SM U-59

For other ships of the same name, see German submarine U-59.
Career (German Empire)
Name: U-59
Ordered: 6 October 1914
Builder: AG Weser, Bremen (Werk 214)
Laid down: 13 July 1915
Launched: 20 June 1916
Commissioned: 7 Sep 1916
Fate: Sunk 14 May 1917
General characteristics
Class and type:German Type U 57 submarine
Displacement:786 tons(sf) 954 (sm)
Length:67 m
Draft:3.79 m
Speed:14.7 kn (sf) 8.4 (sm)
Test depth:~50 m (164 feet)
Armament:Deck gun: 88mm

276 rounds

Torpedoes: 6, 2/2 (bow / stern tubes)
Service record
Part of: Imperial German Navy
II Flotilla
20 Nov 1916 - 14 May 1917
Commanders: Kptlt Freiherr Wilhelm von Fircks[1]
7 Sep 1916 - 14 May 1917
Operations: 4 patrols
Victories: 14 ships sunk for a total of 28,050 tons
1 ship damaged for a total of 6,526 tons.

SM U-59 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.[2]

The SM U 59 deck gun is on display at the Strandingsmuseum St. George Thorsminde.

Summary of Raiding Career

Date Name Nationality Tonnage
(GRT)
Fate[3]
7 December 1916 August  Sweden 341 Sunk
8 December 1916 Harry  Sweden 81 Sunk
13 January 1917 Solvang  Norway 2,970 Sunk
16 January 1917 Brenn  France 2,189 Sunk
19 January 1917 Gaea  Norway 1,002 Sunk
23 January 1917 Sardinia  Norway 1,500 Sunk
19 March 1917 Charlois  Netherlands 2,786 Sunk
20 March 1917 Gurre  Denmark 2,866 Sunk
21 March 1917 Najade  Norway 1,752 Sunk
31 March 1917 Valacia  United Kingdom 6,526 Damaged
2 April 1917 Snespurven  Norway 1,409 Sunk
5 April 1917 Canadian  United Kingdom 9,309 Sunk
6 April 1917 Amiral L’hermite  France 156 Sunk
6 April 1917 Roland  France 135 Sunk
9 April 1917 Fremad I  Norway 1,554 Sunk

References

  1. "Freiherr Wilhelm von Fircks". Uboat.net. Retrieved 12 January 2015.
  2. Uboat.net U59
  3. "SM U-59 successes". UBoat.net. Retrieved 12 January 2015.

External links