SM U-77

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History
War Ensign of Germany 1903-1918.svg German Empire
NameU-77
Ordered9 March 1915
Builder AG Vulkan, Hamburg
Yard number59
Launched9 January 1916
Commissioned10 March 1916
FateMissing since 7 July 1916 during a minelaying mission off Kinnaird Head, Scotland. 33 dead (all hands lost). [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 × 800 PS (588 kW; 789 shp) submerged
Propulsion2 shafts, 2× 1.41 m (4 ft 8 in) propellers
Speed
  • 9.9 knots (18.3 km/h; 11.4 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
  • 29 June – 7 July 1916
Commanders:
  • Kptlt. Erich Günzel [3]
  • 10 March – 7 July 1916
Operations: 2 patrols
Victories: No ships sunk or damaged [1]

SM U-77 [Note 1] was one of 329 submarines serving in the Imperial German Navy in World War I, engaged in commerce warfare during the First Battle of the Atlantic.

Contents

Design

Type UE I submarines were preceded by the longer Type U 66 submarines. U-77 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 9.9 knots (18.3 km/h; 11.4 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-77 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-77 was commanded by Kaptlt Erich Günzel, who was lost with her. She came off the stocks at Hamburg (Vulcan) in 1916; in May and June was at Kiel School, and first entered North Sea with U-76 on 29 June, to join the 1st Half Flotilla. [4]

Previously recorded fate

U-77 was thought to have sunk off Dunbar, Scotland in May 1916 as a result of a mine handling accident. The submarine involved was actually U-74 . [5]

Related Research Articles

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SM <i>UC-57</i>

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SM UC-77 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 2 December 1916. She was commissioned into the German Imperial Navy on 29 December 1916 as SM UC-77. In 13 patrols UC-77 was credited with sinking 35 ships, either by torpedo or by mines laid. UC-77 was mined and sunk off Flanders on 11 July 1918.

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-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-80 was one of the 329 submarines serving in the Imperial German Navy in World War I. U-80 was engaged in the naval warfare and took part in the First Battle of the Atlantic.

SM U-88 was a Type U 87 submarine built for the Imperial German Navy in World War I. U-88 was engaged in the naval warfare and took part in the First Battle of the Atlantic.

SM U-97 was one of the 329 submarines serving in the Imperial German Navy in World War I. U-97 was engaged in the naval warfare and took part in the First Battle of the Atlantic. The German unit sank by accident on her way to surrender at position 53°25′N3°10′E.

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.

Citations

  1. 1 2 Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boats: U 77". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 18 January 2015.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Gröner 1991, pp. 10–11.
  3. ↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat commanders: Erich Günzel". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 18 January 2015.
  4. ↑ HW 7/3, Room 40, History of German Naval Warfare 1914-1918. National Archives, Kew.
  5. ↑ "War Patrols By German U-Boat 74". uboat.net. Retrieved 25 May 2024.

Bibliography

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