SM U-140 was a Type U 139 submarine that served in the Imperial German Navy in World War I. U-140 was engaged in the naval warfare and took part in the First Battle of the Atlantic. [2]

SM U-140 comes alongside SM U-117 to be supplied with fuel, close to the Faroe Islands, 1918
History
German Empire
NameU-140
Ordered1 August 1916
BuilderGermaniawerft, Kiel
Yard number301
Launched4 November 1917
Commissioned28 March 1918
In service28 March 1918 – 11 November 1918
Fate
  • Surrendered 23 February 1919
  • Sunk as target 22 July 1921
General characteristics [1]
Class and typeType U 139 submarine
Displacement
  • 1,930 t (1,900 long tons) surfaced
  • 2,483 t (2,444 long tons) submerged
Length
Beam
  • 9.12 m (29 ft 11 in) (o/a)
  • 5.75 m (18 ft 10 in) (pressure hull)
Height5.27 m (17 ft 3 in)
Draught11.20 m (36 ft 9 in)
Installed power
  • 2 × 3,500 PS (2,574 kW; 3,452 shp)
  • 2 × 450 PS (331 kW; 444 shp) surfaced
  • 2 × 1,780 PS (1,309 kW; 1,756 shp) submerged
Propulsion2 shafts, 2 × 2.10 m (6 ft 11 in) propellers
Speed
  • 15.8 knots (29.3 km/h; 18.2 mph) surfaced
  • 7.6 knots (14.1 km/h; 8.7 mph) submerged
Range
  • 17,750 nmi (32,870 km; 20,430 mi) at 8 knots (15 km/h; 9.2 mph) surfaced
  • 53 nmi (98 km; 61 mi) at 4.5 knots (8.3 km/h; 5.2 mph) submerged
Test depth75 m (246 ft 1 in)
Complement6 (1) officers, 56 (20) enlisted – (prize crew)
Armament
Service record[2]
Part of:
  • U-Kreuzer Flotilla
  • Unknown start – 11 November 1918
Commanders:
Operations: 1 patrol
Victories:
  • 6 merchant ships sunk
    (30,004 GRT)
  • 1 lightship sunk
    (590 tons)

After the end of World War I, U-140 surrendered to the United States, which used her for testing. Finally, the United States Navy destroyer USS Dickerson (DD-157) sank her as a target in the Atlantic Ocean off Cape Charles, Virginia, on 22 July 1921.

Summary of raiding history

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Date Name Nationality Tonnage[Note 1] Fate[3]
27 July 1918 Porto   Portugal 1,079 Sunk
2 August 1918 Tokuyama Maru   Japan 7,029 Sunk
4 August 1918 O. B. Jennings   United States 10,289 Sunk
5 August 1918 Stanley M. Seaman   United States 1,060 Sunk
6 August 1918 Diamond Shoals LV71   United States Lighthouse Service 590 Sunk
6 August 1918 Merak   United States 3,024 Sunk
21 August 1918 Diomed   United Kingdom 7,523 Sunk

References

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Notes

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  1. ^ Merchant ship tonnages are in gross register tons. Military vessels are listed by tons displacement.

Citations

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  1. ^ Gröner 1991, pp. 19–21.
  2. ^ a b Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boats: U 140". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 8 December 2014.
  3. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U 140". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 8 December 2014.

Bibliography

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  • 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.