SM U-8

Last updated

SM U-8 sinking after being scuttled on March 4 1915.jpg
SM U-8 sinking after being scuttled on March 4, 1915
History
War Ensign of Germany 1903-1918.svg German Empire
NameU-8
Ordered8 April 1908
Builder Germaniawerft, Kiel
Cost2,540,000 Goldmark
Yard number150
Laid down19 May 1909
Launched14 March 1911
Commissioned18 June 1911
FateTrapped in nets, forced to surface and scuttled under gunfire from HMS Gurkha and Maori at position 50°56′N01°16′E / 50.933°N 1.267°E / 50.933; 1.267 on 4 March 1915
General characteristics
Class and type German Type U 5 submarine
Displacement
  • 505  t (497 long tons) surfaced
  • 636 t (626 long tons) submerged
Length
Beam
  • 5.60 m (18 ft 4 in) (o/a)
  • 3.75 m (12 ft 4 in) (pressure hull)
Draught3.55 m (11 ft 8 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
  • 13.4 knots (24.8 km/h; 15.4 mph) surfaced
  • 10.2 knots (18.9 km/h; 11.7 mph) submerged
Range3,300 nmi (6,100 km; 3,800 mi) at 9 knots (17 km/h; 10 mph)
Test depth30 m (98 ft)
Boats & landing
craft carried		1 dinghy
Complement4 officers, 25 men
Armament
Service record
Part of:
  • I Flotilla
  • 1 August 1914 – 4 March 1915
Commanders:
  • Kptlt. Konrad Gansser [1]
  • 1–31 August 1914
  • Kptlt. Alfred Stoß [2]
  • 1 September 1914 – 4 March 1915
Operations: 1 patrol
Victories: 5 merchant ships sunk
(15,049  GRT)

SM U-8 was one of the 329 submarines serving in the Imperial German Navy in World War I.

Contents

Service history

U-8 was engaged in the naval warfare and took part in the First Battle of the Atlantic.

Fate

Trapped in nets, forced to surface and scuttled under gunfire from HMS Gurkha and Maori, in the English Channel, at position 50°56′N01°16′E / 50.933°N 1.267°E / 50.933; 1.267 . In June 2015 the submarine's propeller, which had been illegally removed from the wreck, was recovered and presented to the German Navy. It will be exhibited at the Laboe Naval Memorial near Kiel. [3] [4] In July 2016 the wreck of U-8 was officially designated as a protected site. [5] The wreck is a Protected Wreck managed by Historic England.

Summary of raiding history

DateShip NameNationalityTonnage
(GRT)		Fate [6]
23 February 1915 Branksome Chine Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 2,026Sunk
23 February 1915 Oakby Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 1,976Sunk
24 February 1915 Harpalion Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 5,867Sunk
24 February 1915 Rio Parana Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 4,015Sunk
24 February 1915 Western Coast Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 1,165Sunk
Note the upper rudder on the deck Kaiserliche Marine Postcard of SM U8 in harbour 1909-1915.jpg
Note the upper rudder on the deck

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References

  1. ↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat commanders: Konrad Gansser (Royal House Order of Hohenzollern)". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 13 March 2015.
  2. ↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat commanders: Alfred Stoß". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 13 March 2015.
  3. ↑ "WW1 German U-boat propeller returned". BBC News. 16 June 2015. Retrieved 18 June 2015.
  4. ↑ "A symbol of friendship and reconcilation(sic)..." Maritime and Coastguard Agency. 17 June 2015. Retrieved 18 June 2015.
  5. ↑ "British A3 submarine sunk off Jurassic Coast in 1912 gets protected status". Dorset Echo. Newsquest Media. 22 July 2016. Retrieved 24 July 2016.
  6. ↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U 8". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 19 February 2014.

Bibliography

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