SM U-41 (Germany)

For other ships with the same name, see German submarine U-41.

History

German Empire
Name:	U-41
Ordered:	12 June 1912
Builder:	Germaniawerft, Kiel
Yard number:	201
Laid down:	22 April 1913
Launched:	10 October 1914
Commissioned:	1 February 1915
Fate:	24 September 1915 – Sunk by gunfire from Q-Ship Baralong in Western Approaches 49.10N 07.23W.. 35 dead and 2 survivors.
General characteristics
Class and type:	German Type U 31 submarine
Displacement:	685 t (674 long tons) (surfaced) 878 t (864 long tons) (submerged)
Length:	64.70 m (212 ft 3 in) (o/a) 52.36 m (171 ft 9 in) (pressure hull)
Beam:	6.32 m (20 ft 9 in) (o/a) 4.05 m (13 ft 3 in) (pressure hull)
Draught:	3.56 m (11 ft 8 in)
Installed power:	2 × 1,850 PS (1,361 kW; 1,825 shp) diesel engines 2 × 1,200 PS (883 kW; 1,184 shp) Doppelmodyn
Propulsion:	2 × shafts 2 × 1.60 m (5.2 ft) propellers
Speed:	16.4 knots (30.4 km/h; 18.9 mph) (surfaced) 9.7 knots (18.0 km/h; 11.2 mph) (submerged)
Range:	8,790 nmi (16,280 km; 10,120 mi) at 8 knots (15 km/h; 9.2 mph) (surfaced) 80 nmi (150 km; 92 mi) at 5 knots (9.3 km/h; 5.8 mph) (submerged)
Test depth:	50 m (164 ft 1 in)
Boats & landing craft carried:	1 dinghy
Complement:	4 officers, 31 enlisted
Armament:	four 50 cm (20 in) torpedo tubes (2 each bow and stern) 6 torpedoes one 8.8 cm (3.5 in) deck gun
Service record
Part of:	Imperial German Navy: II Flotilla Unknown start – 24 September 1915
Commanders:	Kptlt. Claus Hansen^[1] 1 February – 24 September 1915
Operations:	4 patrols
Victories:	28 merchant ships sunk (58,648 GRT) 1 merchant ship damaged (4,409 GRT) 1 ship taken as a prize (355 GRT)

SM U-41 was one of the 329 submarines serving in the Imperial German Navy in World War I. U-41 engaged in naval warfare and took part in the First Battle of the Atlantic.

Design

German Type U 31 submarines were double-hulled ocean-going submarines similar to Type 23 and Type 27 subs in dimensions and differed only slightly in propulsion and speed. They were considered very good high sea boats with average manoeuvrability and good surface steering.^[2]

U-41 had an overall length of 64.70 m (212 ft 3 in), her pressure hull was 52.36 m (171 ft 9 in) long. The boat's beam was 6.32 m (20 ft 9 in) (o/a), while the pressure hull measured 4.05 m (13 ft 3 in). Type 31s had a draught of 3.56 m (11 ft 8 in) with a total height of 7.68–8.04 m (25 ft 2 in–26 ft 5 in). The boats displaced a total of 971 tonnes (956 long tons); 685 t (674 long tons) when surfaced and 878 t (864 long tons) when submerged.^[2]

U-41 was fitted with two Germania 6-cylinder two-stroke diesel engines with a total of 1,850 metric horsepower (1,361 kW; 1,825 bhp) for use on the surface and two Siemens-Schuckert double-acting electric motors with a total of 1,200 PS (883 kW; 1,184 shp) for underwater use. These engines powered two shafts each with a 1.60 m (5.2 ft) propeller, which gave the boat a top surface speed of 16.4 knots (30.4 km/h; 18.9 mph), and 9.7 knots (18.0 km/h; 11.2 mph) when submerged. Cruising range was 8,790 nautical miles (16,280 km; 10,120 mi) at 8 knots (15 km/h; 9.2 mph) on the surface, and 80 nmi (150 km; 92 mi) at 5 knots (9.3 km/h; 5.8 mph) under water. Diving depth was 50 m (164 ft 1 in).^[2]

The U-boat was armed with four 50 cm (20 in) torpedo tubes, two fitted in the bow and two in the stern, and carried 6 torpedoes. Additionally U-41 was equipped in 1915 with one 8.8 cm (3.5 in) deck gun. The boat's complement was 4 officers and 31 enlisted.^[2]

Fate

U-41 was sunk by British Q-ship on 24 September 1915 in the Second Baralong Incident. At this stage in the war, U-boat commanders were under orders to scrupulously observe the rules of war (the "cruiser rules"). After spotting merchant targets, submarines surfaced nearby, boarded the ships, and searched for contraband. This prevented the sinking of neutral vessels, but exposed the submarines to great risk.

SS Urbino

Prior to being sunk, a boarding party from U-41 went aboard 6,651 gross register tons (GRT) merchantman SS Urbino. After finding war material on board, the merchant crew were evacuated to lifeboats. U-41 was in the process of sinking Urbino with gunfire when HMS Wyandra (in the guise of the American-flagged merchantman Baralong) arrived on the scene, flying an American flag. When U-41 approached, Wyandra, fired on and sank the U-boat without striking the American flag. This was a violation of the rules of war; while the use of a False Flag was allowed,^[3] it was required that a belligerent identify themselves before initiating hostilities.

The event generated widespread outrage in Germany, especially among Kriegsmarine officers. The sinking was also commemorated in a propaganda medal designed by the German medallist Karl Goetz.

Summary of raiding history

Date	Name	Nationality	Tonnage (GRT)	Fate^[4]
2 May 1915	America	Norway	3,706	Sunk
2 May 1915	Cruiser	United Kingdom	146	Sunk
2 May 1915	Martaban	United Kingdom	148	Sunk
2 May 1915	Mercury	United Kingdom	222	Sunk
2 May 1915	St. George	United Kingdom	215	Sunk
3 May 1915	Oscar	Norway	107	Sunk
3 May 1915	Roxane	Sweden	355	Captured as a prize
25 May 1915	Nebraskan	United States	4,409	Damaged
26 May 1915	Morwenna	United Kingdom	1,414	Sunk
27 May 1915	Cadeby	United Kingdom	1,130	Sunk
28 May 1915	Ethiope	United Kingdom	3,794	Sunk
28 May 1915	Spennymoor	United Kingdom	2,733	Sunk
28 May 1915	Tullochmoor	United Kingdom	3,520	Sunk
29 May 1915	Cysne	Portugal	623	Sunk
29 May 1915	Dixiana	United Kingdom	3,329	Sunk
29 May 1915	Glenlee	United Kingdom	4,140	Sunk
16 July 1915	Balva	Russian Empire	1,165	Sunk
17 July 1915	General Radetzky	Russian Empire	2,118	Sunk
24 July 1915	Grangewood	United Kingdom	3,422	Sunk
25 July 1915	Celtic	United Kingdom	264	Sunk
25 July 1915	Cydonia	United Kingdom	259	Sunk
25 July 1915	Emblem	United Kingdom	157	Sunk
25 July 1915	Gadwall	United Kingdom	192	Sunk
25 July 1915	Honoria	United Kingdom	179	Sunk
25 July 1915	Leelenaw	United States	1,923	Sunk
28 July 1915	Trondhjemsfjord	Norway	4,350	Sunk
23 September 1915	Anglo-Colombian	United Kingdom	4,792	Sunk
23 September 1915	Chancellor	United Kingdom	4,586	Sunk
23 September 1915	Hesione	United Kingdom	3,363	Sunk
24 September 1915	Urbino	United Kingdom	6,651	Sunk

References

↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat commanders: Claus Hansen". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 12 January 2015.
1 2 3 4 Gröner 1991, p. 6.
↑ deHaven-Smith, Lance (2013). Conspiracy Theory in America. Austin: University of Texas Press. p. 225.
↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U 41". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 12 January 2015.

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.

External links

Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boats: U 41". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net.
SS Urbino Wreck Site

German Type U 31 submarines

U-31 U-32 U-33 U-34 U-35 U-36 U-37 U-38 U-39 U-40 U-41

Preceded by: Type U 27 Followed by: Type U 43 List of U-boats of Germany

Coordinates: 49°10′N 7°20′W / 49.167°N 7.333°W / 49.167; -7.333

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