SM U-99

For other ships with the same name, see German submarine U-99.

History
German Empire
Name	U-99
Ordered	15 September 1915
Builder	AG Weser, Bremen
Yard number	250
Laid down	30 November 1915
Launched	27 January 1917
Commissioned	28 March 1917
Fate	Sunk by HMS J2, 7 July 1917
General characteristics [1]
Class and type	German Type U 57 submarine
Displacement	750  t (740 long tons) surfaced 952 t (937 long tons) submerged
Length	67.60 m (221 ft 9 in) (o/a) 54.02 m (177 ft 3 in) (pressure hull)
Beam	6.32 m (20 ft 9 in) (o/a) 4.05 m (13 ft 3 in) (pressure hull)
Height	8.25 m (27 ft 1 in)
Draught	3.65 m (12 ft)
Installed power	2 × 2,400  PS (1,765  kW; 2,367  shp) surfaced 2 × 1,200 PS (883 kW; 1,184 shp) submerged
Propulsion	2 shafts, 2 × 1.65 m (5 ft 5 in) propellers
Speed	16.5 knots (30.6 km/h; 19.0 mph) surfaced 8.8 knots (16.3 km/h; 10.1 mph) submerged
Range	10,100  nmi (18,700 km; 11,600 mi) at 8 knots (15 km/h; 9.2 mph) surfaced 45 nmi (83 km; 52 mi) at 5 knots (9.3 km/h; 5.8 mph) submerged
Test depth	50 m (160 ft)
Complement	4 officers, 32 enlisted
Armament	4 × 50 cm (19.7 in) torpedo tubes (two bow, two stern) 10–12 torpedoes 1 × 8.8 cm (3.5 in) SK L/30 deck gun
Service record
Part of:	II Flotilla 7 June – 7 July 1917
Commanders:	Kptlt. Max Eltester [2] 28 March – 7 July 1917
Operations:	1 patrol
Victories:	None

SM U-99 ^{[Note 1]} was one of the 329 submarines serving in the Imperial German Navy in World War I.

U-99 was engaged in the naval warfare and took part in the First Battle of the Atlantic. ^[3]

Design

U-99 had a displacement of 750 tonnes (740 long tons) when at the surface and 952 tonnes (937 long tons) while submerged. ^[1] She had a total length of 67.60 m (221 ft 9 in), a pressure hull length of 54.02 m (177 ft 3 in), a beam of 6.32 m (20 ft 9 in), a height of 8.25 m (27 ft 1 in), and a draught of 3.65 m (12 ft 0 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 16.5 knots (30.6 km/h; 19.0 mph) and a maximum submerged speed of 8.8 knots (16.3 km/h; 10.1 mph). ^[1] When submerged, she could operate for 45 nautical miles (83 km; 52 mi) at 5 knots (9.3 km/h; 5.8 mph); when surfaced, she could travel 10,100 nautical miles (18,700 km; 11,600 mi) at 8 knots (15 km/h; 9.2 mph). U-99 was fitted with six 50 centimetres (20 in) torpedo tubes (four at the bow and two at the stern), twelve to sixteen torpedoes, and one 10.5 cm (4.1 in) SK L/45 deck gun. She had a complement of thirty-six (thirty-two crew members and four officers). ^[1]

Operations

The Royal Navy submarine HMS J2 is credited with sinking U-99 in the Northern North Sea on 7 July 1917, although the attribution is uncertain.

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. Gröner 1991, pp. 12–14.
2. Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat commanders: Max Eltester". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
3. Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boats: U 99". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 16 March 2015.

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.

58°0′N30°5′E / 58.000°N 30.083°E / 58.000; 30.083