 SM U-117 at Cape Charles
| |
| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Builders |
|
| Operators | |
| Subclasses | U-122 |
| Built | 1917–1918 |
| In commission | 1917–1918 |
| Completed | 10 |
| Lost | 4 |
| Scrapped | 6 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Ocean-going mine-laying submarine |
| Displacement | 1,164 t (1,146 long tons) surfaced; 1,512 t (1,488 long tons) submerged |
| Length | 81.52 or 82 m (267 ft 5 in or 269 ft 0 in) |
| Beam | 7.42 m (24 ft 4 in) |
| Draft | 4.22 m (13 ft 10 in) |
| Installed power | |
| Propulsion | 2 shafts; 2 diesel engines, 2 electric motors |
| Speed |
|
| Range |
|
| Test depth | 75 m (246 ft) |
| Complement | 4 officers, 36 enlisted men |
| Sensors and processing systems | 2 periscopes |
| Armament |
|
The Type UE II submarines were a class of submarines built by the German Empire during World War I as long-range mine-layers.
UE II boats carried 14 torpedoes and were armed with one 150 mm deck gun. They carried a crew of 40 and had a cruising range of about 9,400 miles. Nine were built between 1917 and 1918.[1]
The UE IIs joined the conflict in the middle of 1917, at a time when the tide of the war was turning against Germany. In the months beforehand, the United States Navy was added to the ranks of their enemies; and the convoy system was introduced, making it difficult to engage enemy merchant shipping without being spotted by destroyer escorts.[2] Because they entered service late in the war, the UE IIs only sank 23 ships and damaged 4 others before the end of hostilities. SM U-117 was by far the most successful U-boat, taking credit for 20 ships sunk out of the total of 23 for the entire type.[3] The UE II's were the last of the UE class U-boats built by the German Imperial Navy; the last of the class, U-126, was commissioned on 3 October 1918, a little over a month before the armistice at Compiègne.[4]
Post-war years
Following the end of the war, all of the Type UE II submarines were handed over to the allies as part of the Treaty of Versailles. SM U-117 was handed over to the United States where she remained in the Philadelphia Navy Yard along with other U-boats. In June 1921 she was taken out to sea and sunk as a target for aerial bombing tests conducted by the Navy and Army.[3] SM U-118 was turned over to France but broke her tow and was washed ashore at Hastings in Sussex where she remained until being finally broken up in December 1919.[5] SM U-119 was surrendered to France in November 1918. She was renamed the René Audry and saw service in the French Navy and was eventually broken up in October 1937.[6] SM U-120 was transferred to Italy in November 1918. She was broken up soon after in April 1919.[7] SM U-122 was surrendered to England on 26 November 1918. She later ran aground on the English east coast while on her journey to Scapa Flow.[8] Like SM U-122, SM U-123 also ran aground on the English coast where she was broken up.[9] SM U-124 was surrendered in December 1918 and was later broken up in Swansea in 1921.[10] SM U-125 surrendered to Japan in late November 1918. She served in the Japanese Navy as the O1 in 1920-21. between January and March 1921, U-125 was dismantled at Yokosuka Navy Yard.[11] SM U-126 was handed over to the allies in November 1918 and later broken up at Upnor in 1923.[4]
Ships sunk or damaged by Type UE II submarines
| Date | Name | Nationality | Tonnage[Note 1] | Fate | U-boat credited with loss |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 August 1918 | Aleda May |  United States
|
31 | Sunk | U-117 |
| 10 August 1918 | Cruiser | United States
|
28 | Sunk | U-117 |
| 10 August 1918 | Earl & Nettie | United States
|
24 | Sunk | U-117 |
| 10 August 1918 | Katie L. Palmer | United States
|
31 | Sunk | U-117 |
| 10 August 1918 | Mary E. Sennett | United States
|
26 | Sunk | U-117 |
| 10 August 1918 | Progress | United States
|
34 | Sunk | U-117 |
| 10 August 1918 | Reliance | United States
|
19 | Sunk | U-117 |
| 10 August 1918 | William H. Starbuck | United States
|
53 | Sunk | U-117 |
| 12 August 1918 | Sommerstad |  Norway
|
3,875 | Sunk | U-117 |
| 13 August 1918 | Frederic R. Kellogg | United States
|
7,127 | Damaged | U-117 |
| 14 August 1918 | Dorothy B. Barrett | United States
|
2,088 | Sunk | U-117 |
| 15 August 1918 | Madrugada | United States
|
1,613 | Sunk | U-117 |
| 16 August 1918 | Mirlo |  United Kingdom
|
6,978 | Sunk | U-117 |
| 17 August 1918 | Nordhav | Norway
|
2,846 | Sunk | U-117 |
| 20 August 1918 | Ansaldo III |  Kingdom of Italy
|
5,310 | Damaged | U-117 |
| 24 August 1918 | Bianca | United Kingdom
|
408 | Damaged | U-117 |
| 26 August 1918 | Rush | United States
|
145 | Sunk | U-117 |
| 27 August 1918 | Bergsdalen | Norway
|
2,555 | Sunk | U-117 |
| 30 August 1918 | Elsie Porter | United Kingdom
|
136 | Sunk | U-117 |
| 30 August 1918 | Potentate | United Kingdom
|
136 | Sunk | U-117 |
| 16 September 1918 | Wellington | United Kingdom
|
5,600 | Sunk | U-118 |
| 29 September 1918 | USS Minnesota | United States Navy
|
18,000 | Damaged | U-117 |
| 2 October 1918 | Arca | United Kingdom
|
4,839 | Sunk | U-118 |
| 4 October 1918 | San Saba | United States
|
2,458 | Sunk | U-117 |
| 18 October 1918 | Njordur |  Iceland
|
278 | Sunk | U-122 |
| 27 October 1918 | Chaparra |  Cuba
|
1,510 | Sunk | U-117 |
| 9 November 1918 | Saetia | United States
|
2,873 | Sunk | U-117 |
Ships in class
There were 9 Type UE II submarines commissioned into the Kaiserliche Marine.
One submarine was not completed before the armistice.
Notes
- ^ Merchant ship tonnages are in gross register tons. Military vessels are listed by tons displacement.
References
- ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat Types: Type UE 2". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 24 January 2010.
- ^ Goebel, Greg (24 December 2008). "The First Battle of the Atlantic". Vectorsite.net. Retrieved 25 January 2010.
- ^ a b Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boats: U 117". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 24 January 2010.
- ^ a b Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boats: U 126". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 24 January 2010.
- ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boats: U 118". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 24 January 2010.
- ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boats: U 119". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 24 January 2010.
- ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boats: U 120". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 24 January 2010.
- ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boats: U 122". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 24 January 2010.
- ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boats: U 123". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 24 January 2010.
- ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boats: U-124". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 24 January 2010.
- ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boats: U-125". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 24 January 2010.
- ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U 117". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 24 January 2010.
- ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U 118". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 24 January 2010.
- ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by Ships hit by U-122". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 24 January 2010.
Bibliography
- Gardiner, Robert; Gray, Randal, eds. (1985). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1906–1921. Annapolis: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 0-85177-245-5.
- Gröner, Erich; Jung, Dieter; Maass, Martin (1991). German Warships 1815–1945, U-boats and Mine Warfare Vessels. Vol. 2. Translated by Thomas, Keith; Magowan, Rachel. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-593-4.
This page was last edited on 24 August 2023, at 11:20