SM U-97 explained

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.[1] The German unit sank by accident on her way to surrender at position 53.4167°N 13°W.

Design

Type U 93 submarines were preceded by the shorter Type U 87 submarines. U-97 had a displacement of 838t when at the surface and 1000t while submerged. She had a total length of 71.55m (234.74feet), a pressure hull length of 56.05m (183.89feet), a beam of 6.3m (20.7feet), a height of 8.25m (27.07feet), and a draught of 3.94m (12.93feet). The submarine was powered by two 2300PS engines for use while surfaced, and two 1200PS engines for use while submerged. She had two propeller shafts. She was capable of operating at depths of up to .

The submarine had a maximum surface speed of and a maximum submerged speed of . When submerged, she could operate for at ; when surfaced, she could travel at . U-97 was fitted with six torpedo tubes (four at the bow and two at the stern), twelve to sixteen torpedoes, and one 8.8sp=usNaNsp=us SK L/30 deck gun. She had a complement of thirty-six (thirty-two crew members and four officers).

Summary of raiding history

DateNameNationalityTonnage[2] Fate[3]
22 November 1917Conovium United Kingdom86Sunk
22 November 1917Elsena United Kingdom335Sunk
22 November 1917Hartland United Kingdom4,785Damaged
11 February 1918HMS Westphalia1,467Sunk
2 June 1918Argus Denmark201Sunk

References

Citations

Bibliography

Notes and References

  1. 97. U 97. 1sub. 21 January 2015.
  2. Merchant ship tonnages are in gross register tons. Military vessels are listed by tons displacement.
  3. u97. U 97. 1boat. 21 January 2015.