SM U-100[Note 1] was one of the 329 submarines serving in the Imperial German Navy in World War I. U-100 was engaged in the German campaign against Allied commerce (Handelskrieg) during that conflict.[4]

History
German Empire
NameU-100
Ordered15 September 1915
BuilderAG Weser, Bremen
Yard number251
Laid down30 November 1915
Launched25 February 1917
Commissioned16 April 1917
FateSurrendered 27 November 1918; scrapped Swansea 1919
General characteristics [1]
Class and typeGerman Type U 57 submarine
Displacement
  • 750 t (740 long tons) surfaced
  • 952 t (937 long tons) submerged
Length
Beam
  • 6.32 m (20 ft 9 in) (o/a)
  • 4.05 m (13 ft 3 in) (pressure hull)
Height8.25 m (27 ft 1 in)
Draught3.65 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
Propulsion2 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
  • 56 nmi (104 km; 64 mi) at 5 knots (9.3 km/h; 5.8 mph) submerged
Test depth50 m (164 ft 1 in)
Complement4 officers, 32 enlisted
Armament
Service record
Part of:
  • II Flotilla
  • 31 May 1917 – 11 November 1918
Commanders:
  • Kptlt. Freiherr Degenhart von Loë[2]
  • 31 May 1917 – 30 September 1918
  • Kptlt. Friedrich Götting[3]
  • 1 October – 11 November 1918
Operations: 8 patrols
Victories:
  • 10 merchant ships sunk
    (34,505 GRT)
  • 2 merchant ships damaged
    (5,272 GRT)

U-100 was surrendered to the Allies at Harwich on 21 November 1918 in accordance with the requirements of the Armistice with Germany. After being exhibited at Blyth in December 1918, she was sold while lying there by the British Admiralty to George Cohen on 3 March 1919 for £2,250 (excluding her engines), and was broken up at Swansea. Her engines were sold to Southend Corporation for use in an electricity generating station.[5]

Summary of raiding history

edit
Date Name Nationality Tonnage[Note 2] Fate[6]
14 June 1917 Cedarbank   Norway 2,825 Sunk
17 June 1917 Gunhild   Denmark 996 Sunk
22 June 1917 Melford Hall   United Kingdom 6,339 Sunk
5 August 1917 Kathleen   United Kingdom 3,915 Sunk
9 August 1917 Blagdon   United Kingdom 1,996 Sunk
27 December 1917 Adela   United Kingdom 685 Sunk
15 February 1918 Thalatta I   Netherlands 358 Damaged
21 February 1918 Rio Verde   United Kingdom 4,025 Sunk
16 April 1918 Lake Michigan   United Kingdom 9,288 Sunk
9 June 1918 Helene   Netherlands 112 Sunk
21 June 1918 Homer City   United Kingdom 4,914 Damaged
21 June 1918 Montebello   United Kingdom 4,324 Sunk

References

edit

Notes

edit
  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

edit
  1. ^ Gröner 1991, pp. 12–14.
  2. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat commanders: Freiherr Degenhart von Loë". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 25 January 2015.
  3. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat commanders: Friedrich Götting". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 25 January 2015.
  4. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boats: U 100". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 25 January 2010.
  5. ^ Dodson, Aidan; Cant, Serena (2020). Spoils of War: the fate of enemy fleets after the two World Wars. Barnsley: Seaforth. pp. 92–93, 125. ISBN 978-1-5267-4198-1.
  6. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U 100". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 25 January 2015.

Bibliography

edit
  • 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.