 m), a beam of 20 ft 8 in (6.30 m), a height of 27 ft 1 in (8.26 m), and a draught of 12 ft 10 in (3.91 m). The submarine was powered by two 2,400 metric horsepower (1,800 kW; 2,400 shp) engines for use while surfaced, and two 1,200 metric horsepower (880 kW; 1,200 shp) engines for use while submerged. It had two propeller shafts and two 1.7 m (5 ft 7 in) propellers. It was capable of operating at depths of up to 50 metres (160 ft).[1]
The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 16.4 knots (30.4 km/h; 18.9 mph) and a maximum submerged speed of 8.4 knots (15.6 km/h; 9.7 mph).[1] When submerged, it could operate for 50 nautical miles (93 km; 58 mi) at 5 knots (9.3 km/h; 5.8 mph); when surfaced, it could travel 9,280 nautical miles (17,190 km; 10,680 mi) at 8 knots (15 km/h; 9.2 mph). U-109 was fitted with six 50 centimetres (20 in) torpedo tubes (four at the bow and two at the stern), twelve to sixteen torpedoes, one 10.5 centimetres (4.1 in) deck machine gun, and one 8.8 centimetres (3.5 in) deck machine gun. It had a complement of thirty-six (thirty-two crew members and four officers).[1]
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 Gröner 1991, pp. 12-14.
- ↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat commanders: Otto Ney". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
- 1 2 Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boats: U 109". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 25 January 2010.
- ↑ Rössler, Eberhard, The U-boat: The evolution and technical history of German Submarines, Naval Institute Press, Annapolis, Maryland, 1989, p. 66
- ↑ Innes McCartney (2002). Lost Patrols: Submarine Wrecks of the English Channel.
- ↑ Gray, Edwyn A., The U-Boat War 1914-1918, Leo Cooper, London, 1994 p. 242
- ↑
- Innes McCartney (2002). Lost Patrols: Submarine Wrecks of the English Channel.
Bibliography
- Gröner, Erich; Jung, Dieter; Maass, Martin (1991). U-boats and Mine Warfare Vessels. German Warships 1815–1945 2. Translated by Thomas, Keith; Magowan, Rachel (London: Conway Maritime Press). ISBN 0-85177-593-4.
Coordinates: 50°53′N 1°31′E / 50.883°N 1.517°E
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