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 / 55.550°N 7.250°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]
| History | |
|---|---|
 German Empire | |
| Name | U-59 |
| Ordered | 6 October 1914 |
| Builder | AG Weser, Bremen |
| Yard number | 214 |
| Laid down | 13 July 1915 |
| Launched | 20 June 1916 |
| Commissioned | 7 September 1916 |
| Fate | Sunk 14 May 1917 |
| General characteristics [1] | |
| Class and type | Type U 57 submarine |
| Displacement | |
| Length |
|
| Beam |
|
| Height | 8.05 m (26 ft 5 in) |
| Draught | 3.79 m (12 ft 5 in) |
| Installed power | |
| Propulsion | 2 shafts |
| Speed |
|
| Range |
|
| Test depth | 50 m (164 ft 1 in) |
| Complement | 36 |
| Armament |
|
| Service record | |
| Part of: |
|
| Commanders: |
|
| Operations: | 4 patrols |
| Victories: | |
The SM U-59 deck gun is on display at the Strandingsmuseum St. George Thorsminde.
Summary of raiding history
edit| 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
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- ^ Gröner 1991, pp. 8–10.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boats: U 59". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 12 January 2015.
- ^ 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
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.