SM UB-37
The submarine sank 31 ships in ten patrols, and was itself sunk by British Q ship HMS Penshurst in the English Channel on 14 January 1917.
The wreck of UB-37 was identified by marine archaeologist Innes McCartney in 1999.
Design
A Type UB II submarine, UB-37 had a displacement of 274 tonnes (270 long tons) when at the surface and 303 tonnes (298 long tons) while submerged. She had a total length of 36.90 m (121 ft 1 in), a beam of 4.37 m (14 ft 4 in), and a draught of 3.69 m (12 ft 1 in). The submarine was powered by two Benz six-cylinder diesel engines producing a total 270 metric horsepower (270 shp; 200 kW), two Siemens-Schuckert electric motors producing 280 metric horsepower (210 kW; 280 shp), and one propeller shaft. She was capable of operating at depths of up to 50 metres (160 ft).
The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 9.06 knots (16.78 km/h; 10.43 mph) and a maximum submerged speed of 5.71 knots (10.57 km/h; 6.57 mph). When submerged, she could operate for 45 nautical miles (83 km; 52 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph); when surfaced, she could travel 7,030 nautical miles (13,020 km; 8,090 mi) at 5 knots (9.3 km/h; 5.8 mph). UB-37 was fitted with two 50 centimetres (20 in) torpedo tubes, four torpedoes, and one 8.8 cm (3.5 in) Uk L/30 deck gun. She had a complement of twenty-one crew members and two officers and a 42-second dive time.
Summary of raiding history
Date | Name | Nationality | Tonnage | Fate |
---|---|---|---|---|
21 July 1916 | Samsø | ![]() |
388 | Damaged |
22 July 1916 | Bams | ![]() |
308 | Sunk |
22 July 1916 | Ida | ![]() |
302 | Sunk |
22 July 1916 | Juno | ![]() |
355 | Sunk |
22 July 1916 | Preference | ![]() |
222 | Sunk |
22 July 1916 | Subra | ![]() |
580 | Sunk |
9 August 1916 | Danevang | ![]() |
1,247 | Sunk |
11 August 1916 | Rufus | ![]() |
202 | Sunk |
13 August 1916 | Fremad | ![]() |
104 | Sunk |
13 August 1916 | Pepita | ![]() |
261 | Sunk |
13 August 1916 | Respit | ![]() |
473 | Sunk |
10 September 1916 | Zeemeeuv | ![]() |
400 | Captured as prize |
23 September 1916 | Dresden | ![]() |
807 | Sunk |
23 September 1916 | Pearl | ![]() |
613 | Sunk |
24 September 1916 | Oceanien | ![]() |
60 | Sunk |
25 September 1916 | Afrique | ![]() |
1,743 | Sunk |
24 October 1916 | Twig | ![]() |
128 | Sunk |
13 November 1916 | Our Boys | ![]() |
63 | Sunk |
13 November 1916 | Superb | ![]() |
50 | Sunk |
28 November 1916 | Diligence | ![]() |
42 | Sunk |
28 November 1916 | Amphitrite | ![]() |
44 | Sunk |
28 November 1916 | Catena | ![]() |
36 | Sunk |
28 November 1916 | Provident | ![]() |
38 | Sunk |
28 November 1916 | Sea Lark | ![]() |
42 | Sunk |
28 November 1916 | Lynx | ![]() |
43 | Damaged |
30 November 1916 | Concord | ![]() |
51 | Sunk |
1 December 1916 | Erich Lindøe | ![]() |
1,097 | Sunk |
4 December 1916 | Fofo | ![]() |
2,615 | Sunk |
6 December 1916 | Halfdan | ![]() |
1,305 | Sunk |
7 December 1916 | Marguerite Dollfus | ![]() |
1,948 | Sunk |
5 January 1917 | Asta | ![]() |
573 | Sunk |
7 January 1917 | Hansi | ![]() |
1,142 | Sunk |
10 January 1917 | Tuborg | ![]() |
2,056 | Sunk |
14 January 1917 | Norma | ![]() |
1,997 | Sunk |
14 January 1917 | HMS Penshurst | ![]() |
1,191 | Damaged |
Notes
- ^ "SM" stands for "Seiner Majestät" (English: His Majesty's) and combined with the U for Unterseeboot would be translated as His Majesty's Submarine.
- ^ Merchant ship tonnages are in gross register tons. Military vessels are listed by tons displacement.
References
- ^ Rössler 1979, p. 65.
- ^ Rössler 1979, p. 64.
- ^ Gröner 1991, pp. 23–25.
- ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat commanders: Hans Valentiner (Royal House Order of Hohenzollern)". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 1 February 2015.
- ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat commanders: Paul Günther". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 1 February 2015.
- ^ Bendert 2000, p. 196.
- ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by UB 37". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 2 February 2015.
Bibliography
- Bendert, Harald (2000). Die UB-Boote der Kaiserlichen Marine, 1914-1918. Einsätze, Erfolge, Schicksal (in German). Hamburg: Verlag E.S. Mittler & Sohn GmbH. ISBN 3-8132-0713-7.
- 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.
- Rössler, Eberhard (1979). Die deutschen U-Boote und ihre Werften: eine Bilddokumentation über den deutschen U-Bootbau; in zwei Bänden (in German). Vol. I. Munich: Bernard & Graefe. ISBN 3-7637-5213-7.