History | |
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Name | U-104 |
Ordered | 15 September 1915 |
Builder | AG Weser, Bremen |
Yard number | 255 |
Laid down | 4 August 1916 |
Launched | 3 July 1917 |
Commissioned | 12 August 1917 |
Fate | Depth-charged and sunk 25 April 1918. 41 dead, 1 survivor. |
General characteristics [1] | |
Class and type | German Type U 57 submarine |
Displacement | |
Length |
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Beam |
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Height | 8.25 m (27 ft 1 in) |
Draught | 3.65 m (12 ft) |
Installed power | |
Propulsion | 2 shafts, 2 × 1.65 m (5 ft 5 in) propellers |
Speed |
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Range |
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Test depth | 50 m (164 ft 1 in) |
Complement | 4 officers, 32 enlisted |
Armament |
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Service record | |
Part of: |
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Commanders: | |
Operations: | 4 patrols |
Victories: |
9 merchant ships sunk (14,721 GRT) |
SM U-104[Note 1] was a German Type U 57 U-boat during the First World War. U-104 was built at AG Weser in Bremen, launched on 3 July 1917 and commissioned on 12 August 1917. She completed four patrols under Kptlt. Kurt Bernis and was responsible for the sinking of nine vessels of a total of 14,721 gross register tons (GRT).[3]
Loss
On 25 April 1918 the U-104 was engaged by USS Cushing in St. George's Channel and severely damaged. Later the same day HMS Jessamine came upon her and dropped further depth-charges, sinking her and leaving but a single survivor of her 42-member crew. The wreckage lies at position 51°59′N 6°26′W / 51.983°N 6.433°W.
Summary of raiding history
Date | Name | Nationality | Tonnage[Note 2] | Fate[4] |
---|---|---|---|---|
26 October 1917 | Sapele | ![]() |
4,366 | Sunk |
15 December 1917 | Maidag | ![]() |
1,253 | Sunk |
21 December 1917 | Spro | ![]() |
1,507 | Sunk |
25 December 1917 | Ajax | ![]() |
1,018 | Sunk |
2 March 1918 | Kenmare | ![]() |
1,330 | Sunk |
12 April 1918 | Njaal | ![]() |
578 | Sunk |
16 April 1918 | Widwud | ![]() |
299 | Sunk |
20 April 1918 | Lowther Range | ![]() |
3,926 | Sunk |
22 April 1918 | Fern | ![]() |
444 | Sunk |
See also
References
Notes
- ^ "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
- ^ Gröner 1991, pp. 12–14.
- ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat commanders: Kurt Bernis". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 26 January 2015.
- ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boats: U 104". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 25 January 2010.
- ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U 104". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 26 January 2015.
Bibliography
- 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.