SM U-59

SM U-59[Note 1] 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) 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]

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

History
German Empire
NameU-59
Ordered6 October 1914
BuilderAG Weser, Bremen
Yard number214
Laid down13 July 1915
Launched20 June 1916
Commissioned7 September 1916
FateSunk 14 May 1917
General characteristics [1]
Class and typeType U 57 submarine
Displacement
  • 786 t (774 long tons) surfaced
  • 956 t (941 long tons) submerged
Length
Beam
  • 6.32 m (20 ft 9 in) (oa)
  • 4.05 m (13 ft 3 in) (pressure hull)
Height8.05 m (26 ft 5 in)
Draught3.79 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
Propulsion2 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 depth50 m (164 ft 1 in)
Complement36
Armament
Service record
Part of:
  • 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 merchant ships sunk
    (28,050 GRT)
  • 1 merchant ship damaged
    (6,526 GRT)

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

Summary of raiding history
Date Name Nationality Tonnage[Note 2] 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

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. Gröner 1991, pp. 8–10.
  2. 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.
  3. Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boats: U 59". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 12 January 2015.
  4. 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. Vol. 2. Translated by Thomas, Keith; Magowan, Rachel. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-593-4.
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