SM U-72

Last updated

History
War Ensign of Germany 1903-1918.svg German Empire
NameU-72
Ordered6 January 1915
Builder AG Vulkan, Hamburg
Yard number56
Launched31 October 1915
Commissioned26 January 1916
Fate1 November 1918 - Scuttled during the evacuation of Cattaro in position 42°30′N18°41′E / 42.500°N 18.683°E / 42.500; 18.683 [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
Beam
  • 5.90 m (19 ft 4 in) (o/a)
  • 5.00 m (16 ft 5 in) (pressure hull)
Height8.25 m (27 ft 1 in)
Draught4.86 m (15 ft 11 in)
Installed power
  • 2 × 900  PS (662  kW; 888  shp) surfaced
  • 2 × 900 PS (662 kW; 888 shp) submerged
Propulsion2 shafts, 2× 1.38 m (4 ft 6 in) propellers
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 depth50 m (164 ft 1 in)
Complement4 officers, 28 enlisted
Armament
Service record
Part of:
  • I Flotilla
  • 11 April – 17 September 1916
  • Pola / Mittelmeer / Mittelmeer II Flotilla
  • 17 September 1916 – 1 November 1918
Commanders:
  • Kptlt. Ernst Krafft [3]
  • 28 January 1916 – 17 July 1917
  • Kptlt. Johannes Feldkirchner [4]
  • 18 July – 5 November 1917
  • Oblt.z.S. Erich Schulze [5]
  • 6 November – 31 December 1917
  • Oblt.z.S. Hermann Bohm [6]
  • 1 January – 31 October 1918
Operations: 4 patrols
Victories:
  • 18 merchant ships sunk
    (38,570  GRT)
  • 3 warships sunk
    (26 tons)
  • 4 merchant ships damaged
    (21,513  GRT) [1]
  • 1 warship damaged
    (Unknown tons)

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.

Contents

Design

Type UE I submarines were preceded by the longer Type U 66 submarines. U-72 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-72 was fitted with two 50 centimetres (20 in) torpedo tubes (one at the port bow and one starboard stern), four torpedoes, and one 8.8 centimetres (3.46 in) deck gun. She had a complement of thirty-two (twenty-eight crew members and four officers). [2]

Operations

U-72 left the stocks at Hamburg (AG Vulcan) in March 1916, joined the Kiel School, and first entered North Sea on 11 April 1916. Attached 1st Half Flotilla, under the command of Kaptlt. Krafft. [7]

Summary of raiding history

DateNameNationalityTonnage [Note 1] Fate [8]
7 September 1916 Achaia Government Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 2,733Sunk
7 September 1916 Hiso Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 1,562Sunk
7 September 1916 HMS Doreen Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Navy 9Sunk
7 September 1916 HMS Allegro Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Navy 7Sunk
7 September 1916 HMS Griffin Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Navy 10Sunk
7 September 1916 HMS Puffin Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Royal Navy UnknownDamaged
19 November 1916 Maria Di Pompei Flag of Italy (1861-1946).svg  Italy 286Sunk
23 November 1916 Margherita F. Flag of Italy (1861-1946).svg  Italy 44Sunk
26 November 1916 Christoforos Flag of Greece (1822-1978).svg  Greece 3,674Sunk
27 November 1916 Salvatore Ciampa Flag of Italy (1861-1946).svg  Italy 1,728Sunk
2 December 1916 Palermo Flag of Italy (1861-1946).svg  Italy 9,203Sunk
11 December 1916 Jeanne Flag of Italy (1861-1946).svg  Italy 534Sunk
14 December 1916 Caledonia Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 7,572Damaged
3 June 1917 Manin B. Flag of Italy (1861-1946).svg  Italy 249Sunk
7 June 1917 Errington Court Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 4,461Damaged
8 June 1917 Cheltonian Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 4,426Sunk
8 June 1917 Felicina Flag of Italy (1861-1946).svg  Italy 165Sunk
9 June 1917 Bravore Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 1,650Sunk
9 June 1917 General Laurie Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 238Sunk
9 June 1917 Montebello Flag of Italy (1861-1946).svg  Italy 2,603Sunk
13 June 1917 Santo Flag of Italy (1861-1946).svg  Italy 622Sunk
13 June 1917 Biagio Flag of Italy (1861-1946).svg  Italy 276Sunk
25 June 1917 Southern Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 5,694Damaged
7 July 1917 Shigizan Maru Flag of Japan.svg  Japan 2,828Sunk
1 August 1917 Rokeby Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 3,786Damaged
4 August 1917 British Monarch Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 5,749Sunk

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References

Notes

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

Citations

  1. 1 2 Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boats: U 72". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 24 December 2014.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Gröner 1991, pp. 10–11.
  3. ↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat commanders: Ernst Krafft (Royal House Order of Hohenzollern)". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 14 January 2015.
  4. ↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat commanders: Johannes Feldkirchner". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 14 January 2015.
  5. ↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat commanders: Erich Schulze". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 14 January 2015.
  6. ↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat commanders: Hermann Bohm". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 14 January 2015.
  7. ↑ HW 7/3, Room 40, History of German Naval Warfare 1914-1918. National Archives, Kew.
  8. ↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U 72". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 14 January 2015.

Bibliography

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