SM U-113

SM U-113[Note 1] was one of the 329 submarines serving in the Imperial German Navy in World War I. U-113 was engaged in the naval warfare and took part in the First Battle of the Atlantic.[3]

History
German Empire
Name: U-113
Ordered: 5 May 1916
Builder: Germaniawerft, Kiel
Yard number: 282
Launched: 29 September 1917
Commissioned: 23 February 1918
Fate: Surrendered to France 20 November 1918
General characteristics [1]
Class and type: German Type U 93 submarine
Displacement:
  • 798 t (785 long tons) surfaced
  • 996 t (980 long tons) submerged
Length:
Beam:
  • 6.30 m (20 ft 8 in) (o/a)
  • 4.15 m (13 ft 7 in) (pressure hull)
Height: 8.25 m (27 ft 1 in)
Draught: 3.76 m (12 ft 4 in)
Installed power:
  • 2 × 2,300 PS (1,692 kW; 2,269 shp) surfaced
  • 2 × 1,200 PS (883 kW; 1,184 shp) submerged
Propulsion: 2 shafts, 2 × 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in) propellers
Speed:
  • 16.4 knots (30.4 km/h; 18.9 mph) surfaced
  • 8.4 knots (15.6 km/h; 9.7 mph) submerged
Range:
  • 8,300 nmi (15,400 km; 9,600 mi) at 8 knots (15 km/h; 9.2 mph) surfaced
  • 50 nmi (93 km; 58 mi) at 5 knots (9.3 km/h; 5.8 mph) submerged
Test depth: 50 m (160 ft)
Complement: 4 officers, 32 enlisted
Armament:
Service record
Part of:
Commanders:
  • Kptlt. Philipp Recke[2]
  • 23 February 1918 – 11 November 1918
Operations: 3 patrols
Victories: 4 merchant ship sunk (6,648 gross register tons (GRT))

Design

German Type U 93 submarines were preceded by the shorter Type U 87 submarines. U-113 had a displacement of 798 tonnes (785 long tons) when at the surface and 996 tonnes (980 long tons) while submerged.[1] The boat had a total length of 71.55 m (234 ft 9 in), a pressure hull length of 56.05 m (183 ft 11 in), a beam of 6.30 m (20 ft 8 in), a height of 8.25 m (27 ft 1 in), and a draught of 3.76 m (12 ft 4 in). The submarine was powered by two 2,400 metric horsepower (1,800 kW; 2,400 shp) engines for use while surfaced, and two 1,200 metric horsepower (880 kW; 1,200 shp) engines for use while submerged. She had two propeller shafts and two 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in) propellers. She was capable of operating at depths of up to 50 metres (160 ft).[1]

The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 16.4 knots (30.4 km/h; 18.9 mph) and a maximum submerged speed of 8.4 knots (15.6 km/h; 9.7 mph).[1] When submerged, she could operate for 50 nautical miles (93 km; 58 mi) at 5 knots (9.3 km/h; 5.8 mph); when surfaced, she could travel 9,280 nautical miles (17,190 km; 10,680 mi) at 8 knots (15 km/h; 9.2 mph). U-113 was fitted with six 50 centimetres (20 in) torpedo tubes (four at the bow and two at the stern), twelve to sixteen torpedoes, one 10.5 cm (4.1 in) SK L/45 deck gun, and one 8.8 cm (3.5 in) SK L/30 deck gun. She had a complement of thirty-six (thirty-two crew members and four officers).[1]

Summary of raiding history

Date Name Nationality Tonnage[Note 2] Fate[4]
20 July 1918 Hermes  Denmark 298 Sunk
21 July 1918 Anna  Denmark 212 Sunk
2 August 1918 Portugal  Belgium 1,463 Sunk
4 August 1918 Clan Macnab  United Kingdom 4,675 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. Gröner 1991, pp. 12-14.
  2. Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat commanders: Philipp Recke (Royal House Order of Hohenzollern)". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 26 January 2015.
  3. Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boats: U 113". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 25 January 2010.
  4. Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U 113". 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. 2. Translated by Thomas, Keith; Magowan, Rachel. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-593-4.

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