SM U-5 (Germany)

SM U-5 in the harbour at Kiel (second left)
History
German Empire
NameU-5
Ordered8 April 1908
BuilderGermaniawerft, Kiel[1]
Cost2,540,000 Goldmark
Yard number147
Laid down24 August 1908
Launched8 January 1910
Commissioned2 July 1910
FateLost around 18 December 1914
General characteristics [2]
Class & typeType U 5 submarine
Displacement
  • 505 t (497 long tons) surfaced
  • 636 t (626 long tons) submerged
Length
Beam
  • 5.60 m (18 ft 4 in) (o/a)
  • 3.75 m (12 ft 4 in) (pressure hull)
Draught3.55 m (11 ft 8 in)
Propulsion
Speed
  • 13.4 knots (24.8 km/h; 15.4 mph) surfaced
  • 10.2 knots (18.9 km/h; 11.7 mph) submerged
Range
  • 3,300 nmi (6,100 km; 3,800 mi) at 9 knots (17 km/h; 10 mph) surfaced
  • 55 nmi (102 km; 63 mi) at 4.5 knots (8.3 km/h; 5.2 mph)
Test depth30 m (98 ft)
Boats & landing
craft carried
1 dinghy
Complement4 officers, 24 men
Armament
Service record
Part of
  • I Flotilla
  • 1 August – 18 December 1914
Commanders
  • Kptlt. Johannes Lemmer[3]
  • 1 August – 18 December 1914
Operations2 patrols
VictoriesNone

SM U-5 was a German Type U 5 submarine which served in the Imperial German Navy during World War I. Built at Germaniawerft in Kiel between 1908 and 1910, she was commissioned on 2 July 1910.[1]

At the start of World War I U-5 was commanded by Kapitänleutnant Johannes Lemmer. The boat undertook two war patrols but did not sink any ships. In December 1918 she transferred to the Belgian port of Zeebrugge to carry out coastal patrols. She was lost in what is presumed to have been an accident close to the port on or around 18 December 1914. There were no survivors from her crew of 29.[4]

On 4 September 2023, it was announced that the wreck of U-5 had been located close to Zeebrugge. It was found near the wreck of UC-14, also located by the same team, which was lost to mines in October 1917. The wreck of U-5 was reported as being in good condition, whereas UC-14 had clearly been impacted by an explosion.[4]

References

  1. ^ a b Rössler 1985, p. 26.
  2. ^ Gröner 1991, pp. 4–6.
  3. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat commanders: Johannes Lemmer". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 11 March 2015.
  4. ^ a b NWS, VRT (4 September 2023). "Gezonken Duitse duikboten na 100 jaar geïdentificeerd: bemanning nog aan boord". vrtnws.be (in Dutch). Retrieved 4 September 2023.

Bibliography

  • 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.
  • Rössler, Eberhard (1985). Die deutschen U-Boote und ihre Werften: U-Bootbau bis Ende des 1. Weltkriegs, Konstruktionen für das Ausland und die Jahre 1935–1945 [The German Submarines and Their Shipyards: Submarine Construction Until the End of the First World War] (in German). Vol. I. Koblenz: Bernard & Graefe. ISBN 3-7637-5213-7.

Further reading

  • Kemp, Paul (1997). U-boats destroyed, German submarine losses in the World Wars. London: Arms & Armour Press. p. 9. ISBN 1-85409-321-5.
  • Stern, Robert C (2002). Battle Beneath the Waves: U-boats at War. Cassell Military Paperbacks. ISBN 0-304-36228-X.
  • Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boats: U 5". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 27 February 2007.

51°23′N 3°11′E / 51.383°N 3.183°E / 51.383; 3.183