Unterseeboot 55 (1916)
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| Career (Imperial Germany) |  |
|---|---|
| Class and type: | Type Mittel U (51) U-boat |
| Name: | U 55 |
| Ordered: | 23 August 1914 |
| Builder: | Germaniawerft, Kiel |
| Laid down: | 28 December 1914 |
| Launched: | 18 March 1916 |
| Commissioned: | 8 June 1916 |
| Renamed: | O3 in 1920 Auxiliary Vessel No. 2538 in 1923 |
| Fate: | Surrendered to Japan on 26 November 1918 Served with them as O3 between 1920 and 1921 Dismantled by June 1921 Briefly recommissioned in 1923 as Auxiliary Vessel No. 2538 |
| General characteristics | |
| Displacement: | Surfaced 715 tons submerged 902 tons |
| Length: | Overall 62.2 m (204 ft 1 in) pressure hull 52.51 m (172 ft 3 in) |
| Beam: | Overall 6.44 m (21 ft 2 in) pressure hull 4.05 m (13 ft 3 in) |
| Draught: | 3.64 m (11 ft 11 in) |
| Propulsion: | 2400 hp (surfaced) 1200 hp (submerged) |
| Speed: | Surfaced 17.1 knots (19.7 mph/31.7 km/h) submerged 9.1 knots (10.5 mph/16.9 km/h) |
| Range: | Surfaced: 9,400 nmi (17,400 km/10,800 mi) at 8 knots (9.2 mph/15 km/h) Submerged: 55 nmi (102 km/63 mi) at 5 knots (5.8 mph/9.3 km/h) |
| Test depth: | 50 m (164 ft) |
| Complement: | 36 |
| Armament: | 6 torpedoes (2/2 in bow/stern tubes) 88mm deck gun with 276 rounds |
Unterseeboot 55, or U 55 was a German Type Mittel U U-boat of the Kaiserliche Marine during the First World War, one of the six forming the sub type 51.
Contents |
[edit] Construction and commissioning
U 55 was ordered from Germaniawerft, Kiel on 23 August 1914, was laid down on 28 December 1914 and launched on 18 March 1916. She was commissioned under her first commander Wilhelm Werner on 8 June 1916.
[edit] Service with the Kaiserliche Marine
Werner commanded her for most of her wartime career, during which she undertook 14 patrols with II Flotilla, sinking 64 ships for a total of 130,387 tons. She also damaged another five for a total of 25,568 tons, and took another two as prizes for a total of 4,616 tons. Her most famous act was the sinking of the British RMS Carpathia with three torpedoes, on July 17, 1918 off the east coast of Ireland. The Carpathia herself had become famous for her actions in coming to the rescue of the sinking RMS Titanic in 1912.
Werner was replaced by Alexander Weiss on 10 August 1918, Weiss being succeeded by Hans Friedrich on 15 September and commanding U 55 until the armistice on 11 November.
[edit] With the Japanese
U 55 was surrendered to Japan on 26 November 1918. She entered service with the Imperial Japanese Navy in 1920 as O3, serving as such until 1921. She was dismantled at the Sasebo Navy Yard between March and June 1921, briefly recommissioning in 1923 as Auxiliary Vessel No. 2538.
