SM U-91

Last updated
History
War Ensign of Germany 1903-1918.svg German Empire
NameU-91
Ordered23 June 1915
Builder Kaiserliche Werft Danzig
Yard number35
Laid down1 August 1916
Launched14 April 1917
Commissioned17 September 1917
FateSurrendered to France 26 November 1918, Broken Up at Brest July 1921
General characteristics [1]
Class and type German Type U 87 submarine
Displacement
  • 757 t (745 long tons) surfaced
  • 998 t (982 long tons) submerged
Length
Beam
  • 6.20 m (20 ft 4 in) (oa)
  • 4.18 m (13 ft 9 in) (pressure hull)
Height9.35 m (30 ft 8 in)
Draught3.88 m (12 ft 9 in)
Installed power
  • 2 × 2,400  PS (1,765  kW; 2,367  shp) surfaced
  • 2 × 1,200 PS (883 kW; 1,184 shp) submerged
Propulsion2 shafts, 2 × 1.66 m (5 ft 5 in) propellers
Speed
  • 16.8 knots (31.1 km/h; 19.3 mph) surfaced
  • 9.1 knots (16.9 km/h; 10.5 mph) submerged
Range
  • 11,380  nmi (21,080 km; 13,100 mi) at 8 knots (15 km/h; 9.2 mph) surfaced
  • 56 nmi (104 km; 64 mi) at 5 knots (9.3 km/h; 5.8 mph) submerged
Test depth50 m (160 ft)
Complement4 officers, 32 enlisted
Armament
Service record
Part of:
  • III Flotilla
  • 13 December 1917 – 11 November 1918
Commanders:
  • Kptlt. Alfred von Glasenapp [2]
  • 17 September 1917 – 11 November 1918
Operations: 8 patrols
Victories:
  • 37 merchant ships sunk
    (83,302  GRT)
  • 2 merchant ships damaged
    (11,821  GRT)

SM U-91 [Note 1] was one of the 329 submarines serving in the Imperial German Navy in World War I. U-91 was engaged in the naval warfare and took part in the First Battle of the Atlantic. [3]

Contents

Design

German Type U 87 submarines were preceded by the shorter Type U 81 submarines. U-91 had a displacement of 757 tonnes (745 long tons) when at the surface and 998 tonnes (982 long tons) while submerged. [1] She had a total length of 65.80 m (215 ft 11 in), a pressure hull length of 50.07 m (164 ft 3 in), a beam of 6.20 m (20 ft 4 in), a height of 9.35 m (30 ft 8 in), and a draught of 3.88 m (12 ft 9 in). The submarine was powered by two 2,400 metric horsepower (1,800 kW; 2,400 shp) engines for use while surfaced, and two 1,200 metric horsepower (880 kW; 1,200 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). [1]

The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 15.6 knots (28.9 km/h; 18.0 mph) and a maximum submerged speed of 8.6 knots (15.9 km/h; 9.9 mph). [1] When submerged, she could operate for 56 nautical miles (104 km; 64 mi) at 5 knots (9.3 km/h; 5.8 mph); when surfaced, she could travel 11,380 nautical miles (21,080 km; 13,100 mi) at 8 knots (15 km/h; 9.2 mph). U-91 was fitted with four 50 centimetres (20 in) torpedo tubes (two at the bow and two at the stern), ten to twelve torpedoes, one 10.5 cm (4.1 in) SK L/45 deck gun, and one 8.8 cm (3.5 in) SK L/30 deck gun. She had a complement of thirty-six (thirty-two crew members and four officers). [1]

Summary of raiding history

DateNameNationalityTonnage [Note 2] Fate [4]
24 December 1917 Elmleaf Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 5,948Damaged
28 December 1917 Robert Eggleton Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 2,274Sunk
2 January 1918 Boston City Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 2,711Sunk
4 January 1918 Otto Government Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 139Sunk
5 January 1918 Knightsgarth Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 2,889Sunk
7 January 1918 Premier Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 89Sunk
19 February 1918 Beacon Light Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 2,768Sunk
22 February 1918 Haileybury Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 2,888Sunk
23 February 1918 Birchleaf Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 5,873Damaged
23 February 1918 British Viscount Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 3,287Sunk
24 February 1918 Renfrew Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 3,830Sunk
2 March 1918 Bessy Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 60Sunk
20 April 1918 Florrieston Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 3,366Sunk
21 April 1918 Landonia Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 2,504Sunk
21 April 1918 Normandiet Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 1,843Sunk
22 April 1918 Baron Herries Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 1,610Sunk
26 April 1918 Ethel Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 100Sunk
27 April 1918 Gresham Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 3,774Sunk
27 April 1918 Walpas Flag of Russia.svg  Russia 312Sunk
28 April 1918 Damao Flag of Portugal.svg  Portugal 5,668Sunk
28 April 1918 Oronsa Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 8,075Sunk
28 April 1918 Raymond Flag of France.svg  France 109Sunk
1 July 1918 Westmoor Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 4,329Sunk
6 July 1918 Port Hardy Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 6,533Sunk
9 July 1918 Silvia Flag of Italy (1861-1946).svg  Italy 3,571Sunk
13 July 1918 Badagri Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 2,956Sunk
16 July 1918 Fisherman Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 136Sunk
25 July 1918 Tippecanoe Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg  United States 6,187Sunk
1 October 1918 Therese et Marthe Flag of France.svg  France 32Sunk
2 October 1918 Maia Flag of France.svg  France 185Sunk
2 October 1918 Marie Emmanuel Flag of France.svg  France 32Sunk
2 October 1918 Ave Maris Stella Flag of France.svg  France 22Sunk
4 October 1918 Mercedes BandMercante1785.svg  Spain 2,164Sunk
5 October 1918 Heathpark Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 2,205Sunk
5 October 1918 Erindring Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 1,229Sunk
8 October 1918 Cazengo Flag of Portugal.svg  Portugal 3,009Sunk
9 October 1918 Pierre Flag of France.svg  France 354Sunk
11 October 1918 Luksefjell Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 2,007Sunk
14 October 1918 Bayard Flag of France.svg  France 55Sunk

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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. 1 2 3 4 5 Gröner 1991, pp. 12–14.
  2. ↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat commanders: Alfred von Glasenapp (Royal House Order of Hohenzollern)". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
  3. ↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boats: U 91". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 25 January 2010.
  4. ↑ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U 91". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 21 January 2015.

Bibliography

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