SM U-105[Note 1] was one of the 329 submarines serving in the Imperial German Navy in World War I. U-105 was engaged in the naval warfare and took part in the First Battle of the Atlantic. After the war she was ceded to France, where the unit served as Jean Autric until being scrapped in 1938.[3]
 U-105 in Cherbourg around 1920
| |
| History | |
|---|---|
 German Empire | |
| Name | U-105 |
| Ordered | 5 May 1916 |
| Builder | Germaniawerft, Kiel |
| Yard number | 274 |
| Launched | 16 May 1917 |
| Commissioned | 4 July 1917 |
| Fate | Surrendered to France 20 November 1918 |
 France | |
| Name | Jean Autric |
| Namesake | Jean Autric |
| Acquired | 1918 |
| Stricken | 27 January 1937 |
| Fate | Sold for scrap, 1938 |
| General characteristics [1] | |
| Class and type | Type U 93 submarine |
| Displacement | |
| Length |
|
| Beam |
|
| Height | 8.25 m (27 ft 1 in) |
| Draught | 3.90 m (12 ft 10 in) |
| Installed power | |
| Propulsion | 2 shafts, 2 × 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in) propellers |
| Speed |
|
| Range |
|
| Test depth | 50 m (164 ft 1 in) |
| Complement | 4 officers, 32 enlisted |
| Armament |
|
| Service record | |
| Part of: |
|
| Commanders: | |
| Operations: | 6 patrols |
| Victories: | |
On 17 October 1917, SM U-105 met Antilles, an American troop transport, during the return leg of a voyage to Europe.[4] Antilles was torpedoed by the submerged U-boat and went down just five minutes after being hit.[5] A total of 67 persons were killed in the sinking,[4] making the destruction of Antilles the event costing the single greatest number of American lives in the war to that date.[5]
Design
editType U 93 submarines were preceded by the shorter Type U 87 submarines. U-105 had a displacement of 798 tonnes (785 long tons) when at the surface and 1,000 tonnes (980 long tons) while submerged.[1] She had a total length of 71.55 m (234 ft 9 in), a pressure hull length of 56.05 m (183 ft 11 in), a beam of 6.30 m (20 ft 8 in), a height of 8.25 m (27 ft 1 in), and a draught of 3.90 m (12 ft 10 in). The submarine was powered by two 2,400 metric horsepower (1,800 kW; 2,400 shp) engines for use while surfaced, and two 1,200 metric horsepower (880 kW; 1,200 shp) engines for use while submerged. The boat had two propeller shafts and two 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in) propellers. She was capable of operating at depths of up to 50 metres (160 ft).[1]
The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 16.4 knots (30.4 km/h; 18.9 mph) and a maximum submerged speed of 8.4 knots (15.6 km/h; 9.7 mph).[1] When submerged, she could operate for 50 nautical miles (93 km; 58 mi) at 5 knots (9.3 km/h; 5.8 mph); when surfaced, she could travel 9,280 nautical miles (17,190 km; 10,680 mi) at 8 knots (15 km/h; 9.2 mph). U-105 was fitted with six 50 centimetres (20 in) torpedo tubes (four at the bow and two at the stern), twelve to sixteen torpedoes, one 10.5 cm (4.1 in) SK L/45, and one 8.8 cm (3.5 in) SK L/30 deck gun. She had a complement of thirty-six (thirty-two crew members and four officers).[1]
Summary of raiding history
edit| Date | Name | Nationality | Tonnage[Note 2] | Fate[6] |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14 October 1917 | Ecaterini C. D. |  Greece
|
3,739 | Sunk |
| 15 October 1917 | Saint Paul |  France
|
79 | Sunk |
| 15 October 1917 | St. Helens |  United States
|
1,497 | Sunk |
| 17 October 1917 | Antilles | United States Army
|
6,878 | Sunk |
| 19 December 1917 | Vinovia |  United Kingdom
|
7,046 | Sunk |
| 22 December 1917 | Colemere | United Kingdom
|
2,120 | Sunk |
| 24 December 1917 | Canova | United Kingdom
|
4,637 | Sunk |
| 28 December 1917 | Lord Derby | United Kingdom
|
3,757 | Sunk |
| 24 February 1918 | Sarpfos |  Norway
|
1,458 | Sunk |
| 26 February 1918 | Dalewood | United Kingdom
|
2,420 | Sunk |
| 27 February 1918 | Largo | United Kingdom
|
1,764 | Sunk |
| 1 March 1918 | Penvearn | United Kingdom
|
3,710 | Sunk |
| 2 March 1918 | Carmelite | United Kingdom
|
2,583 | Sunk |
| 29 April 1918 | Christiana Davis | United Kingdom
|
86 | Sunk |
| 29 April 1918 | Johnny Toole | United Kingdom
|
84 | Sunk |
| 7 May 1918 | Nantes | United Kingdom
|
1,580 | Sunk |
| 7 May 1918 | Saxon | United Kingdom
|
1,595 | Sunk |
| 2 July 1918 | Pieuse Paysanne | France
|
unknown | Damaged |
| 2 July 1918 | Albert 1er | France
|
unknown | Damaged |
| 31 August 1918 | Milwaukee | United Kingdom
|
7,323 | Sunk |
| 7 September 1918 | Ruysdael | United Kingdom
|
3,478 | Sunk |
References
editNotes
edit- ^ "SM" stands for "Seiner Majestät" (English: His Majesty's) and combined with the U for Unterseeboot would be translated as His Majesty's Submarine.
- ^ Tonnages are in gross register tons
Citations
edit- ^ a b c d e Gröner 1991, pp. 12–14.
- ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat commanders: Friedrich Strackerjan (Military Merit Cross (Mecklenburg-Schwerin))". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 17 December 2014.
- ^ a b Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boats: U 105". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net.
- ^ a b "Online Library of Selected Images: S.S. Antilles (American Passenger-Cargo Ship, 1907)," Department of the Navy, Navy Historical Center, www.history.navy.mil/
- ^ a b "The Tribune Graphic," in the New York Tribune, vol. 77, whole no. 25,914 (Oct. 28, 1917), pg. 1.
- ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U 105". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 17 December 2014.
Bibliography
edit- 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.