SM U-99

SM U-99[Note 1] was one of the 329 submarines serving in the Imperial German Navy in World War I.

For other ships with the same name, see German submarine U-99.
History
German Empire
Name: U-99
Ordered: 15 September 1915
Builder: AG Weser, Bremen
Laid down: 30 November 1915
Launched: 27 January 1917
Commissioned: 28 March 1917
Fate: Sunk by HMS J2, 7 July 1917
General characteristics [1]
Class and type: German Type U 57 submarine
Displacement:
  • 750 t (740 long tons) surfaced
  • 952 t (937 long tons) submerged
Length:
Beam:
  • 6.32 m (20 ft 9 in) (o/a)
  • 4.05 m (13 ft 3 in) (pressure hull)
Height: 8.25 m (27 ft 1 in)
Draught: 3.65 m (12 ft)
Installed power:
  • 2 × 2,400 PS (1,765 kW; 2,367 shp) surfaced
  • 2 × 1,200 PS (883 kW; 1,184 shp) submerged
Propulsion: 2 shafts, 2 × 1.65 m (5 ft 5 in) propellers
Speed:
  • 16.5 knots (30.6 km/h; 19.0 mph) surfaced
  • 8.8 knots (16.3 km/h; 10.1 mph) submerged
Range:
  • 10,100 nmi (18,700 km; 11,600 mi) at 8 knots (15 km/h; 9.2 mph) surfaced
  • 45 nmi (83 km; 52 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:
  • II Flotilla
  • 7 June – 7 July 1917
Commanders:
  • Kptlt. Max Eltester[2]
  • 28 March – 7 July 1917
Operations: 1 patrol
Victories: None

U-99 was engaged in the naval warfare and took part in the First Battle of the Atlantic.[3]

Design

U-99 had a displacement of 750 tonnes (740 long tons) when at the surface and 952 tonnes (937 long tons) while submerged.[1] She had a total length of 67.60 m (221 ft 9 in), a pressure hull length of 54.02 m (177 ft 3 in), a beam of 6.32 m (20 ft 9 in), a height of 8.25 m (27 ft 1 in), and a draught of 3.65 m (12 ft 0 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. She was capable of operating at depths of up to 50 metres (160 ft).[1]

The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 16.5 knots (30.6 km/h; 19.0 mph) and a maximum submerged speed of 8.8 knots (16.3 km/h; 10.1 mph).[1] When submerged, she could operate for 45 nautical miles (83 km; 52 mi) at 5 knots (9.3 km/h; 5.8 mph); when surfaced, she could travel 10,100 nautical miles (18,700 km; 11,600 mi) at 8 knots (15 km/h; 9.2 mph). U-99 was fitted with six 50 centimetres (20 in) torpedo tubes (four at the bow and two at the stern), twelve to sixteen torpedoes, and one 10.5 cm (4.1 in) SK L/45 deck gun. She had a complement of thirty-six (thirty-two crew members and four officers).[1]

Operations

The Royal Navy submarine HMS J2 is credited with sinking U-99 in the Northern North Sea on 7 July 1917.

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.

Citations
  1. Gröner 1991, pp. 12-14.
  2. Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat commanders: Max Eltester". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
  3. Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boats: U 99". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 16 March 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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