SM U-3 (Germany) explained

SM U-3 was the third German U-boat created by the German Empire in their history, and the first of two submarines in its class. The boat was built by Kaiserliche Werft Danzig and was launched on 27 March 1909.

On 17 January 1911, U-3 sank near Kiel harbour in Heikendorfer Bay because of an unclosed ventilation shaft valve. Its entire 30-man crew was rescued by SMS Vulkan via torpedo tube. Amongst the saved crew was Otto Weddigen, the later commander of and Paul Clarrendorf, the commander of U-boot-Abnahme-Kommando in Kiel which enlisted U-boat crews.

U-3 began her World War I career as a training boat from 1 August 1914 to 11 November 1918. On 1 December 1918, the surrendered boat was being towed to Preston to be broken up when she sank. Unlike the first two U-boat designs, the third design was fitted with a 5cm (02inches) SK L/40 deck gun.

See also

• • List of U-boats of Germany

References

• Book: Gröner. Erich. Jung. Dieter. Maass. Martin. Thomas. Keith. Magowan. Rachel. 1991. U-boats and Mine Warfare Vessels. 2. German Warships 1815–1945. London. Conway Maritime Press. 0-85177-593-4. CITEREFGröner1991.
• Book: Rössler, Eberhard. 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. I. Bernard & Graefe. Koblenz. 1985. 3-7637-5213-7. de.

External links

• U 3. 3. 1sub. 3 August 2009.