SM U-22[Note 1] was one of 329 submarines serving in the Imperial German Navy in World War I. U-22 was engaged in commerce war as part of the naval warfare, during the First Battle of the Atlantic.

A German WWI period postcard of U-22
History
German Empire
NameU-22
Ordered25 November 1910
BuilderKaiserliche Werft Danzig
Cost2,450,000 Goldmark
Yard number16
Laid down14 November 1911
Launched6 March 1913
Commissioned25 November 1913
FateSurrendered 1 December 1918; broken up 1919-22
General characteristics
Class and typeGerman Type U 19 submarine
Displacement
  • 650 t (640 long tons) surfaced
  • 837 t (824 long tons) submerged
Length64.15 m (210 ft 6 in)
Beam6.10 m (20 ft)
Height7.30 m (23 ft 11 in)
Draught3.58 m (11 ft 9 in)
Propulsion
  • 2 shafts
  • 2 × MAN 8-cylinder two stroke diesel motors with 1,700 PS (1,250 kW; 1,680 shp)
  • 2 × AEG double Motordynamos with 1,200 PS (880 kW; 1,180 shp)
  • 320 rpm submerged
Speed
  • 15.4 knots (28.5 km/h; 17.7 mph) surfaced
  • 9.5 knots (17.6 km/h; 10.9 mph) submerged
Range
  • 9,700 nautical miles (18,000 km; 11,200 mi) at 8 kn surfaced
  • 80 nautical miles (150 km; 92 mi) at 5 kn submerged
Test depth50 m (164 ft 1 in)
Boats & landing
craft carried
1 dingi
Complement4 officers, 31 men
Armament
Service record
Part of:
  • III Flotilla
  • 1 August 1914 – 23 August 1916
  • Baltic Flotilla
  • 23 August 1916 – 16 March 1917
  • III Flotilla
  • 16 March 1917 – 11 November 1918
Commanders:
  • Kptlt. Bruno Hoppe[1]
  • 25 November 1913 – 22 August 1916
  • Oblt.z.S. Karl Scherb[2]
  • 23 August 1916 – 31 May 1917
  • Oblt.z.S. Hinrich Hermann Hashagen[3]
  • 1 June 1917 – 11 November 1918
Operations: 14 patrols
Victories:
  • 41 merchant ships sunk
    (38,435 GRT)
  • 2 auxiliary warships sunk
    (8,086 GRT)
  • 3 merchant ships damaged
    (8,988 GRT)
  • 1 merchant ship taken as prize
    (1,170 GRT)

U-22 had a career of 14 patrols, sinking 43 ships for a total of 46,521 tons. In addition, she damaged three ships totalling 8,988 tons, and captured 1 prize worth 1,170 tons.

Oblt.z.S. Hashagen was the most successful, sinking 28 of the vessels, the largest being the British passenger steamer California at 5,629 tons. She was sunk 145 nautical miles (269 km; 167 mi) NWxN3/4N of Cape Villano on 17 October 1917.[4]

U-22 was surrendered to the Allies at Harwich on 1 December 1918 in accordance with the requirements of the Armistice with Germany. She was sold (with one of her engines) by the British Admiralty to Hughes Bolckow on 3 March 1919 for £2,975, and was broken up at Blyth between 25 April 1919 and 1922.[5]

Summary of raiding history

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Date Name Nationality Tonnage [Note 2] Fate[6]
21 January 1915 U-7   Imperial German Navy Sunk by accident (friendly fire)
21 April 1915 Ruth   Sweden 867 Sunk
22 April 1915 St. Lawrence   United Kingdom 196 Sunk
15 June 1915 Strathnairn   United Kingdom 4,336 Sunk
16 June 1915 Trafford   United Kingdom 215 Sunk
16 June 1915 Turnwell   United Kingdom 4,264 Damaged
20 June 1915 Premier   United Kingdom 169 Sunk
8 August 1915 India   Royal Navy 7,911 Sunk
12 August 1915 Grodno   United Kingdom 1,955 Sunk
6 April 1916 Vennacher   United Kingdom 4,700 Damaged
8 April 1916 Adamton   United Kingdom 2,304 Sunk
13 April 1916 Chic   United Kingdom 3,037 Sunk
21 June 1916 Francoise D’amboise   France 1,973 Sunk
2 November 1916 Vanadis   Russia 384 Sunk
2 November 1916 Runhild   Sweden 1,170 Captured as prize
3 November 1916 Ägir   Sweden 427 Sunk
3 November 1916 Frans   Sweden 134 Sunk
3 November 1916 Jönköping   Sweden 82 Sunk
8 November 1916 Taimi   Russia 114 Sunk
11 November 1916 Astrid   Sweden 191 Sunk
7 August 1917 Jarl   Sweden 1,643 Sunk
11 October 1917 Elve   United Kingdom 899 Sunk
16 October 1917 Jennie E. Righter   United States 647 Sunk
17 October 1917 California   United Kingdom 5,629 Sunk
19 October 1917 Australdale   Australia 4,379 Sunk
19 October 1917 Staro   Norway 1,805 Sunk
20 October 1917 Snetinden   Norway 2,859 Sunk
6 January 1918 Saint Mathieu   French Navy 175 Sunk
2 March 1918 Stina   Sweden 1,136 Sunk
11 May 1918 Michail   Russia 150 Sunk
12 May 1918 Kong Raud   Norway 60 Sunk
12 May 1918 Tennes   Norway 58 Sunk
12 May 1918 Vea   Norway 40 Sunk
14 May 1918 Stairs   Norway 54 Sunk
16 May 1918 Polarstrommen   Norway 54 Sunk
16 May 1918 Fedor Tschishoff   Russia 832 Sunk
16 May 1918 Unidentified fishing vessel   Russia 80 Sunk
19 May 1918 Forsok   Norway 31 Sunk
20 May 1918 Hertha   Russia 253 Sunk
19 August 1918 Buoni Amici   Italy 265 Sunk
20 August 1918 Magalhaes Lima   Portugal 196 Sunk
22 August 1918 Maria Luiza   Portugal 148 Sunk
31 August 1918 Norte   Portugal 254 Sunk
1 September 1918 Libertador   Portugal 185 Sunk
4 September 1918 Santa Maria   Portugal 48 Sunk
4 September 1918 Villa Franca   Portugal 46 Sunk
4 September 1918 Lloyd   Portugal 300 Sunk
4 September 1918 Prateado   Portugal 24 Damaged

References

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Notes

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  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. ^ Merchant ship tonnages are in gross register tons. Military vessels are listed by tons displacement.

Citations

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  1. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat commanders: Bruno Hoppe". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 15 March 2015.
  2. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat commanders: Karl Scherb". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 15 March 2015.
  3. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat commanders: Hinrich Hermann Hashagen". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 15 March 2015.
  4. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boats: U 22". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net.
  5. ^ Dodson, Aidan; Cant, Serena (2020). Spoils of War: the fate of enemy fleets after the two World Wars. Barnsley: Seaforth. p. 123. ISBN 978-1-5267-4198-1.
  6. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U 22". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 15 March 2015.
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Bibliography

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  • 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.