German Type UE II submarine

	SM U-117 at Cape Charles
Class overview
Builders	AG Vulkan, Hamburg; Blohm & Voss, Hamburg ;
Operators	Imperial German Navy ; French Navy ; Imperial Japanese Navy ;
Subclasses	U-122
Built	1917–1918
In commission	1917–1918
Completed	10
Lost	4
Scrapped	6
General characteristics
Type	Ocean-going mine-laying submarine
Displacement	1,164 t (1,146 long tons) surfaced; 1,512 t (1,488 long tons) submerged
Length	81.52 or 82 m (267 ft 5 in or 269 ft 0 in)
Beam	7.42 m (24 ft 4 in)
Draft	4.22 m (13 ft 10 in)
Installed power	Diesel engines 2,400 PS (1,765 kW; 2,367 shp); Electric motors 1,200 PS (883 kW; 1,184 shp);
Propulsion	2 shafts; 2 diesel engines, 2 electric motors
Speed	14.7 knots (27.2 km/h; 16.9 mph) surfaced; 7 knots (13 km/h; 8.1 mph) submerged;
Range	11,470 and 13,900 nmi (21,240 and 25,740 km; 13,200 and 16,000 mi) at 8 knots (15 km/h; 9.2 mph) surfaced; 35 nmi (65 km; 40 mi) at 4.5 knots (8.3 km/h; 5.2 mph) submerged;
Test depth	75 m (246 ft)
Complement	4 officers, 36 enlisted men
Sensors and ; processing systems	2 periscopes
Armament	4 × 50 cm (19.7 in) torpedo tubes, 14 torpedoes ; 2 × 100 cm (39.4 in) minelaying tubes, 42 mines ; 1 × 15-centimeter (5.9 in) SK L/45 deck gun ; or 2 × 10.5-centimeter (4.1 in) SK L/45 (SM U 123);

Last updated August 25, 2023

The Type UE II submarines were a class of submarines built by the German Empire during World War I as long-range mine-layers.

The UE IIs joined the conflict in the middle of 1917, at a time when the tide of the war was turning against Germany. In the months beforehand, the United States Navy was added to the ranks of their enemies; and the convoy system was introduced, making it difficult to engage enemy merchant shipping without being spotted by destroyer escorts.^[2] Because they entered service late in the war, the UE IIs only sank 23 ships and damaged 4 others before the end of hostilities. SM U-117 was by far the most successful U-boat, taking credit for 20 ships sunk out of the total of 23 for the entire type.^[3] The UE II's were the last of the UE class U-boats built by the German Imperial Navy; the last of the class, U-126, was commissioned on 3 October 1918, a little over a month before the armistice at Compiègne.^[4]

Post-war years

Following the end of the war, all of the Type UE II submarines were handed over to the allies as part of the Treaty of Versailles. SM U-117 was handed over to the United States where she remained in the Philadelphia Navy Yard along with other U-boats. In June 1921 she was taken out to sea and sunk as a target for aerial bombing tests conducted by the Navy and Army.^[3]SM U-118 was turned over to France but broke her tow and was washed ashore at Hastings in Sussex where she remained until being finally broken up in December 1919.^[5]SM U-119 was surrendered to France in November 1918. She was renamed the René Audry and saw service in the French Navy and was eventually broken up in October 1937.^[6]SM U-120 was transferred to Italy in November 1918. She was broken up soon after in April 1919.^[7]SM U-122 was surrendered to England on 26 November 1918. She later ran aground on the English east coast while on her journey to Scapa Flow.^[8] Like SM U-122, SM U-123 also ran aground on the English coast where she was broken up.^[9]SM U-124 was surrendered in December 1918 and was later broken up in Swansea in 1921.^[10]SM U-125 surrendered to Japan in late November 1918. She served in the Japanese Navy as the O1 in 1920-21. between January and March 1921, U-125 was dismantled at Yokosuka Navy Yard.^[11]SM U-126 was handed over to the allies in November 1918 and later broken up at Upnor in 1923.^[4]

Ships sunk or damaged by Type UE II submarines

Ships sunk or damaged by Type UE II submarines^[12]^[13]^[14]
Date	Name	Nationality	Tonnage^{[Note 1]}	Fate	U-boat credited with loss
10 August 1918	Aleda May	United States	31	Sunk	U-117
10 August 1918	Cruiser	United States	28	Sunk	U-117
10 August 1918	Earl & Nettie	United States	24	Sunk	U-117
10 August 1918	Katie L. Palmer	United States	31	Sunk	U-117
10 August 1918	Mary E. Sennett	United States	26	Sunk	U-117
10 August 1918	Progress	United States	34	Sunk	U-117
10 August 1918	Reliance	United States	19	Sunk	U-117
10 August 1918	William H. Starbuck	United States	53	Sunk	U-117
12 August 1918	Sommerstad	Norway	3,875	Sunk	U-117
13 August 1918	Frederic R. Kellogg	United States	7,127	Damaged	U-117
14 August 1918	Dorothy B. Barrett	United States	2,088	Sunk	U-117
15 August 1918	Madrugada	United States	1,613	Sunk	U-117
16 August 1918	Mirlo	United Kingdom	6,978	Sunk	U-117
17 August 1918	Nordhav	Norway	2,846	Sunk	U-117
20 August 1918	Ansaldo III	Kingdom of Italy	5,310	Damaged	U-117
24 August 1918	Bianca	United Kingdom	408	Damaged	U-117
26 August 1918	Rush	United States	145	Sunk	U-117
27 August 1918	Bergsdalen	Norway	2,555	Sunk	U-117
30 August 1918	Elsie Porter	United Kingdom	136	Sunk	U-117
30 August 1918	Potentate	United Kingdom	136	Sunk	U-117
16 September 1918	Wellington	United Kingdom	5,600	Sunk	U-118
29 September 1918	USS Minnesota	United States Navy	18,000	Damaged	U-117
2 October 1918	Arca	United Kingdom	4,839	Sunk	U-118
4 October 1918	San Saba	United States	2,458	Sunk	U-117
18 October 1918	Njordur	Iceland	278	Sunk	U-122
27 October 1918	Chaparra	Cuba	1,510	Sunk	U-117
9 November 1918	Saetia	United States	2,873	Sunk	U-117

Ships in class

There were 9 Type UE II submarines commissioned into the Kaiserliche Marine.

One submarine was not completed before the armistice.

SM U-121

Notes

↑ Merchant ship tonnages are in gross register tons. Military vessels are listed by tons displacement.

Related Research Articles

German Type UB I submarine Small coastal submarines built in Germany

The Type UB I submarine was a class of small coastal submarines (U-boats) built in Germany at the beginning of the First World War. 20 boats were constructed, most of which went into service with the German Imperial Navy. Boats of this design were also operated by the Austro-Hungarian Navy and the Bulgarian Navy. In the Austro-Hungarian Navy, it was called the U-10 class.

SM UB-12 was a German Type UB I submarine or U-boat in the German Imperial Navy during World War I. The submarine disappeared in August 1918.

SM <i>UB-16</i> Type UB I submarine in the German Imperial Navy

SM UB-16 was a German Type UB I submarine or U-boat in the German Imperial Navy during World War I. The submarine was sunk by a British submarine in May 1918.

SM UB-17 was a German Type UB I submarine or U-boat in the German Imperial Navy during World War I. The submarine disappeared during a patrol in March 1918.

SM <i>UB-2</i> German Type UB I-class submarine

SM UB-2 was a German Type UB I submarine or U-boat in the German Imperial Navy during World War I. She sank eleven ships during her career and was broken up in Germany in 1920.

SM UC-4 was a German Type UC I minelayer submarine or U-boat in the German Imperial Navy during World War I. The U-boat had been ordered by November 1914 and was launched on 6 June 1915. She was commissioned into the German Imperial Navy on 10 June 1915 as SM UC-4. Mines laid by UC-4 in her 73 patrols were credited with sinking 36 ships. UC-4 was scuttled off the coast of Flanders during the German evacuation on 5 October 1918.

SM UC-11 was a German Type UC I minelayer submarine or U-boat in the German Imperial Navy during World War I. The U-boat was ordered on 23 November 1914, laid down on 26 January 1915, and was launched on 11 April 1915. She was commissioned into the German Imperial Navy on 23 April 1915 as SM UC-11. Mines laid by UC-11 in her 83 patrols were credited with sinking 27 ships. UC-11 was mined and sunk on 26 June 1918. A crew member was Rudolf Finkler from Oberlinxweiler, Kreis St. Wendel, Germany. According to his death record the boat went down in the North Sea near Harwich, abt. 2.5 nautical miles north east of Funk Feuerschiff on position 51°55′N1°41′E.

SM UC-20 was a German Type UC II minelaying submarine or U-boat in the German Imperial Navy during World War I. The U-boat was ordered on 29 August 1915 and was launched on 1 April 1916. She was commissioned into the German Imperial Navy on 7 September 1916 as SM UC-20. In 13 patrols UC-20 was credited with sinking 21 ships, either by torpedo or by mines laid. UC-20 was surrendered on 16 January 1919 and broken up at Preston in 1919–20.

SM UC-73 was a German Type UC II minelaying submarine or U-boat in the German Imperial Navy during World War I. The U-boat was ordered on 12 January 1916 and was launched on 26 August 1916. She was commissioned into the German Imperial Navy on 24 December 1916 as SM UC-73. In ten patrols UC-73 was credited with sinking 16 ships, either by torpedo or by mines laid. UC-73 was surrendered on 6 January 1919 and broken up at Brighton Ferry in 1919 – 20.

SM U-47 was a Type U-43 submarine of the Imperial German Navy. She engaged in commerce raiding during the First World War.

SM U-82 was a Type U 81 U-boat of the Imperial German Navy during World War I.

SM U-60 was a German Type UB III submarine of the Imperial German Navy in the First World War. She took part in the First Battle of the Atlantic.

SM U-79 was one of the 329 submarines serving in the Imperial German Navy in World War I. U-79 was engaged in the combat in the First Battle of the Atlantic.

SM U-80 was one of the 329 submarines serving in the Imperial German Navy in World War I. U-80 was engaged in the naval warfare and took part in the First Battle of the Atlantic.

SM U-100 was one of the 329 submarines serving in the Imperial German Navy in World War I. U-100 was engaged in the German campaign against Allied commerce (Handelskrieg) during that conflict.

SM U-52 was one of 329 submarines serving in the Imperial German Navy in World War I. U-52 was engaged in the naval warfare and took part in the First Battle of the Atlantic.

SM U-118 was a type UE II mine-laying submarine of the Imperial German Navy and one of 329 submarines serving with that navy during World War I.

SM U-122 was a Type UE II long-range minelayer submarine of the Imperial German Navy during World War I. U-122 was engaged in naval warfare and took part in the First Battle of the Atlantic. U-122 succeeded in sinking one ship during her career for a total of 278 gross register tons (GRT).

SM UB-50 was a German Type UB III submarine or U-boat in the German Imperial Navy during World War I. The U-boat was ordered on 20 May 1916. She was commissioned into the Pola Flotilla of the German Imperial Navy on 12 July 1917 as SM UB-50.

SM UB-64 was a German Type UB III submarine or U-boat in the German Imperial Navy during World War I. She was commissioned into the German Imperial Navy on 5 August 1917 as SM UB-64.

References

↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat Types: Type UE 2". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 24 January 2010.
↑ Goebel, Greg (24 December 2008). "The First Battle of the Atlantic". Vectorsite.net. Retrieved 25 January 2010.
1 2 Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boats: U 117". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 24 January 2010.
1 2 Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boats: U 126". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 24 January 2010.
↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boats: U 118". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 24 January 2010.
↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boats: U 119". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 24 January 2010.
↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boats: U 120". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 24 January 2010.
↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boats: U 122". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 24 January 2010.
↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boats: U 123". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 24 January 2010.
↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boats: U-124". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 24 January 2010.
↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boats: U-125". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 24 January 2010.
↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U 117". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 24 January 2010.
↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U 118". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 24 January 2010.
↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by Ships hit by U-122". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 24 January 2010.

Bibliography

Gardiner, Robert; Gray, Randal, eds. (1985). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1906–1921. Annapolis: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 0-85177-245-5.
Gröner, Erich; Jung, Dieter; Maass, Martin (1991). German Warships 1815–1945, U-boats and Mine Warfare Vessels. Vol. 2. Translated by Thomas, Keith; Magowan, Rachel. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-593-4.

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[tonnage-15] Merchant ship tonnages are in gross register tons. Military vessels are listed by tons displacement.

[uboat1-1] Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat Types: Type UE 2". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 24 January 2010.

[Geobel-2] Goebel, Greg (24 December 2008). "The First Battle of the Atlantic". Vectorsite.net. Retrieved 25 January 2010.

[U-117-3] 1 2 Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boats: U 117". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 24 January 2010.

[uboat2-4] 1 2 Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boats: U 126". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 24 January 2010.

[U-118-5] Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boats: U 118". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 24 January 2010.

[U-119-6] Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boats: U 119". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 24 January 2010.

[U-120-7] Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boats: U 120". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 24 January 2010.

[U-122-8] Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boats: U 122". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 24 January 2010.

[U-123-9] Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boats: U 123". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 24 January 2010.

[U-124-10] Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boats: U-124". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 24 January 2010.

[U-125-11] Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boats: U-125". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 24 January 2010.

[uboat3-12] Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U 117". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 24 January 2010.

[uboat4-13] Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U 118". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 24 January 2010.

[uboat5-14] Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by Ships hit by U-122". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 24 January 2010.

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[Note 1]

v t e German Type UE II submarines
U-117 U-118 U-119 U-120 U-121 U-122 U-123 U-124 U-125 U-126
Preceded by: Type UE I Followed by: None
List of U-boats of Germany

v t e German naval ship classes of World War I
Dreadnought battleships	Nassau Helgoland Kaiser König Bayern L 20e α ^X
Pre-dreadnought battleships	Brandenburg Kaiser Friedrich III Wittelsbach Braunschweig Deutschland
Battlecruisers	SMS Von der Tann ^S Moltke SMS Seydlitz ^S Derfflinger Mackensen ^X Ersatz Yorck ^X
Armored cruisers	SMS Fürst Bismarck ^S SMS Prinz Heinrich ^S Prinz Adalbert Roon Scharnhorst SMS Blücher ^S
Light cruisers	SMS Hela ^S Gazelle Bremen Königsberg Dresden Nautilus Kolberg Magdeburg Karlsruhe Graudenz Pillau Wiesbaden Königsberg Brummer Cöln FK proposals ^X
Protected cruisers	SMS Kaiserin Augusta ^S Victoria Louise
Large torpedo boats	1898 1906 1911 1913 1914 G101 ^A V105 ^N 1916 1916M 1917 1918 ^X
Small / Coastal torpedo boats	S7 A
Aircraft carriers	"I" ^X
Coastal defense ships	Siegfried Odin
U-boats	U 1 U 2 U 3 U 5 U 9 U 13 U 16 U 17 U 19 U 23 U 27 U 31 U 43 U 51 U 57 U 63 U 66 U 81 U 87 U 93 U 115 ^X U 127 U 131 ^X U 135 U 139 U 142 U 151 UA UB I UB II UB III UC I UC II UC III UD 1 ^X UE I UE II UF ^X UG ^X
S Single ship of class X Cancelled V Conversions A Building for Argentina when seized N Building for the Netherlands when seized See also: List of ships of the Imperial German Navy

Class overview
SM U-117 at Cape Charles
Builders	AG Vulkan, Hamburg Blohm & Voss, Hamburg
Operators	Imperial German Navy French Navy Imperial Japanese Navy
Subclasses	U-122
Built	1917–1918
In commission	1917–1918
Completed	10
Lost	4
Scrapped	6
General characteristics
Type	Ocean-going mine-laying submarine
Displacement	1,164 t (1,146 long tons) surfaced; 1,512 t (1,488 long tons) submerged
Length	81.52 or 82 m (267 ft 5 in or 269 ft 0 in)
Beam	7.42 m (24 ft 4 in)
Draft	4.22 m (13 ft 10 in)
Installed power	Diesel engines 2,400 PS (1,765 kW; 2,367 shp) Electric motors 1,200 PS (883 kW; 1,184 shp)
Propulsion	2 shafts; 2 diesel engines, 2 electric motors
Speed	14.7 knots (27.2 km/h; 16.9 mph) surfaced 7 knots (13 km/h; 8.1 mph) submerged
Range	11,470 and 13,900 nmi (21,240 and 25,740 km; 13,200 and 16,000 mi) at 8 knots (15 km/h; 9.2 mph) surfaced 35 nmi (65 km; 40 mi) at 4.5 knots (8.3 km/h; 5.2 mph) submerged
Test depth	75 m (246 ft)
Complement	4 officers, 36 enlisted men
Sensors and processing systems	2 periscopes
Armament	4 × 50 cm (19.7 in) torpedo tubes, 14 torpedoes 2 × 100 cm (39.4 in) minelaying tubes, 42 mines 1 × 15-centimeter (5.9 in) SK L/45 deck gun or 2 × 10.5-centimeter (4.1 in) SK L/45 (SM U 123)