SM U-75 was one of the 329 submarines serving in the Imperial German Navy in World War I. U-75 was engaged in naval warfare and took part in the First Battle of the Atlantic. On her first mission, U-75 laid the mine that sank the cruiser HMS Hampshire during her voyage to Russia carrying British Secretary of State for War Lord Kitchener. The cruiser sank at 59°07′N 03°24′W / 59.117°N 3.400°W west of the Orkney Islands with nearly total loss of life in a force 9 gale.
| History | |
|---|---|
 German Empire | |
| Name | U-75 |
| Ordered | 9 March 1915 |
| Builder | AG Vulkan, Hamburg |
| Yard number | 57 |
| Launched | 30 January 1916 |
| Commissioned | 26 March 1916 |
| Fate | 13 December 1917 - Struck a mine off Terschelling. 23 dead, unknown number of survivors.[1] |
| General characteristics [2] | |
| Class and type | Type UE I submarine |
| Displacement | |
| Length |
|
| Beam |
|
| Height | 8.25 m (27 ft 1 in) |
| Draught | 4.86 m (15 ft 11 in) |
| Installed power | |
| Propulsion | 2 shafts, 2× 1.38 m (4 ft 6 in) propellers |
| Speed |
|
| Range |
|
| Test depth | 50 m (160 ft) |
| Complement | 4 officers, 28 enlisted |
| Armament |
|
| Service record | |
| Part of: |
|
| Commanders: | |
| Operations: | 7 patrols |
| Victories: | |
Design
editType UE I submarines were preceded by the longer Type U 66 submarines. U-75 had a displacement of 755 tonnes (743 long tons) when at the surface and 832 tonnes (819 long tons) while submerged.[2] She had a total length of 56.80 m (186 ft 4 in), a pressure hull length of 46.66 m (153 ft 1 in), a beam of 5.90 m (19 ft 4 in), a height of 8.25 m (27 ft 1 in), and a draught of 4.86 m (15 ft 11 in). The submarine was powered by two 900 metric horsepower (660 kW; 890 shp) engines for use while surfaced, and two 800 metric horsepower (590 kW; 790 shp) engines for use while submerged. She had two propeller shafts. She was capable of operating at depths of up to 50 metres (160 ft).[2]
The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 9.9 knots (18.3 km/h; 11.4 mph) and a maximum submerged speed of 7.9 knots (14.6 km/h; 9.1 mph).[2] When submerged, she could operate for 83 nautical miles (154 km; 96 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph); when surfaced, she could travel 7,880 nautical miles (14,590 km; 9,070 mi) at 7 knots (13 km/h; 8.1 mph). U-75 was fitted with two 50 centimetres (20 in) torpedo tubes (one at the port bow and one starboard stern), four torpedoes, and one 8.8 cm (3.5 in) SK L/30 deck gun. She had a complement of thirty-two (twenty-eight crew members and four officers).[2]
Summary of raiding history
edit| Date | Name | Nationality | Tonnage[Note 1] | Fate[5] |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 June 1916 | HMS Hampshire |  Royal Navy
|
10,850 | Sunk |
| 22 June 1916 | HMD Laurel Crown | Royal Navy
|
81 | Sunk |
| 7 August 1916 | HMT John High | Royal Navy
|
228 | Sunk |
| 12 August 1916 | Kovda |  Imperial Russian Navy
|
1,125 | Sunk |
| 20 September 1916 | Etton |  United Kingdom
|
2,831 | Sunk |
| 16 November 1916 | Fenja |  Denmark
|
433 | Sunk |
| 22 November 1916 | Reserv |  Sweden
|
1,700 | Captured as prize |
| 23 November 1916 | Arthur | Sweden
|
1,435 | Sunk |
| 9 April 1917 | Ganslei |  Russia
|
1,273 | Sunk |
| 15 April 1917 | HMT Arctic Prince | Royal Navy
|
194 | Damaged |
| 10 August 1917 | Solglimt |  Norway
|
1,037 | Sunk |
| 16 August 1917 | Palatine | United Kingdom
|
2,110 | Sunk |
| 3 September 1917 | Treverbyn | United Kingdom
|
4,163 | Sunk |
| 22 November 1917 | King Idwal | United Kingdom
|
3,631 | Sunk |
| 10 December 1917 | Aureole | United Kingdom
|
3,998 | Damaged |
| 2 September 1918 | Ariadne Christine | United Kingdom
|
3,550 | Damaged |
References
editNotes
edit- ^ Merchant ship tonnages are in gross register tons. Military vessels are listed by tons displacement.
Citations
edit- ^ a b Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boats: U 75". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 18 January 2015.
- ^ a b c d e Gröner 1991, pp. 10–11.
- ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat commanders: Curt Beitzen". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 18 January 2015.
- ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat commanders: Fritz Schmolling". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 18 January 2015.
- ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U 75". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 18 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.