SM U-39 explained

SM U-39 was a German Type U 31 U-boat which operated in the Mediterranean Sea during World War I. It ended up being the second most successful U-boat participating in the war, sinking 149 merchant ships for a total of 404,774 GRT.

Its longest-serving captain was Kapitänleutnant Walther Forstmann, who was awarded the Pour le Mérite during command on U-39.

From January to mid-1917, Martin Niemöller served as U-39s coxswain. He is known as the author of the 1946 poem "First they came..."; as an enemy of the Third Reich, he was imprisoned from 1938 to 1945. In 1917 and 1918, Karl Dönitz served as watch officer on this boat. He later became Grand Admiral and Commander in Chief of the German Navy, and, for three weeks following Hitler's death, the head of the remnants of the Nazi government.

Design

Type U 31 submarines were double-hulled ocean-going submarines similar to Type 23 and Type 27 subs in dimensions and differed only slightly in propulsion and speed. They were considered very good high sea boats with average manoeuvrability and good surface steering.

U-39 had an overall length of 64.7m (212.3feet), her pressure hull was 52.36m (171.78feet) long. The boat's beam was 6.32m (20.73feet) (o/a), while the pressure hull measured 4.05m (13.29feet). Type 31s had a draught of 3.56m (11.68feet) with a total height of 7.68-. The boats displaced a total of 971t; 685t when surfaced and 878t when submerged.

U-39 was fitted with two Germania 6-cylinder two-stroke diesel engines with a total of 18500NaN0 for use on the surface and two Siemens-Schuckert double-acting electric motors with a total of 12000NaN0 for underwater use. These engines powered two shafts each with a 1.6m (05.2feet) propeller, which gave the boat a top surface speed of 16.4kn, and when submerged. Cruising range was 8790nmi at on the surface, and 80nmi at under water. Diving depth was 50m (160feet).

The U-boat was armed with four 50adj=onNaNadj=on torpedo tubes, two fitted in the bow and two in the stern, and carried 6 torpedoes. Additionally U-39 was equipped in 1915 with one 8.8sp=usNaNsp=us Uk L/30 deck gun, which was replaced with a 10.5cm (04.1inches) in 1916/17.The boat's complement was 4 officers and 31 enlisted.

Fate

On 27 April 1918, U-39 sailed from Pola under command of Kapitänleutnant Heinrich Metzger, for operations in the Western Mediterranean.On 17 May, together with, U-39 operated against a convoy North of Oran, from which it sank the British steamer Sculptor (4,874 GRT) in a submerged attack.

At 13:50 on 18 May, when in a position 36.6°N -2°W, U-39 was attacked by two French seaplanes. It crash-dived, but when reaching a depth of 12 meters two bombs exploded very close; the after torpedo room flooded, the diving planes were destroyed, and the boat began sinking by the stern. Kptlt. Metzger ordered the tanks blown and U-39 surfaced, but the heavy damage suffered prevented diving again. Metzger was forced to lay a course for the nearest Spanish harbour, Cartagena.

At about 17:00, U-39 was attacked again by two seaplanes; it fought back with gun and machine-guns, and the enemy bombs caused no damage, but during the action two crewmen (sailor Schulz and stoker Hausottl) fell overboard and were lost.

In the evening U-39 reached Cartagena and was interned for the remainder of the war.

It was surrendered to France on 22 March 1919 and was broken up at Toulon in 1923.

Summary of raiding history

DateNameNationalityTonnage[1] Fate[2]
1 May 1915Balduin Norway1,059Sunk
1 May 1915Elsa Sweden120Sunk
2 May 1915St. Louis No. 1 United Kingdom211Sunk
2 May 1915Sunray United Kingdom165Sunk
3 May 1915Scottish Queen United Kingdom125Sunk
4 May 1915Elsa Sweden329Sunk
5 May 1915Sceptre United Kingdom166Sunk
6 May 1915Truro United Kingdom836Sunk
7 May 1915Benington United Kingdom131Sunk
10 May 1915Olga Denmark798Captured as prize
26 June 1915Campania United Kingdom167Sunk
29 June 1915Cambuskenneth Norway1,924Sunk
29 June 1915Kotka Norway952Damaged
30 June 1915Lomas United Kingdom3,048Sunk
1 July 1915Caucasian United Kingdom4,656Sunk
1 July 1915Craigard United Kingdom3,286Sunk
1 July 1915Gadsby United Kingdom3,497Sunk
1 July 1915Inglemoor United Kingdom4,331Sunk
1 July 1915Richmond United Kingdom3,214Sunk
2 July 1915Hirondelle France183Sunk
2 July 1915Boduognat Belgium1,411Sunk
2 July 1915City of Edinburgh United Kingdom6,255Damaged
3 July 1915Fiery Cross Norway1,448Sunk
3 July 1915Larchmore United Kingdom4,355Sunk
3 July 1915Renfrew United Kingdom3,488Sunk
4 July 1915Anglo-Californian United Kingdom7,333Damaged
2 September 1915William T. Lewis United Kingdom2,166Damaged
9 September 1915Cornubia United Kingdom1,736Sunk
9 September 1915L’Aude France2,232Sunk
9 September 1915Ville De Mostaganem France2,648Sunk
28 September 1915H. C. Henry Canada4,219Sunk
29 September 1915Haydn United Kingdom3,923Sunk
30 September 1915Cirene3,236Sunk
2 October 1915Sailor Prince United Kingdom3,144Sunk
7 October 1915Halizones United Kingdom5,093Sunk
8 October 1915Thorpwood United Kingdom3,184Sunk
9 October 1915Apollo United Kingdom3,774Sunk
12 October 1915HMD Restore93Sunk
30 November 1915Middleton United Kingdom2,506Sunk
3 December 1915Dante889Sunk
3 December 1915Helmsmuir United Kingdom4,111Sunk
5 December 1915Petrolite United States3,710Damaged
5 December 1915Pietro Lofaro517Sunk
6 December 1915L. G. Goulandris Greece2,123Sunk
7 December 1915Veria United Kingdom3,229Sunk
9 December 1915Busiris United Kingdom2,705Sunk
9 December 1915Orteric United Kingdom6,535Sunk
10 December 1915Porto Said5,301Sunk
18 December 1915HMD Lottie Leask94Sunk
22 January 1916Norseman United Kingdom9,542Sunk
31 March 1916Egeo1,787Sunk
31 March 1916Riposto1,003Sunk
2 April 1916Simla United Kingdom5,884Sunk
3 April 1916Clan Campbell United Kingdom5,897Sunk
4 April 1916Giuseppe Padre184Sunk
4 April 1916Maria Carmella Findari42Sunk
6 April 1916Stjerneborg Denmark1,592Sunk
6 April 1916Colbert France5,394Damaged
9 April 1916Caledonia Denmark1,815Sunk
13 April 1916Lipari1,539Sunk
20 May 1916Redentore228Sunk
20 May 1916Valsesia248Sunk
21 May 1916Birmania2,384Sunk
21 May 1916Rosalia Madre251Sunk
23 May 1916Hercules2,704Sunk
23 May 1916Maria Porto Di Salvezza39Sunk
23 May 1916Teresa Accame4,742Damaged
23 May 1916Washington2,819Sunk
24 May 1916Aurrera Spain2,845Sunk
25 May 1916Fratelli Bandiera3,506Sunk
25 May 1916Rita200Sunk
27 May 1916Mar Terso3,778Sunk
27 May 1916Trunkby United Kingdom2,635Sunk
28 May 1916Lady Ninian United Kingdom4,297Sunk
29 May 1916Baron Vernon United Kingdom1,779Sunk
29 May 1916Elmgrove United Kingdom3,018Sunk
29 May 1916Southgarth United Kingdom2,414Sunk
30 May 1916Baron Tweedmouth United Kingdom5,007Sunk
30 May 1916Dalegarth United Kingdom2,265Sunk
30 May 1916Hermesberg2,884Sunk
30 May 1916Rauma Norway3,047Sunk
1 June 1916Dewsland United Kingdom1,993Sunk
1 June 1916Salmonpool United Kingdom4,905Sunk
13 July 1916Silverton United Kingdom2,682Sunk
14 July 1916Antigua United Kingdom2,876Sunk
14 July 1916Ecclesia United Kingdom3,714Sunk
15 July 1916Sylvie United Kingdom1,354Sunk
16 July 1916Euphorbia United Kingdom3,837Sunk
16 July 1916Sirra3,203Sunk
16 July 1916Wiltonhall United Kingdom3,387Sunk
17 July 1916Angelo3,609Sunk
17 July 1916Rosemoor United Kingdom4,303Sunk
18 July 1916Llongwen United Kingdom4,683Sunk
20 July 1916Cettois France974Sunk
20 July 1916Grangemoor United Kingdom3,198Sunk
20 July 1916Karma United Kingdom3,710Sunk
20 July 1916Yzer United Kingdom3,538Sunk
21 July 1916Wolf United Kingdom2,443Sunk
22 July 1916Knutsford United Kingdom3,842Sunk
22 July 1916Olive United Kingdom3,678Sunk
23 July 1916Badminton United Kingdom3,847Sunk
24 July 1916Maria198Sunk
29 July 1916Letimbro2,210Sunk
29 July 1916Rosarina G.V.131Sunk
19 October 1916Penylan United Kingdom3,875Sunk
20 October 1916Mombassa United Kingdom4,689Sunk
22 October 1916Cluden United Kingdom3,166Sunk
22 October 1916Nina3,383Sunk
22 October 1916Ravn Norway998Sunk
22 October 1916W. Harkess United Kingdom1,185Sunk
27 November 1916Margarita Greece1,112Sunk
27 November 1916Reapwell United Kingdom3,417Sunk
28 November 1916King Malcolm United Kingdom4,351Sunk
28 November 1916Moresby United Kingdom1,763Sunk
2 December 1916Istrar United Kingdom4,582Sunk
3 December 1916Plata1,861Sunk
9 January 1917Baynesk United Kingdom3,286Sunk
15 January 1917Garfield United Kingdom3,838Sunk
28 January 1917Amiral Magon France5,566Sunk, 203 people killed
14 February 1917Torino4,159Sunk
15 February 1917Minas2,854Sunk, 870 people killed
17 February 1917Ala359Sunk
20 February 1917Rosalie United Kingdom4,237Sunk
21 February 1917Wathfield United Kingdom3,012Sunk
22 February 1917Ville De Bougie France508Sunk
23 February 1917Trojan Prince United Kingdom3,196Sunk
26 February 1917Burnby United Kingdom3,665Sunk
3 March 1917S. Anna S.41Sunk
3 June 1917Petronilla Madre43Sunk
6 June 1917Diane France590Sunk
8 June 1917Huntstrick United Kingdom8,151Sunk
8 June 1917Isle Of Jura United Kingdom3,809Sunk
8 June 1917HMML 54037Sunk
8 June 1917HMML 54137Sunk
8 June 1917Valdieri4,637Sunk
10 June 1917Petrolite United States3,710Sunk
11 June 1917Wera476Sunk
12 June 1917Gaita396Sunk
15 June 1917Espinho Portugal740Sunk
19 June 1917Kyma Greece3,420Sunk
20 June 1917Eli Lindoe Norway1,116Sunk
22 June 1917Toro Uruguay1,141Sunk
23 June 1917Isere France2,159Sunk
29 July 1917Manchester Commerce United Kingdom4,144Sunk
30 July 1917Carlo5,572Sunk
30 July 1917Ganges United Kingdom4,177Sunk
31 July 1917Carolvore Norway1,659Sunk
31 July 1917Ypres United Kingdom305Sunk
3 August 1917Halldor Norway2,919Sunk
5 August 1917Ryton United Kingdom3,991Sunk
27 September 1917Swan River United Kingdom4,724Sunk
1 October 1917Mersario United Kingdom3,847Sunk
1 October 1917Normanton United Kingdom3,862Sunk
2 October 1917Almora United Kingdom4,385Sunk
2 October 1917Hikosan Maru Japan3,555Sunk
2 October 1917Nuceria United Kingdom4,702Sunk
14 November 1917Buenaventura Spain257Sunk
18 November 1917HMS Candytuft1,290Sunk
21 November 1917Schuylkill United States2,720Sunk
23 November 1917Markella Greece1,124Sunk
25 November 1917Karema United Kingdom5,263Sunk
17 May 1918Sculptor United Kingdom4,874Sunk

References

Citations

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External links

Notes and References

  1. Merchant ship tonnages are in gross register tons. Military vessels are listed by tons displacement.
  2. u39. U 39. 1boat. 7 December 2014.

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