SM U-97

SM U-97 was one of the 329 submarines serving in the Imperial German Navy in World War I. U-97 was engaged in the naval warfare and took part in the First Battle of the Atlantic.[5] The German unit sank by accident on her way to surrender at position 53°25′N 3°10′E.

For other ships with the same name, see German submarine U-97.
History
German Empire
Name: U-97
Ordered: 15 September 1915
Builder: Germaniawerft, Kiel
Yard number: 261
Laid down: 25 March 1916
Launched: 4 April 1917
Commissioned: 16 May 1917
Fate: Sank 21 November 1918 en route to surrender
General characteristics [1]
Class and type: German Type U 93 submarine
Displacement:
  • 837 t (824 long tons) surfaced
  • 998 t (982 long tons) submerged
Length:
  • 71.55 m (234 ft 9 in) (o/a)
  • 56.05 m (183 ft 11 in) (pressure hull)
Beam:
  • 6.30 m (20 ft 8 in) (o/a)
  • 4.15 m (13 ft 7 in) (pressure hull)
Height: 8.25 m (27 ft 1 in)
Draught: 3.94 m (12 ft 11 in)
Installed power:
  • 2 × 2,300 PS (1,692 kW; 2,269 shp) surfaced
  • 2 × 1,200 PS (883 kW; 1,184 shp) submerged
Propulsion: 2 shafts, 2 × 1.66 m (5 ft 5 in) propellers
Speed:
  • 16.9 knots (31.3 km/h; 19.4 mph) surfaced
  • 8.6 knots (15.9 km/h; 9.9 mph) submerged
Range:
  • 8,290 nmi (15,350 km; 9,540 mi) at 8 knots (15 km/h; 9.2 mph) surfaced
  • 47 nmi (87 km; 54 mi) at 5 knots (9.3 km/h; 5.8 mph) submerged
Test depth: 50 m (160 ft)
Complement: 4 officers, 32 enlisted
Armament:
Service record
Part of:
Commanders:
  • Kptlt. Hugo Schmidt[2]
  • 15 May 1917 – 13 October 1917
  • Kptlt. Otto Wünsche[3]
  • 14 October 1917 – 12 January 1918
  • Kptlt. Hans von Mohl[4]
  • 13 January – 11 November 1918
Operations: 5 patrols
Victories:
  • 4 merchant ships sunk (2,089 GRT)
  • 1 merchant ship damaged (4,785 GRT)

Design

German Type U 93 submarines were preceded by the shorter Type U 87 submarines. U-97 had a displacement of 838 tonnes (825 long tons) when at the surface and 1,000 tonnes (980 long tons) while submerged.[1] She had a total length of 71.55 m (234 ft 9 in), a pressure hull length of 56.05 m (183 ft 11 in), a beam of 6.30 m (20 ft 8 in), a height of 8.25 m (27 ft 1 in), and a draught of 3.94 m (12 ft 11 in). The submarine was powered by two 2,300 metric horsepower (1,700 kW; 2,300 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).[1]

The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 16.8 knots (31.1 km/h; 19.3 mph) and a maximum submerged speed of 8.6 knots (15.9 km/h; 9.9 mph).[1] When submerged, she could operate for 47 nautical miles (87 km; 54 mi) at 5 knots (9.3 km/h; 5.8 mph); when surfaced, she could travel 8,290 nautical miles (15,350 km; 9,540 mi) at 8 knots (15 km/h; 9.2 mph). U-97 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 8.8 cm (3.5 in) SK L/30 deck gun. She had a complement of thirty-six (thirty-two crew members and four officers).[1]

Summary of raiding history
Date Name Nationality Tonnage[Note 1] Fate[6]
22 November 1917 Conovium  United Kingdom 86 Sunk
22 November 1917 Elsena  United Kingdom 335 Sunk
22 November 1917 Hartland  United Kingdom 4,785 Damaged
11 February 1918 HMS Westphalia  Royal Navy 1,467 Sunk
2 June 1918 Argus  Denmark 201 Sunk
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References

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

Citations
  1. Gröner 1991, pp. 12-14.
  2. Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat commanders: Hugo Schmidt". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
  3. Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat commanders: Otto Wünsche (Pour le Mérite)". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
  4. Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat commanders: Hans von Mohl". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
  5. Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boats: U 97". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
  6. Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U 97". 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.

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