SM U-161

Coordinates: 49°34.397′0″N 04°46.305′0″W / 49.57328°N 4.77175°W / 49.57328; -4.77175
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
For other ships with the same name, see German submarine U-161.
German U-boats, U-161, U-135, U-139
History
German Empire
NameU-161
Ordered9 February 1917
BuilderBremer Vulkan, Vegesack
Launched23 March 1918
Commissioned29 June 1918
Fate
  • Surrendered 20 November 1918
  • Sunk as target 30 June 1921
General characteristics [1]
Class and typeGerman Type U 93 submarine
Displacement
  • 821 t (808 long tons) surfaced
  • 1,002 t (986 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)
Draught3.88 m (12 ft 9 in)
Installed power
Propulsion2 shafts, 2 × 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in) propellers
Speed
  • 16.2 knots (30.0 km/h; 18.6 mph) surfaced
  • 8.2 knots (15.2 km/h; 9.4 mph) submerged
Range
  • 8,500 nmi (15,700 km; 9,800 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 (164 ft 1 in)
Complement4 officers, 32 enlisted
Armament
Service record
Part of:
  • IV Flotilla
  • Unknown start – 11 November 1918
Commanders:
  • Kptlt. Waldemar von Münch[2]
  • 29 June – 11 November 1918
Operations: 1 patrol
Victories: None

SM U-161[Note 1] was one of the 329 submarines serving in the Imperial German Navy in World War I. U-161 was engaged in

First Battle of the Atlantic
. [3]

U-161 was surrendered to the Allies at

Armistice with Germany. Having been exhibited at Devonport in December 1918, she was then laid up there until sunk as in the English Channel by gunfire from the submarines L21 and L52 on 30 June 1921 in company with U-135.[4]

Design

draught of 3.88 m (12 ft 9 in). The submarine was powered by two 2,400 metric horsepower (1,800 kW; 2,400 shp) engines for use while surfaced, and two 1,230 metric horsepower (900 kW; 1,210 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 16.2 knots (30.0 km/h; 18.6 mph) and a maximum submerged speed of 8.2 knots (15.2 km/h; 9.4 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 8,500 nautical miles (15,700 km; 9,800 mi) at 8 knots (15 km/h; 9.2 mph). U-161 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]

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. ^ a b c d e Gröner 1991, pp. 12–14.
  2. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat commanders: Waldemar von Münch". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
  3. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boats: U 161". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 22 January 2010.
  4. ISBN 978-1-5267-4198-1
    .

Bibliography

49°34.397′0″N 04°46.305′0″W / 49.57328°N 4.77175°W / 49.57328; -4.77175

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