SM U-107

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For other ships with the same name, see German submarine U-107.
History
German Empire
NameU-107
Ordered5 May 1916
BuilderGermaniawerft, Kiel
Yard number276
Launched28 June 1917
Commissioned18 August 1917
FateSurrendered 20 November 1918; scrapped Swansea 1919
General characteristics [1]
Class and typeGerman Type U 93 submarine
Displacement
  • 798 t (785 long tons) surfaced
  • 1,000 t (980 long tons) submerged
Length
  • 71.55 m (234 ft 9 in) (o/a)
  • 56.05 m (183 ft 11 in) (pressure hull)
Beam
  • 6.30 m (20 ft 8 in) (o/a)
  • 4.15 m (13 ft 7 in) (pressure hull)
Height8.25 m (27 ft 1 in)
Draught3.90 m (12 ft 10 in)
Installed power
  • 2 × 2,400 PS (1,765 kW; 2,367 shp) surfaced
  • 2 × 1,200 PS (883 kW; 1,184 shp) submerged
Propulsion2 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
  • 9,280 nmi (17,190 km; 10,680 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 depth50 m (160 ft)
Complement4 officers, 32 enlisted
Armament
Service record
Part of:
  • IV Flotilla
  • 21 September 1917 – 11 November 1918
Commanders:
  • Kptlt. Wilhelm-Friedrich Starke[2]
  • 18 August – 31 December 1917
  • Oblt.z.S. Kurt Slevogt[3]
  • 1 January – 31 July 1918
  • Kptlt. Kurt Siewert[4]
  • 1 August – 11 November 1918
Operations: 5 patrols
Victories:
  • 6 merchant ships sunk
    (24,663 GRT)
  • 1 merchant ship damaged
    (1,084 GRT)

SM U-107[Note 1] was one of the 329 submarines serving in the Imperial German Navy in World War I. U-107 was engaged in the naval warfare and took part in the First Battle of the Atlantic.[5]

U-107 was surrendered to the Allies at Harwich on 20 November 1918 in accordance with the requirements of the Armistice with Germany. She was sold by the British Admiralty to George Cohen on 3 March 1919 for £2,425 (excluding her engines), and was broken up at Swansea.[6]

Design[]

German Type U 93 submarines were preceded by the shorter Type U 87 submarines. U-107 had a displacement of 798 tonnes (785 long tons) when at the surface and 1,000 tonnes (980 long tons) while submerged.[1] She 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 3.90 m (12 ft 10 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-107 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, 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[7]
21 October 1917 Epiros  Greece 1,084 Damaged
14 April 1918 Marstonmoor  United Kingdom 2,744 Sunk
29 June 1918 Castor I  Norway 117 Sunk
15 August 1918 Cubore  United States 7,117 Sunk
18 August 1918 Idaho  United Kingdom 3,023 Sunk
21 August 1918 Lake Edon  United States 2,371 Sunk
24 August 1918 Flavia  United Kingdom 9,291 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. ^ a b c d e Gröner 1991, pp. 12–14.
  2. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat commanders: Wilhelm-Friedrich Starke". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 26 January 2015.
  3. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat commanders: Kurt Slevogt". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 26 January 2015.
  4. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat commanders: Kurt Siewert (Royal House Order of Hohenzollern)". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 26 January 2015.
  5. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boats: U 107". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 25 January 2010.
  6. ^ Dodson, Aidan; Cant, Serena (2020). Spoils of War: the fate of enemy fleets after the two World Wars,. Barnsley: Seaforth. p. 125. ISBN 978 1 5267 4198 1.
  7. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U 107". 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. Vol. 2. Translated by Thomas, Keith; Magowan, Rachel. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-593-4.

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