SM U-105
U-105 in Cherbourg around 1920
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History | |
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German Empire | |
Name | U-105 |
Ordered | 5 May 1916 |
Builder | Germaniawerft , Kiel |
Yard number | 274 |
Launched | 16 May 1917 |
Commissioned | 4 July 1917 |
Fate | Surrendered to France 20 November 1918 |
France | |
Name | Jean Autric |
Namesake | Jean Autric |
Acquired | 1918 |
Stricken | 27 January 1937 |
Fate | Sold for scrap, 1938 |
General characteristics [1] | |
Class and type | German Type U 93 submarine |
Displacement |
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Length |
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Beam |
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Height | 8.25 m (27 ft 1 in) |
Draught | 3.90 m (12 ft 10 in) |
Installed power |
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Propulsion | 2 shafts, 2 × 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in) propellers |
Speed |
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Range |
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Test depth | 50 m (164 ft 1 in) |
Complement | 4 officers, 32 enlisted |
Armament |
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Service record | |
Part of: |
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Commanders: |
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Operations: | 6 patrols |
Victories: |
SM U-105[Note 1] was one of the 329 submarines serving in the Imperial German Navy in World War I. U-105 was engaged in the
On 17 October 1917, SM U-105 met Antilles, an American troop transport, during the return leg of a voyage to Europe.[4] Antilles was torpedoed by the submerged U-boat and went down just five minutes after being hit.[5] A total of 67 persons were killed in the sinking,[4] making the destruction of Antilles the event costing the single greatest number of American lives in the war to that date.[5]
Design
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-105 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[6] |
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14 October 1917 | Ecaterini C. D. | Greece | 3,739 | Sunk |
15 October 1917 | Saint Paul | France | 79 | Sunk |
15 October 1917 | St. Helens | United States | 1,497 | Sunk |
17 October 1917 | Antilles | United States Army | 6,878 | Sunk |
19 December 1917 | Vinovia | United Kingdom | 7,046 | Sunk |
22 December 1917 | Colemere | United Kingdom | 2,120 | Sunk |
24 December 1917 | Canova | United Kingdom | 4,637 | Sunk |
28 December 1917 | Lord Derby | United Kingdom | 3,757 | Sunk |
24 February 1918 | Sarpfos | Norway | 1,458 | Sunk |
26 February 1918 | Dalewood | United Kingdom | 2,420 | Sunk |
27 February 1918 | Largo | United Kingdom | 1,764 | Sunk |
1 March 1918 | Penvearn | United Kingdom | 3,710 | Sunk |
2 March 1918 | Carmelite | United Kingdom | 2,583 | Sunk |
29 April 1918 | Christiana Davis | United Kingdom | 86 | Sunk |
29 April 1918 | Johnny Toole | United Kingdom | 84 | Sunk |
7 May 1918 | Nantes | United Kingdom | 1,580 | Sunk |
7 May 1918 | Saxon | United Kingdom | 1,595 | Sunk |
2 July 1918 | Pieuse Paysanne | France | unknown | Damaged |
2 July 1918 | Albert 1er | France | unknown | Damaged |
31 August 1918 | Milwaukee | United Kingdom | 7,323 | Sunk |
7 September 1918 | Ruysdael | United Kingdom | 3,478 | Sunk |
References
Notes
- ^ "SM" stands for "Seiner Majestät" (English: His Majesty's) and combined with the U for Unterseeboot would be translated as His Majesty's Submarine.
- gross register tons
Citations
- ^ a b c d e Gröner 1991, pp. 12–14.
- ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat commanders: Friedrich Strackerjan (Military Merit Cross (Mecklenburg-Schwerin))". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 17 December 2014.
- ^ a b Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boats: U 105". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net.
- ^ a b "Online Library of Selected Images: S.S. Antilles (American Passenger-Cargo Ship, 1907)," Department of the Navy, Navy Historical Center, www.history.navy.mil/
- ^ a b "The Tribune Graphic," in the New York Tribune, vol. 77, whole no. 25,914 (Oct. 28, 1917), pg. 1.
- ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U 105". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 17 December 2014.
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.