SM U-85
SM U-85[Note 1] was one of the 329 submarines serving in the Imperial German Navy in World War I. U-85 was engaged in the naval warfare and took part in the First Battle of the Atlantic.[1]
History | |
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Name: | U-85 |
Ordered: | 23 June 1915 |
Builder: | Germaniawerft, Kiel |
Yard number: | 255 |
Laid down: | 29 November 1915 |
Launched: | 22 August 1916 |
Commissioned: | 23 October 1916 |
Fate: | Foundered in North Sea after 7 March 1917, 38 dead (all hands lost).[1] |
General characteristics [2] | |
Displacement: |
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Length: |
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Beam: |
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Height: | 8.00 m (26 ft 3 in) |
Draught: | 4.02 m (13 ft 2 in) |
Installed power: | |
Propulsion: | 2 shafts, 2 × 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in) propellers |
Speed: |
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Range: |
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Test depth: | 50 m (160 ft) |
Complement: | 4 officers, 31 enlisted |
Armament: |
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Service record | |
Part of: |
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Commanders: |
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Operations: | 2 patrols |
Victories: |
Initially U-81 to U-83 had one 10.5 cm gun with 140-240 rounds. U-84 - U-86 on the other hand had two 8.8 cm guns. In 1917 U-84 - U-86 were refitted with a single 10.5 cm gun (240 rounds)[1]
Design
German Type U 81 submarines were preceded by the shorter Type UE I submarines. U-85 had a displacement of 808 tonnes (795 long tons) when at the surface and 946 tonnes (931 long tons) while submerged.[2] She had a total length of 70.06 m (229 ft 10 in), a pressure hull length of 55.55 m (182 ft 3 in), a beam of 6.30 m (20 ft 8 in), a height of 8 m (26 ft 3 in), and a draught of 4.02 m (13 ft 2 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).[2]
The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 16.8 knots (31.1 km/h; 19.3 mph) and a maximum submerged speed of 9.1 knots (16.9 km/h; 10.5 mph).[2] When submerged, she could operate for 56 nautical miles (104 km; 64 mi) at 5 knots (9.3 km/h; 5.8 mph); when surfaced, she could travel 11,220 nautical miles (20,780 km; 12,910 mi) at 8 knots (15 km/h; 9.2 mph). U-85 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 (from 1917). She had a complement of thirty-five (thirty-one crew members and four officers).[2]
Summary of raiding history
Date | Name | Nationality | Tonnage[Note 2] | Fate[4] |
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26 January 1917 | Dicax | ![]() |
923 | Sunk |
6 February 1917 | Cliftonian | ![]() |
4,303 | Sunk |
6 February 1917 | Explorer | ![]() |
7,608 | Damaged |
7 February 1917 | California | ![]() |
8,669 | Sunk |
7 February 1917 | Vedamore | ![]() |
6,330 | Sunk |
References
Notes
- "SM" stands for "Seiner Majestät" (English: His Majesty's) and combined with the U for Unterseeboot would be translated as His Majesty's Submarine.
- Tonnages are in gross register tons
Citations
- Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boats: U 85". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net.
- Gröner 1991, pp. 12–14.
- Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat commanders: Willy Petz". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
- Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U 85". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
Bibliography
- Gröner, Erich; Jung, Dieter; Maass, Martin (1991). U-boats and Mine Warfare Vessels. German Warships 1815–1945. 2. Translated by Thomas, Keith; Magowan, Rachel. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-593-4.