german submarines

on “the day”—august 4th, 1914—germany possessed 30 submarine torpedo-boats. these were divided into three flotillas, with their headquarters at kiel, the largest and most modern vessels being attached to the heligoland or north sea flotilla. during 1913, although 24 submarines were stated as being in commission, only about 15 were actively employed, and these mostly in training reserves, the older boats being docked and modernized where possible. but during the year six new vessels were added to the flotilla and the personnel of the submarine service was largely increased. at the same time the inspection of submarines was separated 109from that of the other torpedo-boats and a flag-officer was appointed as head of the submarine branch of the naval service, with headquarters at kiel. thus when the hour came for the great struggle which was to decide the mastery of the seas the whole german flotilla of 30 vessels, with a reserve of six new boats which had been secretly hurried forward and were rapidly nearing completion, was ready to put to sea.

the german naval law provided for the construction of 72 submarines by the end of 1917. all the vessels built up to the present time have been known as the “u” class and numbered in rotation. they are painted a brownish-grey colour and have high collier-like bows with massive armoured conning-towers and long superstructures amounting to narrow decks. they have all been built at either kiel or dantzig.

although the first submarine boats built for the german navy were two vessels of the nordenfeldt type, launched 110in 1890, they were never actively employed with the fleet and have long since been reduced to scrap-iron, and the first vessel which can now be reckoned as a fighting unit of the german torpedo-boat flotilla was a vessel designated the “u.1.” this was built at the germania shipyard, kiel, and launched on august 30th, 1905. this was the forerunner of the “u” class, which in most of the essential features resembles the british improved holland type.

u.1.

(completed 1905.)

this u.1 was built as an experimental boat by the famous firm of krupps. she has a surface displacement of 197 tons, a submerged displacement of 236 tons, and her heavy-oil surface engines are of 250 h.-p. the electric motors for submerged use develop just over 100 h.-p. the speed ranges from 10 knots an hour on the surface to 7 knots when submerged, and her surface 111range of action is about 700 to 800 miles. the armament consists of one bow torpedo tube and three (17.7) schwartzkopf torpedoes are carried. the complement is nine officers and men.

the trials of the u.1 extended over a period of a year and a half, and all proved remarkably satisfactory. during the tests which took place in eckernforder bay she succeeded, twice in succession, in torpedoing a moving target while travelling submerged at full speed.

the uncertainty displayed for some years previous by the german naval authorities regarding the value of submarine boats gave place to a thorough sense of the important part these “mighty atoms” would play in future naval warfare, and to a strong determination that the german navy should include a powerful submarine flotilla.

u.2-u.8.

(completed 1907?10.)

these seven vessels were great improvements on the u.1. their 112displacement is 210 tons on the surface and about 250 tons when submerged. they are fitted with krupp-nuremburg heavy-oil engines of 400 h.-p. and electric motors of 160 h.-p. their speed on the surface is 12 knots and 8 knots when submerged. the surface range of action is 1,000 miles and the submerged endurance about three hours at full speed. their armament consists of two bow torpedo tubes and four torpedoes are carried. the complement is eleven officers and men.

u.9-u.18.[5]

(completed 1910?12.)

these ten vessels are of increased size and power, their submerged displacement being 300 tons, and the horse-power of their heavy oil surface engines is 600. the electric motors develop 200 h.-p. the surface and submerged speeds are 13 knots and 8 knots respectively. the surface range of 113action is 1,500 miles, and the armament consists of two bow and one stern torpedo tube with five torpedoes. the u.13 and subsequent vessels of this class are provided with a quick-firing, high-angle gun for defence against aircraft, and have sleeping accommodation for the crew. they may be termed the first german sea-going submarines. their complement is twenty officers and men.

u.19 and u.20.

(completed 1912?13.)

there are only two vessels in this class owing to the adoption of certain improvements with the aid of which a partly new type has been evolved. these two vessels have a displacement when submerged of 450 tons. their oil engines of 650 h.-p. give a speed of 13?? knots an hour on the surface, and their electric motors of 300 h.-p. give 8 knots an hour when submerged. their surface range of action is 2,000 miles, and their armament consists of two bow 114and one stern torpedo tube with six torpedoes, and two 14-pdr. quick-firing, high-angle guns on disappearing mountings. the complement is seventeen officers and men.

u.21-u.24.

(completed 1912?13.)

these four vessels are the first of the new type of large sea-going submarines for the german navy. their submerged displacement is 800 tons. they are propelled on the surface by heavy-oil engines of 1,200 h.-p., and when submerged by electric motors of 500 h.-p. their speed above water is 14 knots an hour and below the surface 9 knots. the surface range of action is 3,000 miles and the submerged endurance 120 miles at economical speed. their armament consists of two bow and two stern torpedo tubes with eight torpedoes, and one 14-pdr. quick-firing gun and two 1-pdr. high-angle guns, all on disappearing mountings, for 115defence against hostile destroyers and aircraft. their complement is twenty-five officers and men.

u.25-u.30.

(completed 1913?14.)

these six vessels are the latest additions to the german submarine flotilla. they are vessels of 900 tons submerged displacement with heavy-oil engines of 2,000 h.-p., and electric motors of 900 h.-p. their surface and submerged speed is 18 knots and 10 knots, respectively. the surface cruising range is 4,000 miles. their armament consists of two bow and two stern torpedo tubes, with eight large size torpedoes, and, in addition, two 14-pdr. quick-firing guns and two 1-pdr. high-angle guns. they have wireless telegraphic apparatus on board, and are specially constructed with long superstructures and high collier-like bows to enable them to keep at sea in almost any weather. they are fitted with two or three periscopes, and also possess a small 116look-out cap on the top of the lofty conning-tower to facilitate an “awash” attack in the half-lights of dawn and dusk, when the periscope is almost useless. the conning-towers and decks are armoured. their complement is 30 to 35 officers and men.

u.31-u.36.

(building.)

these are the six vessels which are rapidly nearing completion, and which were in a much more advanced state, at the opening of hostilities, than was generally known in foreign naval circles. they are the same in almost every respect as the vessels u.25 to u.30. there is, however, another submarine being built for germany of a totally different design. this is the f.i.a.t. or laurenti boat (italian), laid down at the beginning of 1914. this vessel is very similar to the four “s” boats being built at greenock for the british navy.

no german submarines have in the 117past been sent to any colonial or oversea station. therefore, the whole flotilla of 30 to 36 vessels was immediately available for operations in the north sea and baltic when war began. the personnel of the whole torpedo service is very efficient, great attention having been paid to this branch of the navy. the three german submarine flotillas have their headquarters at kiel, wilhelmshaven, and heligoland.