SM U-77
| History | |
|---|---|
 German Empire
| |
| Name: | U-77 |
| Ordered: | 9 March 1915 |
| Builder: | AG Vulkan, Hamburg |
| Yard number: | 59 |
| Launched: | 9 January 1916 |
| Commissioned: | 10 March 1916 |
| Fate: | 7 July 1916 - Lost after this date while on a mission to lay mines off Kinnaird Head, Scotland. 33 dead (all hands lost).[1] |
| General characteristics [2] | |
| Class and type: | German Type UE I submarine |
| Displacement: |
|
| Length: |
|
| Beam: |
|
| Height: | 8.25 m (27 ft 1 in) |
| Draught: | 4.86 m (15 ft 11 in) |
| Installed power: | |
| Propulsion: | 2 shafts, 2× 1.41 m (4 ft 8 in) propellers |
| Speed: |
|
| Range: |
|
| Test depth: | 50 m (164 ft 1 in) |
| Complement: | 4 officers, 28 enlisted |
| Armament: |
|
| Service record | |
| Part of: | Imperial German Navy |
| Commanders: |
|
| Operations: |
|
| Victories: | No successes.[1] |
SM U-77 was one of 329 submarines serving in the Imperial German Navy in World War I, engaged in commerce warfare during the First Battle of the Atlantic.
Design
German Type UE I submarines were preceded by the longer Type U 66 submarines. U-77 had a displacement of 755 tonnes (743 long tons) when at the surface and 832 tonnes (819 long tons) while submerged.[2] It had a total length of 186 ft 4 in (56.79 m), a pressure hull length of 153 ft 1 in (46.66 m), a beam of 19 ft 4 in (5.89 m), a height of 27 ft 1 in (8.26 m), and a draught of 15 ft 11 in (4.85 m). The submarine was powered by two 900 metric horsepower (660 kW; 890 shp) engines for use while surfaced, and two 900 metric horsepower (660 kW; 890 shp) engines for use while submerged. It had two propeller shafts. It was capable of operating at depths of up to 50 metres (160 ft).[2]
The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 10.6 knots (19.6 km/h; 12.2 mph) and a maximum submerged speed of 7.9 knots (14.6 km/h; 9.1 mph).[2] When submerged, it could operate for 83 nautical miles (154 km; 96 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph); when surfaced, it could travel 7,880 nautical miles (14,590 km; 9,070 mi) at 7 knots (13 km/h; 8.1 mph). U-77 was fitted with two 50 centimetres (20 in) torpedo tubes (one at the starboard bow and one starboard stern), four torpedoes, and one 5.5 centimetres (2.2 in) deck machine gun. It had a complement of thirty-two (twenty-eight crew members and four officers).[2]
Operations
U-77 was commanded by Kaptlt Erich Günzel, who was lost with her. It came off the stocks at Hamburg (Vulcan) in 1916; in May and June was at Kiel School, and first entered North Sea with U-76 on 29 June, to join the 1st Half Flotilla.[4]
- 5 July 1916. Left for the north, and laid mines between about 57°45′N 2°12′W / 57.750°N 2.200°W and 57°47′N 2°23′W / 57.783°N 2.383°W. It seems possible she sank in 57°35′N 1°27′W / 57.583°N 1.450°W before midnight 7 July 1916 as a result of some accident. Before this she had laid mines off Kinnaird Head.
References
- 1 2 Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boats: U 77". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 18 January 2015.
- 1 2 3 4 5 Gröner 1991, pp. 10-11.
- ↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat commanders: Erich Günzel". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 18 January 2015.
- ↑ HW 7/3, Room 40, History of German Naval Warfare 1914-1918. National Archives, Kew.
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.