SM U-16 (Germany)

Last updated
SM U 16 800px.jpg
SM U-16 Underway.
Class overview
OperatorsWar Ensign of Germany 1903-1918.svg  Imperial German Navy
Preceded by Type U 13
Succeeded by Type U 17
Completed1
History
War Ensign of Germany 1903-1918.svg Germany
NameU-16
Ordered26 August 1909
Builder Germaniawerft, Kiel
Cost2,539,000 Goldmark
Yard number157
Laid down10 May 1910
Launched29 August 1911
Commissioned28 December 1911
FateFebruary 1919 - Sunk in an accident in position 58°59′N08°29′E / 58.983°N 8.483°E / 58.983; 8.483 while on passage to surrender.
General characteristics
Class & typeUnique submarine
Displacement
  • 489  t (481 long tons) surfaced
  • 627 t (617 long tons) submerged
Length57.80 m (189 ft 8 in)
Beam6.00 m (19 ft 8 in)
Draught3.36 m (11 ft 0 in)
Propulsion
  • 2 shafts
  • 2 × Körting 6-cylinder and 2 × Körting 8-cylinder two stroke paraffin motors with 900 PS (660 kW; 890 shp)
  • 2 × SSW electric motors with 1,040 PS (760 kW; 1,030 shp)
  • 550 rpm surfaced
  • 600 rpm submerged
Speed
  • 15.6 knots (28.9 km/h; 18.0 mph) surfaced
  • 10.7 knots (19.8 km/h; 12.3 mph) submerged
Test depth50 m (160 ft)
Complement4 officers, 25 men
Armament
Service record
Part of:
  • II Flotilla
  • 1 August 1914 – unknown end
Commanders:
  • Kptlt. Claus Hansen [1]
  • 1 August 1914 – 15 March 1915
  • Oblt.z.S. Leo Hillebrand [2]
  • 16 March – 21 October 1915
Operations: 4 patrols
Victories:
  • 11 merchant ships sunk
    (11,730  GRT)
  • 2 merchant ships damaged
    (11,228  GRT)
  • 1 merchant ship taken as prize
    (838  GRT)

SM U-16 [Note 1] was one of the 329 submarines serving in the Imperial German Navy in World War I.

Contents

Service history

U-16 was engaged in the naval warfare and took part in the First Battle of the Atlantic.

Summary of raiding history

DateShip NameNationalityTonnage [Note 2] Fate [3]
15 February 1915 Dulwich Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom 3,289Sunk
15 February 1915 Ville de Lille Flag of France.svg France 997Sunk
18 February 1915DinorahFlag of France.svg France 4,208Damaged
19 February 1915BelridgeFlag of Norway.svg Norway 7,020Damaged
26 May 1915 M. Roosval Flag of Sweden.svg Sweden 309Sunk
26 May 1915 Betty Flag of Denmark.svg Denmark 2,109Sunk
28 May 1915 Mars Flag of Russia.svg Russian Empire 251Sunk
30 May 1915 Søborg Flag of Denmark.svg Denmark 2,108Sunk
20 September 1915 Thorvaldsen Flag of Denmark.svg Denmark 1,220Sunk
26 September 1915 Ellen Benzon Flag of Denmark.svg Denmark 143Sunk
29 September 1915 Flora Flag of Norway.svg Norway 184Sunk
29 September 1915 Actie Flag of Norway.svg Norway 562Sunk
30 September 1915 Florida Flag of Norway.svg Norway 558Sunk
1 October 1915PallasFlag of Sweden.svg Sweden 838Captured as prize

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. Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat commanders: Claus Hansen". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 15 March 2015.
  2. Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat commanders: Leo Hillebrand (Royal House Order of Hohenzollern)". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 15 March 2015.
  3. Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U 16". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 19 February 2014.

Bibliography