SM U-51

SM U-51[Note 1] was a Type U 51 submarine, one of 329 submarines in the Imperial German Navy in World War I. She engaged in commerce warfare during the First Battle of the Atlantic.

For other ships with the same name, see German submarine U-51.
History
German Empire
Name: U-51
Ordered: 23 August 1914
Builder: Germaniawerft, Kiel
Laid down: 19 December 1914
Launched: 25 November 1915
Commissioned: 24 February 1916
Fate: Sunk on 14 July 1916
General characteristics [1]
Class and type: Type U 51 submarine
Displacement:
  • 715 t (704 long tons) surfaced
  • 902 t (888 long tons) submerged
Length:
Beam:
  • 6.44 m (21 ft 2 in) (oa)
  • 4.18 m (13 ft 9 in) (pressure hull)
Height: 7.82 m (25 ft 8 in)
Draught: 3.64 m (11 ft 11 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
Speed:
  • 17.1 knots (31.7 km/h; 19.7 mph) surfaced
  • 9.1 knots (16.9 km/h; 10.5 mph) submerged
Range:
  • 9,400 nmi (17,400 km; 10,800 mi) at 8 knots (15 km/h; 9.2 mph) surfaced
  • 55 nmi (102 km; 63 mi) at 5 knots (9.3 km/h; 5.8 mph) submerged
Test depth: 50 m (164 ft 1 in)
Complement: 36
Armament:
Service record
Part of:
  • I Flotilla
  • unknown start – 25 May 1916
  • II Flotilla
  • 25 May – 14 July 1916
Commanders:
  • Kptlt. Walter Rumpel[2]
  • 19 February – 14 July 1916
Operations: 1 patrol
Victories: None

She was ordered from Germaniawerft, at Kiel, on 23 August 1914 and laid down there on 19 December. She was launched on 25 November 1915 and commissioned on 24 February 1916. Kapitänleutnant Walter Rumpel was her captain for her entire career.

Operations

Completed at Kiel about March 1916,[3] she carried out trials at Kiel School until the end of April when she proceeded to Heligoland.[4] British Naval Intelligence (better known as Room 40):[5] monitored and recorded her activities. She was attached to the 2nd Half Flotilla and carried out a patrol in the North Sea between 2 May and 6 May 1916, traveling to Hantsholm in company with SM U-70, escorted by two Zeppelins.[6] She was again in the North Sea between 16 May and 3 June 1916, during the Battle of Jutland. She fired two torpedoes at the British battleship HMS Warspite, but missed her.[7]

On 14 July the British submarine HMS H5 spotted U-51 leaving the Ems and torpedoed her. U-51 sank with the loss of 34 of her crew; four survivors were rescued.[8]

The wreck of U-51 was raised and broken up in 1968.[9]

References

Notes
  1. "SM" stands for "Seiner Majestät" (English: His Majesty's) and combined with the U for Unterseeboot would be translated as His Majesty's Submarine.

Citations
  1. Gröner 1991, pp. 8-10.
  2. Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat commanders: Walter Rumpel". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
  3. National Archives, Kew: HW 7/3, Room 40, History of German Naval Warfare 1914–1918
  4. National Archives, Kew: HW 7/3, Room 40, History of German Naval Warfare 1914–1918
  5. National Archives, Kew: HW 7/3, Room 40, History of German Naval Warfare 1914–1918
  6. National Archives, Kew: HW 7/3, Room 40, History of German Naval Warfare 1914–1918
  7. National Archives, Kew: HW 7/3, Room 40, History of German Naval Warfare 1914–1918
  8. National Archives, Kew: HW 7/3, Room 40, History of German Naval Warfare 1914–1918
  9. Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boats: U 51". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 16 March 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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