SM U-71

History
German Empire
Name	U-71
Ordered	6 January 1915
Builder	AG Vulkan, Hamburg
Yard number	55
Launched	31 October 1915
Commissioned	20 December 1915
Fate	23 February 1919 - Surrendered to France. Broken up at Cherburg in 1921.
General characteristics
Class and type	Type UE I submarine
Displacement	755 t (743 long tons) surfaced; 832 t (819 long tons) submerged;
Length	56.80 m (186 ft 4 in) (o/a); 46.66 m (153 ft 1 in) (pressure hull);
Beam	5.90 m (19 ft 4 in) (o/a); 5.00 m (16 ft 5 in) (pressure hull);
Height	8.25 m (27 ft 1 in)
Draught	4.86 m (15 ft 11 in)
Installed power	2 × 900 PS (662 kW; 888 shp) surfaced; 2 × 900 PS (662 kW; 888 shp) submerged;
Propulsion	2 shafts
Speed	10.6 knots (19.6 km/h; 12.2 mph) surfaced; 7.9 knots (14.6 km/h; 9.1 mph) submerged;
Range	7,880 nmi (14,590 km; 9,070 mi) at 7 knots (13 km/h; 8.1 mph) surfaced; 83 nmi (154 km; 96 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph) submerged;
Test depth	50 m (164 ft 1 in)
Complement	4 officers, 28 enlisted
Armament	2 × 50 cm (19.7 in) torpedo tubes (one starboard bow, one starbord stern); 4 torpedoes ; 1 × 8.8 cm (3.5 in) SK L/30 deck gun ;
Service record
Part of:	I Flotilla; 7 April 1916 – 11 November 1918;
Commanders:	Kptlt. Hugo Schmidt; 20 December 1915 – 19 April 1917; Kptlt. Walter Gude; 20 April – 27 November 1917; Kptlt. Otto Dröscher; 28 November 1917 – 27 January 1918; Oblt.z.S. Richard Scheurlen; 28 January – 29 July 1918; Oblt.z.S. Kurt Slevogt; 30 July – 14 October 1918;
Operations:	12 patrols
Victories:	17 merchant ships sunk ; (14,964 GRT); 2 warships sunk ; (2,731 tons); 1 auxiliary warship sunk ; (309 GRT); 1 merchant ship damaged ; (3,230 GRT); 1 warship damaged ; (820 tons); 1 merchant ship taken as prize ; (82 GRT);

Last updated June 02, 2024

SM U-71 was one of 329 submarines serving in the Imperial German Navy in World War I. U-71 was engaged in the naval warfare and took part in the First Battle of the Atlantic.

Design

Type UE I submarines were preceded by the longer Type U 66 submarines. U-71 had a displacement of 755 tonnes (743 long tons) when at the surface and 832 tonnes (819 long tons) while submerged.^[2] She had a total length of 56.80 m (186 ft 4 in), a pressure hull length of 46.66 m (153 ft 1 in), a beam of 5.90 m (19 ft 4 in), a height of 8.25 m (27 ft 1 in), and a draught of 4.86 m (15 ft 11 in). The submarine was powered by two 900 metric horsepower (660 kW; 890 shp) engines for use while surfaced, and two 900 metric horsepower (660 kW; 890 shp) engines for use while submerged. She had two propeller shafts. She was capable of operating at depths of up to 50 metres (160 ft).^[2]

The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 10.6 knots (19.6 km/h; 12.2 mph) and a maximum submerged speed of 7.9 knots (14.6 km/h; 9.1 mph).^[2] When submerged, she could operate for 83 nautical miles (154 km; 96 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph); when surfaced, she could travel 7,880 nautical miles (14,590 km; 9,070 mi) at 7 knots (13 km/h; 8.1 mph). U-71 was fitted with two 50 centimetres (20 in) torpedo tubes (one at the starboard bow and one starboard stern), four torpedoes, and one 8.8 centimetres (3.5 in) deck gun. She had a complement of thirty-two (twenty-eight crew members and four officers).^[2]

Operations

U-71 came off the stocks at Hamburg (Vulcan) in January 1916, and joined the Kiel School where she remained until 7 April 1916, when she entered the North Sea to join the 1st Half Flotilla.^[8]

12 April - ? 21 April 1916. Apparently cruising in North Sea.
21 June – 8 July 1916. Northabout. Laid mines off Skerryvore.
14 October – 4 November 1916. Skagerrak. Sank 3 S.S., 1 sailing vessel.
11–23 December 1916. North Sea. Sank 2 S.S., 2 sailing vessels.
10–22 January 1917. Minelaying in North Sea, St. Magnus Bay, Shetland Isles. Returned owing to bad weather and overheating of engine.
6–21 February 1917. ? Laid mines in Loch Ewe, North Minch, off Butt of Lewis, Broad Bay and Firth of Lorne.
At sea 16 May 1917 – 8 June 1917. Possible laid mines off Tory I. Sank 1 S.S., 2 sailing vessels.
7–26 July 1917. North Sea. Locality of her mines not fixed. Sank 223 tons.
1/5 September 1917. Went out 3 times and returned, the last time with defects.
10–14 October 1917. In Baltic. Returned with defects.
20–24 December 1917. Laid mines off Dutch coast.
29 December 1917 – 2 January 1918. Laid mines off Dutch coast. ? Took 1 prize.
18–23 January 1918. Laid mines off Dutch coast.
4–15 February 1918. Laid mines off Dutch coast. Emerged from Skagerrak and returned by Sound.
18–29 March 1918. Laid mines off Dutch coast. Went out by Skagerrak. Returned to Bight.
23 April – 2 May 1918. Laid mines off Firth of Forth.
18–24 June 1918. Laid mines off Aberdeen.
Early in July – 22 July 1918. Laid mines off Firth of Forth.
? 29 September – 11 October 1918. ? Dutch coast. Submarine reports "Task given up".
23 February 1919. Surrendered at Harwich.

Summary of raiding history

Date	Name	Nationality	Tonnage^{[Note 1]}	Fate^[9]
18 October 1916	Greta	Sweden	1,370	Sunk
19 October 1916	Mercur	Sweden	711	Sunk
19 October 1916	Normandie	Sweden	1,342	Sunk
21 October 1916	Rönnaug	Norway	1,331	Sunk
13 December 1916	Solon	Denmark	137	Sunk
17 December 1916	Sjofna	Norway	528	Sunk
18 December 1916	Herø	Norway	1,106	Sunk
18 December 1916	Sieka	Netherlands	119	Sunk
19 February 1917	Halcyon	United Kingdom	190	Sunk
4 June 1917	Orion	Denmark	1,870	Sunk
5 June 1917	C. Thorén	Sweden	269	Sunk
5 June 1917	Götha	Sweden	232	Sunk
20 July 1917	Sirra	Netherlands	223	Sunk
26 July 1917	Flore	France	3,553	Sunk
26 July 1917	Ethelwynne	United Kingdom	3,230	Damaged
14 August 1917	Majorka	Norway	1,684	Sunk
31 August 1917	Taurus	United Kingdom	128	Sunk
20 October 1917	HMT Thomas Stratten	Royal Navy	309	Sunk
12 December 1917	Amadavat	United Kingdom	171	Sunk
31 December 1917	De Hoop	Netherlands	82	Captured as prize
15 August 1918	HMS Scott	Royal Navy	1,801	Sunk
15 August 1918	HMS Ulleswater ^{[Note 2]}^[10]^[11]^[12]	Royal Navy	930	Sunk
20 August 1918	HMS Shirley	Royal Navy	820	Damaged

Related Research Articles

SM UB-81 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 18 September 1917 as SM UB-81.

The Type U 66 was a class of five submarines or U-boats operated by the German Imperial Navy during World War I. The class is alternately referred to as the U-66-class or the Type UD. The class was built by Germaniawerft of Kiel to their 506d design as the U-7-class for the Austro-Hungarian Navy. The five boats were sold to the Imperial Germany Navy at the beginning of World War I when it was thought impossible for the submarines to reach the Mediterranean for delivery to Austria-Hungary.

SM U-28 or U-XXVIII was a U-27-class U-boat or submarine for the Austro-Hungarian Navy. U-28, built by the Austrian firm of Cantiere Navale Triestino (CNT) at the Pola Navy Yard, was launched in January 1917 and commissioned in June.

SM <i>UB-43</i> German Imperial Navys Type UB II submarine

SM UB-43 was a Type UB II submarine or U-boat for the German Imperial Navy during World War I. UB-43 was sold to the Austro-Hungarian Navy during the war. In Austro-Hungarian service the B was dropped from her name and she was known as SM U-43 or U-XLIII as the lead boat of the Austro-Hungarian U-43 class.

SM <i>UB-42</i> German Type UB II submarine

SM UB-42 was a Type UB II submarine or U-boat for the German Imperial Navy during World War I. UB-42 operated in the Mediterranean and the Black Seas during the war. She was broken up at Malta in 1920.

SM <i>UB-10</i> German Type UB I-class submarine

SM UB-10 was a German Type UB I submarine or U-boat in the German Imperial Navy during World War I.

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 UB-6 was a German Type UB I submarine or U-boat in the German Imperial Navy during World War I. The submarine was interned after running aground in neutral Dutch waters, and was scuttled by her crew at Hellevoetsluis.

SM UC-12 was a German Type UC I minelayer submarine or U-boat in the German Imperial Navy during World War I.

SM UB-30 was a German Type UB II submarine or U-boat in the German Imperial Navy during World War I. The U-boat was ordered on 22 July 1915 and launched on 16 November 1915. She was commissioned into the German Imperial Navy on 18 March 1916 as SM UB-30.

SM UB-36 was a German Type UB II submarine or U-boat in the German Imperial Navy during World War I. The U-boat was ordered on 22 July 1915 and launched on 15 January 1916. She was commissioned into the German Imperial Navy on 22 May 1916 as SM UB-36.

SM UC-45 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 20 November 1915 and was launched on 20 October 1916. She was commissioned into the German Imperial Navy on 18 November 1916 as SM UC-45. In five patrols UC-45 was credited with sinking 12 ships, either by torpedo or by mines laid. UC-45 sank in a diving accident on 17 September 1917 in the North Sea. The German salvage vessel Vulkan raised the wreck and UC-45 re-entered service on 24 October 1918. She was surrendered on 24 November 1918 and broken up at Preston in 1919–20.

SM UC-71 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 12 August 1916. She was commissioned into the German Imperial Navy on 28 November 1916 as SM UC-71. In 19 patrols UC-71 was credited with sinking 63 ships, either by torpedo or by mines laid. UC-71 sank on 20 February 1919 in the North Sea while on her way to be surrendered. Discovery a century later of her wreck with all hatches open suggested she had been deliberately scuttled by her own crew.

SM UC-79 was a German Type UC II minelaying submarine or U-boat in the German Imperial Navy during World War I.

SM U-65 was one of the 329 submarines serving in the Imperial German Navy in World War I. U-65 was engaged in the naval warfare and took part in the First Battle of the Atlantic.

SM U-72 was one of 329 submarines serving in the Imperial German Navy in World War I. U-72 was engaged in the commerce war in First Battle of the Atlantic.

SM U-78 was one of the 329 submarines serving in the Imperial German Navy in World War I. U-78 was engaged in the naval warfare and took part in the First Battle of the Atlantic as a minelayer. On 27 October 1918 low frequency communications from U-78 in the Skagerrak were detected by the British submarine HMS G2 which sank her with the loss of her crew of 40. The commonly listed sinking date of 28 October 1918 is in error.

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.

References

Notes

↑ Merchant ship tonnages are in gross register tons. Military vessels are listed by tons displacement.
↑ According to other sources, HMS Ulleswater was sunk by UC-17.

Citations

1 2 Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boats: U 71". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 24 December 2014.
1 2 3 4 5 Gröner 1991, pp. 10–11.
↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat commanders: Hugo Schmidt". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 13 January 2015.
↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat commanders: Walter Gude". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 13 January 2015.
↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat commanders: Otto Dröscher (Royal House Order of Hohenzollern)". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 13 January 2015.
↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat commanders: Richard Scheurlen". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 13 January 2015.
↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat commanders: Kurt Slevogt". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 13 January 2015.
↑ HW 7/3, Room 40, History of German Naval Warfare 1914-1918. National Archives, Kew.
↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U 71". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 13 January 2015.
↑ "HMS Ullswater". The Dreadnought Project. Retrieved 25 November 2022.
↑ Randall, Ian (1997). Conway's All The World's Fighting Ships 1906-1921. Conway Maritime. p. 81. ISBN 978-0851772455.
↑ Rower, R.P.P (2022). A Concise Chronicle of Events of the Great War. DigiCat. p. 143.

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.

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.

[tonnage-9] Merchant ship tonnages are in gross register tons. Military vessels are listed by tons displacement.

[Ulleswater-11] According to other sources, HMS Ulleswater was sunk by UC-17.

[Uboat.net_U-71-1] 1 2 Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boats: U 71". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 24 December 2014.

[FOOTNOTEGröner199110–11-2] 1 2 3 4 5 Gröner 1991, pp. 10–11.

[3] Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat commanders: Hugo Schmidt". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 13 January 2015.

[4] Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat commanders: Walter Gude". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 13 January 2015.

[5] Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat commanders: Otto Dröscher (Royal House Order of Hohenzollern)". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 13 January 2015.

[6] Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat commanders: Richard Scheurlen". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 13 January 2015.

[7] Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat commanders: Kurt Slevogt". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 13 January 2015.

[8] HW 7/3, Room 40, History of German Naval Warfare 1914-1918. National Archives, Kew.

[10] Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U 71". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 13 January 2015.

[Dreadnought-12] "HMS Ullswater". The Dreadnought Project. Retrieved 25 November 2022.

[Conway-13] Randall, Ian (1997). Conway's All The World's Fighting Ships 1906-1921. Conway Maritime. p. 81. ISBN 978-0851772455.

[Rowe-14] Rower, R.P.P (2022). A Concise Chronicle of Events of the Great War. DigiCat. p. 143.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[Note 1]

[9]

[Note 2]

[10]

[11]

[12]

v t e German Type UE I submarines
U-71 U-72 U-73 U-74 U-75 U-76 U-77 U-78 U-79 U-80
Preceded by: Type U 66 Followed by: Type U 81
List of U-boats of Germany

History

German Empire
Name	U-71
Ordered	6 January 1915
Builder	AG Vulkan, Hamburg
Yard number	55
Launched	31 October 1915
Commissioned	20 December 1915
Fate	23 February 1919 - Surrendered to France. Broken up at Cherburg in 1921.^[1]
General characteristics ^[2]
Class and type	Type UE I submarine
Displacement	755 t (743 long tons) surfaced 832 t (819 long tons) submerged
Length	56.80 m (186 ft 4 in) (o/a) 46.66 m (153 ft 1 in) (pressure hull)
Beam	5.90 m (19 ft 4 in) (o/a) 5.00 m (16 ft 5 in) (pressure hull)
Height	8.25 m (27 ft 1 in)
Draught	4.86 m (15 ft 11 in)
Installed power	2 × 900 PS (662 kW; 888 shp) surfaced 2 × 900 PS (662 kW; 888 shp) submerged
Propulsion	2 shafts
Speed	10.6 knots (19.6 km/h; 12.2 mph) surfaced 7.9 knots (14.6 km/h; 9.1 mph) submerged
Range	7,880 nmi (14,590 km; 9,070 mi) at 7 knots (13 km/h; 8.1 mph) surfaced 83 nmi (154 km; 96 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph) submerged
Test depth	50 m (164 ft 1 in)
Complement	4 officers, 28 enlisted
Armament	2 × 50 cm (19.7 in) torpedo tubes (one starboard bow, one starbord stern) 4 torpedoes 1 × 8.8 cm (3.5 in) SK L/30 deck gun
Service record
Part of:	I Flotilla 7 April 1916 – 11 November 1918
Commanders:	Kptlt. Hugo Schmidt^[3] 20 December 1915 – 19 April 1917 Kptlt. Walter Gude^[4] 20 April – 27 November 1917 Kptlt. Otto Dröscher^[5] 28 November 1917 – 27 January 1918 Oblt.z.S. Richard Scheurlen^[6] 28 January – 29 July 1918 Oblt.z.S. Kurt Slevogt^[7] 30 July – 14 October 1918
Operations:	12 patrols
Victories:	17 merchant ships sunk (14,964 GRT) 2 warships sunk (2,731 tons)^[1] 1 auxiliary warship sunk (309 GRT) 1 merchant ship damaged (3,230 GRT) 1 warship damaged (820 tons) 1 merchant ship taken as prize (82 GRT)