History | |
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![]() | |
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 |
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Beam |
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Height | 8.05 m (26 ft 5 in) |
Draught | 3.79 m (12 ft 5 in) |
Installed power | |
Propulsion | 2 shafts |
Speed |
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Range |
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Test depth | 50 m (164 ft 1 in) |
Complement | 36 |
Armament |
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Service record | |
Part of: |
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Commanders: |
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Operations: | 4 patrols |
Victories: |
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]
The SM U-59 deck gun is on display at the Strandingsmuseum St. George Thorsminde.
Summary of raiding history
Date | Name | Nationality | Tonnage[Note 2] | Fate[4] |
---|---|---|---|---|
7 December 1916 | August | ![]() |
341 | Sunk |
8 December 1916 | Harry | ![]() |
81 | Sunk |
13 January 1917 | Solvang | ![]() |
2,970 | Sunk |
16 January 1917 | Brenn | ![]() |
2,189 | Sunk |
19 January 1917 | Gaea | ![]() |
1,002 | Sunk |
23 January 1917 | Sardinia | ![]() |
1,500 | Sunk |
19 March 1917 | Charlois | ![]() |
2,786 | Sunk |
20 March 1917 | Gurre | ![]() |
2,866 | Sunk |
21 March 1917 | Najade | ![]() |
1,752 | Sunk |
31 March 1917 | Valacia | ![]() |
6,526 | Damaged |
2 April 1917 | Snespurven | ![]() |
1,409 | Sunk |
5 April 1917 | Canadian | ![]() |
9,309 | Sunk |
6 April 1917 | Amiral L’hermite | ![]() |
156 | Sunk |
6 April 1917 | Roland | ![]() |
135 | Sunk |
9 April 1917 | Fremad I | ![]() |
1,554 | Sunk |
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. 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
- 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.