SM U-106

SM U-106 was one of the 329 submarines serving in the Imperial German Navy in World War I. U-106 was commissioned on 28 July 1917, under the command of Kapitänleutnant Hans Hufnagel, and participated in one wartime patrol starting on 2 September 1917. On 18 September 1917, during the First Battle of the Atlantic, U-106 was credited with the sinking of HMS Contest, an Acasta class destroyer, and damaging "City of Lincoln", a 5,867 ton steamer, in the Western Approaches.[3] She was lost off Terschelling after striking a mine on 7 October 1917.[4]

For other ships with the same name, see German submarine U-106.
History
German Empire
Name: U-106
Ordered: 5 May 1916
Builder: Germaniawerft, Kiel
Yard number: 275
Launched: 12 June 1917
Commissioned: 28 July 1917
Fate: Sunk by mines 7 October 1917
General characteristics [1]
Class and type: German Type U 93 submarine
Displacement:
  • 798 t (785 long tons) surfaced
  • 1,000 t (980 long tons) submerged
Length:
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: 3.90 m (12 ft 10 in)
Installed power:
  • 2 × 2,400 PS (1,765 kW; 2,367 shp) surfaced
  • 2 × 1,200 PS (883 kW; 1,184 shp) submerged
Propulsion: 2 shafts, 2 × 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in) propellers
Speed:
  • 16.4 knots (30.4 km/h; 18.9 mph) surfaced
  • 8.4 knots (15.6 km/h; 9.7 mph) submerged
Range:
  • 9,280 nmi (17,190 km; 10,680 mi) at 8 knots (15 km/h; 9.2 mph) surfaced
  • 50 nmi (93 km; 58 mi) at 5 knots (9.3 km/h; 5.8 mph) submerged
Test depth: 50 m (164 ft 1 in)
Complement: 4 officers, 32 enlisted
Armament:
Service record
Part of:
Commanders:
  • Kptlt. Hans Hufnagel[2]
  • 28 July 1917 – October 1917
Operations: 1 patrol
Victories:
  • 1 merchant ships damaged (5,867 GRT)
  • 1 warship sunk (957 tons)

Design

German Type U 93 submarines were preceded by the shorter Type U 87 submarines. U-106 had a displacement of 798 tonnes (785 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 3.90 m (12 ft 10 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. The boat had two propeller shafts and two 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in) propellers. The boat was capable of operating at depths of up to 50 metres (160 ft).[1]

The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 16.4 knots (30.4 km/h; 18.9 mph) and a maximum submerged speed of 8.4 knots (15.6 km/h; 9.7 mph).[1] When submerged, she could operate for 50 nautical miles (93 km; 58 mi) at 5 knots (9.3 km/h; 5.8 mph); when surfaced, she could travel 9,280 nautical miles (17,190 km; 10,680 mi) at 8 knots (15 km/h; 9.2 mph). U-106 was fitted with six 50 centimetres (20 in) torpedo tubes (four at the bow and two at the stern), twelve to sixteen torpedoes, one 10.5 cm (4.1 in) SK L/45, 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]

Wreck

In 2009 the Royal Netherlands Navy found the wreckage of the ship north of Terschelling, while charting sea-routes. The news was made public in March 2011, after the ship's identity had been confirmed by German authorities and the crewmembers' families had been informed. The ship will stay in place as a wargrave.[5][6]

Summary of raiding history
Date Name Nationality Tonnage[Note 1] Fate[7]
18 September 1917 HMS Contest  Royal Navy 957 Sunk
18 September 1917 City of Lincoln  United Kingdom 5,867 Damaged

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: Hans Hufnagel". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 26 January 2015.
  3. "British Destroyers". Retrieved 16 March 2011.
  4. Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boats: U 106". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 25 January 2010.
  5. "Marine vindt Duitse U-boot uit WO-I" (in Dutch). Retrieved 16 March 2011.
  6. "Dutch navy finds sunken German submarine". Retrieved 16 March 2011.
  7. Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U 106". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 26 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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