SM U-104

Coordinates: 51°59′N 6°26′W / 51.983°N 6.433°W / 51.983; -6.433
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For other ships with the same name, see German submarine U-104.
History
German Empire
NameU-104
Ordered15 September 1915
BuilderAG Weser, Bremen
Yard number255
Laid down4 August 1916
Launched3 July 1917
Commissioned12 August 1917
FateDepth-charged and sunk 25 April 1918. 41 dead, 1 survivor.
General characteristics [1]
Class and typeGerman Type U 57 submarine
Displacement
  • 750 t (740 long tons) surfaced
  • 952 t (937 long tons) submerged
Length
Beam
  • 6.32 m (20 ft 9 in) (o/a)
  • 4.05 m (13 ft 3 in) (pressure hull)
Height8.25 m (27 ft 1 in)
Draught3.65 m (12 ft)
Installed power
  • 2 × 2,400 PS (1,765 kW; 2,367 shp) surfaced
  • 2 × 1,200 PS (883 kW; 1,184 shp) submerged
Propulsion2 shafts, 2 × 1.65 m (5 ft 5 in) propellers
Speed
  • 16.5 knots (30.6 km/h; 19.0 mph) surfaced
  • 8.8 knots (16.3 km/h; 10.1 mph) submerged
Range
  • 10,100 nmi (18,700 km; 11,600 mi) at 8 knots (15 km/h; 9.2 mph) surfaced
  • 56 nmi (104 km; 64 mi) at 5 knots (9.3 km/h; 5.8 mph) submerged
Test depth50 m (164 ft 1 in)
Complement4 officers, 32 enlisted
Armament
Service record
Part of:
  • II Flotilla
  • 1 October 1917 – 25 April 1918
Commanders:
  • Kptlt. Kurt Bernis[2]
  • 1 October 1917 – 25 April 1918
Operations: 4 patrols
Victories: 9 merchant ships sunk
(14,721 GRT)

SM U-104[Note 1] was a German Type U 57 U-boat during the First World War. U-104 was built at AG Weser in Bremen, launched on 3 July 1917 and commissioned on 12 August 1917. She completed four patrols under Kptlt. Kurt Bernis and was responsible for the sinking of nine vessels of a total of 14,721 gross register tons (GRT).[3]

Loss[edit]

On 25 April 1918 the U-104 was engaged by USS Cushing in St. George's Channel and severely damaged. Later the same day HMS Jessamine came upon her and dropped further depth-charges, sinking her and leaving but a single survivor of her 42-member crew. The wreckage lies at position 51°59′N 6°26′W / 51.983°N 6.433°W / 51.983; -6.433.

Summary of raiding history[edit]

Date Name Nationality Tonnage[Note 2] Fate[4]
26 October 1917 Sapele  United Kingdom 4,366 Sunk
15 December 1917 Maidag  Norway 1,253 Sunk
21 December 1917 Spro  Norway 1,507 Sunk
25 December 1917 Ajax  Denmark 1,018 Sunk
2 March 1918 Kenmare  United Kingdom 1,330 Sunk
12 April 1918 Njaal  Russian Empire 578 Sunk
16 April 1918 Widwud  Russian Empire 299 Sunk
20 April 1918 Lowther Range  United Kingdom 3,926 Sunk
22 April 1918 Fern  United Kingdom 444 Sunk

See also[edit]

References[edit]

Notes[edit]

  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.
  2. ^ Tonnages are in gross register tons

Citations[edit]

  1. ^ Gröner 1991, pp. 12–14.
  2. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat commanders: Kurt Bernis". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 26 January 2015.
  3. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boats: U 104". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 25 January 2010.
  4. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U 104". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 26 January 2015.

Bibliography[edit]

  • Gröner, Erich; Jung, Dieter; Maass, Martin (1991). U-boats and Mine Warfare Vessels. German Warships 1815–1945. Vol. 2. Translated by Thomas, Keith; Magowan, Rachel. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-593-4.

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