SM U-59

For other ships with the same name, see German submarine U-59.

History

German Empire
Name:	U-59
Ordered:	6 October 1914
Builder:	AG Weser, Bremen ( 214)
Laid down:	13 July 1915
Launched:	20 June 1916
Commissioned:	7 September 1916
Fate:	Sunk 14 May 1917
General characteristics ^[1]
Class and type:	Type U 57 submarine
Displacement:	786 t (774 long tons) surfaced 956 t (941 long tons) submerged
Length:	67.00 m (219 ft 10 in) (o/a) 54.22 m (177 ft 11 in) (pressure hull)
Beam:	6.32 m (20 ft 9 in) (oa) 4.05 m (13 ft 3 in) (pressure hull)
Height:	8.05 m (26 ft 5 in)
Draught:	3.79 m (12 ft 5 in)
Installed power:	2 × 1,800 PS (1,324 kW; 1,775 shp) surfaced 2 × 1,200 PS (883 kW; 1,184 shp) submerged
Propulsion:	2 shafts
Speed:	14.7 knots (27.2 km/h; 16.9 mph) surfaced 8.4 knots (15.6 km/h; 9.7 mph) submerged
Range:	7,730 nmi (14,320 km; 8,900 mi) at 8 knots (15 km/h; 9.2 mph) surfaced 55 nmi (102 km; 63 mi) at 5 knots (9.3 km/h; 5.8 mph) submerged
Test depth:	50 m (164 ft 1 in)
Complement:	36
Armament:	4 × 50 cm (19.7 in) torpedo tubes (two bow, two stern) 7 torpedoes 1 × 10.5 cm (4.1 in) deck gun 1 × 8.8 cm (3.5 in) deck gun
Service record
Part of:	Imperial German Navy II Flotilla 20 November 1916 – 14 May 1917
Commanders:	Kptlt. Freiherr Wilhelm von Fircks^[2] 7 September 1916 – 14 May 1917
Operations:	4 patrols
Victories:	14 ships sunk for a total of 28,050 GRT 1 ship damaged for a total of 6,526 GRT.

SM U-59 was one of the 329 submarines serving in the Imperial German Navy in World War I. U-59 was engaged in the naval warfare and took part in the First Battle of the Atlantic. She struck a German mine and broke into two parts at Horns Reef (55°33′N 7°15′E / 55.550°N 7.250°E / 55.550; 7.250) at about midnight on 14 May 1917. She lost 33 of her crew; there were 4 survivors. The wreck of U 59 was located in 2002.^[3]

The SM U 59 deck gun is on display at the Strandingsmuseum St. George Thorsminde.

Summary of raiding history

Date	Name	Nationality	Tonnage (GRT)	Fate^[4]
7 December 1916	August	Sweden	341	Sunk
8 December 1916	Harry	Sweden	81	Sunk
13 January 1917	Solvang	Norway	2,970	Sunk
16 January 1917	Brenn	France	2,189	Sunk
19 January 1917	Gaea	Norway	1,002	Sunk
23 January 1917	Sardinia	Norway	1,500	Sunk
19 March 1917	Charlois	Netherlands	2,786	Sunk
20 March 1917	Gurre	Denmark	2,866	Sunk
21 March 1917	Najade	Norway	1,752	Sunk
31 March 1917	Valacia	United Kingdom	6,526	Damaged
2 April 1917	Snespurven	Norway	1,409	Sunk
5 April 1917	Canadian	United Kingdom	9,309	Sunk
6 April 1917	Amiral L’hermite	France	156	Sunk
6 April 1917	Roland	France	135	Sunk
9 April 1917	Fremad I	Norway	1,554	Sunk

References

↑ Gröner 1991, pp. 8-10.
↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat commanders: Freiherr Wilhelm von Fircks". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 12 January 2015.
↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boats: U 59". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 12 January 2015.
↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U 59". 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

JD-Contractor presentation of diving expedition to the submarine U59 in 2002

German Type U 57 submarine

SM U-57 SM U-58 SM U-59 SM U-60 SM U-61 SM U-62 SM U-99 SM U-100 SM U-101 SM U-102 SM U-103 SM U-104

Preceded by: Type U 51 Followed by: Type U 63 List of U-boats of Germany

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