SM U-34 (Germany)

SM U-34[Note 1] was a German U-boat of World War I. Launched on 9 May 1914, U-34 sank a total of 119 ships during 17 combat patrols, while damaging another 5 ships. The vessel had three commanders during its time: Kptlt. Claus Rucker, Kptlt. Johannes Klasing, Kptlt. Wilhelm Canaris, and Klasing again, in that order. On 18 October 1918, U-34 sailed for the last time, disappearing with all 38 crew members lost. Although it was claimed that she was depth charged and sunk near Gibraltar by HMS Privet on 9 November 1918, it is believed that the U-boat had been lost prior to that, but it has never been confirmed one way or the other.

History
German Empire
NameU-34
Ordered29 March 1912
BuilderGermaniawerft, Kiel
Yard number194
Laid down7 November 1912
Launched9 May 1914
Commissioned5 October 1914
FateMissing as of 18 October 1918
General characteristics
Class and typeGerman Type U 31 submarine
Displacement
  • 685 t (674 long tons) (surfaced)
  • 878 t (864 long tons) (submerged)
Length
Beam
  • 6.32 m (20 ft 9 in) (o/a)
  • 4.05 m (13 ft 3 in) (pressure hull)
Draught3.56 m (11 ft 8 in)
Installed power
Propulsion
  • 2 × shafts
  • 2 × 1.60 m (5 ft 3 in) 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 depth50 m (164 ft 1 in)
Boats & landing
craft carried		1 dinghy
Complement4 officers, 31 enlisted
Armament
Service record
Part of:
  • II Flotilla
  • Unknown start - 23 August 1915
  • Pola / Mittelmeer Flotilla
  • 23 August 1915 - 21 October 1918
Commanders:
  • Kptlt. Claus Rücker[1]
  • 5 October 1914 – 11 December 1916
  • Kptlt. Johannes Klasing [2]
  • 12 December 1916 – 17 January 1918
  • 14 March – 9 November 1918
  • Kptlt. Wilhelm Canaris[3]
  • 18 January – 13 March 1918
Operations: 17 patrols
Victories:
  • 119 merchant ships sunk
    (257,652 GRT)
  • 5 merchant ships damaged
    (14,208 GRT)

U-34 sailed 17 patrols, sinking 119 ships for a total of 257,652 gross register tons (GRT), and damaging another five for 14,208 GRT.[4]

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.[5]

U-34 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.[5]

U-34 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 ft 3 in) 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).[5]

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-34 was equipped in 1915 with one 8.8 cm (3.5 in) Uk L/30 deck gun, which was replaced with a 10.5 cm (4.1 in) gun in 1916/17. The boat's complement was 4 officers and 31 enlisted.[5]

Summary of raiding history
Date Name Nationality Tonnage[Note 2] Fate[6]
18 March 1915 Blue Jacket  United Kingdom 3,515 Damaged
18 March 1915 Glenartney  United Kingdom 5,201 Sunk
21 March 1915 Cairntorr  United Kingdom 3,588 Sunk
22 March 1915 Concord  United Kingdom 2,861 Sunk
1 June 1915 Victoria  United Kingdom 155 Sunk
2 June 1915 Delta B  Belgium 220 Sunk
2 June 1915 Hirose  United Kingdom 274 Sunk
3 June 1915 Penfeld  France 793 Sunk
4 June 1915 Inkum  United Kingdom 4,747 Sunk
7 June 1915 Superb  Norway 1,515 Sunk
4 September 1915 Natal Transport  United Kingdom 4,107 Sunk
8 September 1915 Indien  France 800 Sunk
9 November 1915 Californian  United Kingdom 6,223 Damaged, sunk later by sister U-35.
10 November 1915 Bosnia  Italy 2,561 Sunk
14 November 1915 Treneglos  United Kingdom 3,886 Sunk
15 November 1915 Orange Prince  United Kingdom 3,583 Sunk
19 November 1915 Hallamshire  United Kingdom 4,420 Sunk
24 December 1915 Ville De La Ciotat  France 6,431 Sunk
24 December 1915 Yeddo  United Kingdom 4,563 Sunk
29 December 1915 Kenkoku Maru  Japan 3,217 Sunk
30 December 1915 Abelia  United Kingdom 3,650 Sunk
1 January 1916 Glengyle  United Kingdom 9,395 Sunk
4 January 1916 Coquet  United Kingdom 4,396 Sunk
3 April 1916 Ellaston  United Kingdom 3,796 Sunk
3 April 1916 Sneaton  United Kingdom 3,470 Sunk
5 April 1916 Chantala  United Kingdom 4,951 Sunk
6 April 1916 Yonne  United Kingdom 4,039 Sunk
8 April 1916 Zafra  United Kingdom 3,578 Sunk
11 April 1916 Angus  United Kingdom 3,619 Sunk
11 April 1916 Imperator  Russia 394 Damaged
12 April 1916 Orlock Head  United Kingdom 1,945 Sunk
12 April 1916 Vega  France 2,957 Sunk
15 May 1916 Mira  France 3,050 Sunk
16 May 1916 San Andrea  Italy 225 Sunk
18 May 1916 Adamantios Korais  Greece 2,947 Sunk
20 May 1916 Erminia  Italy 1,544 Sunk
20 May 1916 Fabbricotti F.  Italy 150 Sunk
20 May 1916 Languedoc  France 1,612 Sunk
21 May 1916 Myosotis  France 356 Sunk
21 May 1916 Tjømø  Norway 1,453 Sunk
22 May 1916 Australia  Italy 1,586 Sunk
22 May 1916 Genista  Italy 1,856 Sunk
22 May 1916 Istros  Greece 1,891 Sunk
22 May 1916 Orealla  Italy 1,876 Sunk
22 May 1916 Roberto G  Italy 587 Sunk
23 May 1916 Cornigliano  Italy 2,862 Sunk
23 May 1916 Regina  Russia 593 Sunk
30 May 1916 Julia Park  United Kingdom 2,900 Sunk
21 August 1916 Maria  Italy 242 Sunk
22 August 1916 San Pietro  Italy 53 Sunk
24 August 1916 Alix  Italy 141 Sunk
24 August 1916 Angelina  Italy 153 Sunk
25 August 1916 Socoa  France 2,772 Sunk
27 August 1916 Torridon  Italy 1,526 Sunk
28 August 1916 Gorgona  Italy 861 Sunk
29 August 1916 Fede  Italy 1,273 Sunk
31 August 1916 Santa Maria  Italy 947 Sunk
31 August 1916 Nostra Signora Assunta  Italy 1,256 Sunk
31 August 1916 Quinto  Italy 836 Sunk
1 September 1916 Baron Yarborough  United Kingdom 1,784 Sunk
1 September 1916 Giuseppe  Italy 180 Sunk
4 September 1916 Pasquale Lauro  Italy 1,188 Sunk
4 September 1916 Silverstream  Italy 1,224 Sunk
7 September 1916 Luigia  Italy 917 Sunk
8 September 1916 Elizabeth IV  Norway 7,395 Sunk
10 September 1916 Elli  Greece 631 Sunk
10 September 1916 Spiridon  Greece 562 Sunk
12 September 1916 Panaghia Akathistou  Greece 421 Sunk
26 October 1916 Valborg  Denmark 207 Sunk
28 October 1916 Germaine  Greece 2,573 Sunk
29 October 1916 Marie Therese  France 219 Sunk
2 November 1916 Giovanni Anteri Beretta  Italy 332 Sunk
4 November 1916 Mogador  France 1,364 Sunk
8 November 1916 Luigi Pastro  Italy 3,228 Sunk
8 November 1916 Sheldrake  United Kingdom 2,697 Sunk
19 March 1917 Angiolina  Italy 3,541 Damaged
20 March 1917 Paul Et Marie  France 321 Sunk
23 March 1917 Artemis  Greece 528 Sunk
23 March 1917 Bellatrix  Norway 2,568 Sunk
23 March 1917 Noli  Italy 1,569 Sunk
28 March 1917 Antonietta R.  Italy 84 Sunk
28 March 1917 Carlo T  Italy 134 Sunk
28 March 1917 Giuseppina  Italy 223 Sunk
28 March 1917 Giuseppina Rosa  Italy 132 Sunk
28 March 1917 La Maria  Italy 43 Sunk
28 March 1917 Pietro Lofaro  Italy 291 Sunk
28 March 1917 Raffaele  Italy 53 Sunk
4 May 1917 Francesco C.  Italy 984 Sunk
9 May 1917 Harpagus  United Kingdom 5,866 Sunk
10 May 1917 Carmen  Spain 319 Sunk
11 May 1917 Lefkosia  Greece 1,087 Sunk
11 May 1917 Medjerda  France 1,918 Sunk
12 May 1917 Zanoni  United Kingdom 3,851 Sunk
14 May 1917 Gravelinoise  France 129 Sunk
14 May 1917 Tejo  Portugal 201 Sunk
15 May 1917 Tung Shan  United Kingdom 3,999 Sunk
16 May 1917 Dorothy Duff  United Kingdom 186 Sunk
16 May 1917 Patricio  Spain 2,164 Damaged
17 May 1917 Alfonso  Italy 230 Sunk
19 May 1917 Mardinian  United Kingdom 3,322 Sunk
20 May 1917 Caspian  United Kingdom 3,606 Sunk
21 May 1917 Saint Michel  France 175 Sunk
28 June 1917 Minerve  France 723 Sunk
30 June 1917 Mont Viso  France 4,820 Sunk
3 July 1917 Marthe Roux  France 1,962 Sunk
4 July 1917 Fratelli Bianchi  Italy 3,542 Sunk
7 July 1917 Wilberforce  United Kingdom 3,074 Sunk
12 July 1917 Ondine  France 84 Sunk
2 December 1917 Berwick Law  United Kingdom 4,680 Sunk
2 December 1917 Minas  Greece 2,506 Sunk
6 December 1917 Ilvington Court  United Kingdom 4,217 Sunk
12 December 1917 Emanuele C.  Italy 284 Sunk
28 January 1918 Djibouti  France 4,305 Sunk
30 January 1918 Maizar  United Kingdom 7,293 Sunk
6 February 1918 Ville De Verdun  France 4,576 Sunk
12 April 1918 Autolycus  United Kingdom 5,806 Sunk
12 April 1918 Moyune  United Kingdom 4,935 Sunk
19 April 1918 Elka  Greece 2,128 Sunk
19 April 1918 Lord Charlemont  United Kingdom 3,209 Sunk
22 April 1918 Dronning Maud  United Kingdom 2,663 Sunk
28 August 1918 Emilia G.  Italy 246 Sunk
28 August 1918 Johanne  Denmark 234 Sunk
4 September 1918 Richard  Norway 175 Sunk
9 September 1918 Policastra  United Kingdom 4,594 Damaged
9 September 1918 War Arabis  United Kingdom 5,183 Sunk

References

Notes
  1. "SM" stands for "Seiner Majestät" (English: His Majesty's) and combined with the U for Unterseeboot would be translated as His Majesty's Submarine.
  2. Tonnages are in gross register tons

Citations
  1. Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat commanders: Claus Rücker (Royal House Order of Hohenzollern)". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net.
  2. Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat commanders: Johannes Klasing (Royal House Order of Hohenzollern)". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net.
  3. Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat commanders: Wilhelm Canaris". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net.
  4. Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boats: U 34". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net.
  5. Gröner 1991, p. 6.
  6. Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U 34". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 15 December 2014.

Bibliography
  • Gröner, Erich; Jung, Dieter; Maass, Martin (1991). U-boats and Mine Warfare Vessels. German Warships 1815–1945. Vol. 2. Translated by Thomas, Keith; Magowan, Rachel. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-593-4.
  • Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boats: U 34". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net.

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