SM U-108

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Surrendered Hun U-boats at docks in Brest, France. U-boats 108 and U-C56, turned over to French under armistice terms, undergoing motor r(...) - NARA - 45511774 (cropped).jpg
U-boats 108 and U-C56, in Brest docks, 1918. Note six-inch rifle on bow of U-108
History
War Ensign of Germany 1903-1918.svg German Empire
NameU-108
Ordered5 May 1916
Builder Germaniawerft, Kiel
Yard number277
Launched11 October 1917
Commissioned5 December 1917
FateSurrendered to France, 20 November 1918
Civil and Naval Ensign of France.svg France
NameLéon Mignot
Namesake Léon Mignot
FateBroken 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
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
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 depth50 m (160 ft)
Complement4 officers, 32 enlisted
Armament
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]

Contents

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

DateNameNationalityTonnage [Note 2] Fate [5]
15 July 1918 Barunga Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 7,484Sunk

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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. 1 2 3 4 5 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. 1 2 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

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

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