SM U-122

For other ships with the same name, see German submarine U-122.
History
German Empire
Name: U-122
Ordered: 27 May 1916
Builder: AG Vulcan, Hamburg
Launched: 9 December 1917
Commissioned: 4 May 1918
Fate: Surrendered to England on 26 November 1918. Ran aground on the English east coast while on her passage to Scapa Flow. She was later broken up.
General characteristics [1]
Class and type: German Type UE II submarine
Type: Coastal minelaying submarine
Displacement:
  • 1,163 t (1,145 long tons) surfaced
  • 1,468 t (1,445 long tons) submerged
Length: 82.00 m (269 ft) (o/a)
Beam: 7.42 m (24 ft 4 in)
Height: 10.16 m (33 ft 4 in)
Draught: 4.22 m (13 ft 10 in)
Installed power:
Propulsion: 2 shafts, 2 × 1.61 m (5 ft 3 in) propellers
Speed:
  • 14.7 knots (27.2 km/h; 16.9 mph) surfaced
  • 7.2 knots (13.3 km/h; 8.3 mph) submerged
Range:
  • 11,470 nmi (21,240 km; 13,200 mi) at 8 knots (15 km/h; 9.2 mph) surfaced
  • 35 nmi (65 km; 40 mi) at 4.5 knots (8.3 km/h; 5.2 mph) submerged
Test depth: 75 m (246 ft)
Complement: 4 officers, 36 enlisted
Armament:
Service record
Part of:
  • I Flotilla
  • unknown start – 11 November 1918
Commanders:
  • Kptlt. Alfred Korte[2]
  • 4 May 1918 – 11 November 1918
Operations: 1 patrol
Victories: 1 merchant ship sunk (278 GRT)

SM U-122[Note 1] was a Type UE II long-range minelayer submarine of the Imperial German Navy during World War I. U-122 was engaged in naval warfare and took part in the First Battle of the Atlantic.[3] U-122 succeeded in sinking one ship during her career for a total of 278 tons. Shortly after, she was surrendered to England following the end of the war.

Design

German Type UE II submarines were preceded by the shorter Type UE I submarines. U-122 had a displacement of 1,163 tonnes (1,145 long tons) when at the surface and 1,468 tonnes (1,445 long tons) while submerged.[1] It had a total length of 269 ft (82 m), a beam of 24 ft 4 in (7.42 m), a height of 33 ft 4 in (10.16 m), and a draught of 13 ft 10 in (4.22 m). The submarine was powered by two 2,400 metric horsepower (1,800 kW; 2,400 shp) engines for use while surfaced, and two 1,235 metric horsepower (908 kW; 1,218 shp) engines for use while submerged. It had two shafts and two 1.61 m (5.3 ft) propellers. It was capable of operating at depths of up to 75 metres (246 ft).[1]

The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 14.7 knots (27.2 km/h; 16.9 mph) and a maximum submerged speed of 7 knots (13 km/h; 8.1 mph).[1] When submerged, it could operate for 35 nautical miles (65 km; 40 mi) at 4.5 knots (8.3 km/h; 5.2 mph); when surfaced, it could travel 11,470 nautical miles (21,240 km; 13,200 mi) at 8 knots (15 km/h; 9.2 mph). U-122 was fitted with four 50 centimetres (20 in) torpedo tubes (fitted at its bow), fourteen torpedoes, two 100 centimetres (39 in) mine chutes (fitted at its stern), forty-two mines, one 15 centimetres (5.9 in) deck machine gun, and 494 rounds. It had a complement of forty (thirty-six crew members and four officers).[1]

Summary of raiding history

Date Name Nationality Tonnage[Note 2] Fate[4]
18 October 1916 Njordur  Iceland 278 Sunk

References

Notes

  1. "SM" stands for "Seiner Majestät" (English: His Majesty's) and combined with the U for Unterseeboot would be translated as His Majesty's Submarine.
  2. Tonnages are in gross register tons

Citations

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Gröner 1991, p. 15.
  2. Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat commanders: Alfred Korte". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
  3. Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boats: U 122". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 21 January 2010.
  4. Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U 122". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 16 March 2015.

Bibliography

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