SM U-108

For other ships with the same name, see German submarine U-108.

U-boats 108 and U-C56, in Brest docks, 1918. Note six-inch rifle on bow of U-108
History
German Empire
Name	U-108
Ordered	5 May 1916
Builder	Germaniawerft, Kiel
Yard number	277
Launched	11 October 1917
Commissioned	5 December 1917
Fate	Surrendered to France, 20 November 1918
France
Name	Léon Mignot
Namesake	Léon Mignot
Fate	Broken up, 1935
General characteristics [1]
Class and type	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)
Height	8.25 m (27 ft 1 in)
Draught	3.90 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
Propulsion	2 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 depth	50 m (160 ft)
Complement	4 officers, 32 enlisted
Armament	6 × 50 cm (19.7 in) torpedo tubes (four bow, two stern) 12-16 torpedoes 1 × 10.5 cm (4.1 in) SK L/45 deck gun 1 × 8.8 cm (3.5 in) SK L/30 deck gun
Service record
Part of:	IV Flotilla Unknown start – 11 November 1918
Commanders:	K.Kapt. Martin Nitzsche [2] 5 December 1917 – 11 November 1918
Operations:	3 patrols
Victories:	1 merchant ship sunk (7,484  GRT)

SM U-108 ^{[Note 1]} was a submarine in the Imperial German Navy in World War I, taking part in the First Battle of the Atlantic. ^[3]

Construction

The building contract was confirmed 5 May 1916, and was awarded to Germaniawerft, Kiel. ^[4] A Type 93 boat, she was launched 11 October 1917 and commissioned 5 December. She was under the command of Korvettenkapitän Martin Nitzsche.

Design

Type U 93 submarines were preceded by the shorter Type U 87 submarines. U-108 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. The boat 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-108 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 deck gun, 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]

Fate

On 20 November 1918, U-108 was surrendered to France where she was commissioned as Léon Mignot and served until 24 July 1935. ^[3]

Summary of raiding history

Date	Name	Nationality	Tonnage [Note 2]	Fate [5]
15 July 1918	Barunga	United Kingdom	7,484	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. Gröner 1991, pp. 12–14.
2. Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat commanders: Martin Nitzsche". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
3. Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boats: U 108". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 25 January 2010.
4. Rössler, Eberhard, The U-boat: The evolution and technical history of German Submarines, Naval Institute Press, Annapolis, Maryland, 1989, p. 66
5. Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U 108". 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.

50°53′N1°31′E / 50.883°N 1.517°E / 50.883; 1.517