SM U-13[Note 1] was one of the 329 submarines serving in the Imperial German Navy in World War I. U-13 was engaged in the naval warfare and took part in the First Battle of the Atlantic.

SM U-13 in the Harbour of Kiel (first boat left)
History
Germany
NameU-13
Ordered23 February 1908
BuilderKaiserliche Werft Danzig
Cost2,101,070 Goldmark
Yard number8
Laid down1908
Launched16 December 1911
Commissioned25 April 1912
FateSunk in the North Sea at an unknown time and location between August 6 and August 12, 1914 through accidental cause
General characteristics
Class and typeGerman Type U 13 submarine
Displacement
  • 516 t (508 long tons) surfaced
  • 644 t (634 long tons) submerged
Length57.88 m (189 ft 11 in)
Beam6 m (19 ft 8 in)
Draught3.44 m (11 ft 3 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
  • 14.8 knots (27.4 km/h; 17.0 mph) surfaced
  • 10.7 knots (19.8 km/h; 12.3 mph) submerged
Test depth50 m (160 ft)
Boats & landing
craft carried
1 dingi
Complement4 officers, 25 men
Armament4 × 45 cm (17.7 in) torpedo tubes (2 each bow and stern) with 6 torpedoes
Service record
Part of:
  • I Flotilla
  • 1 August 1914 – 10 March 1915
Commanders:
  • Kptlt. Han Artur Graf von Schweinitz und Krain[1]
  • 1–12 August 1914
Operations: 1 patrol
Victories: None

She had left Heligoland on 6 August 1914 and was not heard from again. She may have been a victim of the German defensive minefield in Heligoland Bight, or from an accident or mechanical failure.

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.

Citations

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  1. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat commanders: Han Artur Graf von Schweinitz und Krain". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 14 March 2015.

Bibliography

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  • Gröner, Erich; Jung, Dieter; Maass, Martin (1991). German Warships 1815–1945, U-boats and Mine Warfare Vessels. Vol. 2. Translated by Thomas, Keith; Magowan, Rachel. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-593-4.
  • Kemp, Paul (1997). U-boats destroyed, German submarine losses in the World Wars. London: Arms & Armour Press. p. 9. ISBN 1-85409-321-5.
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  • Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boats: U 13". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 14 March 2015.