The bulk of the information in these notes was taken from two sources; V. E. Tarrant's The U-Boat Offensive 1914-1945, published by the Naval Institute Press, Annapolis, in 1989, and R. M. Grant's U-Boats Destroyed, published by Putnam, London, in 1964. Once compiled, these notes were compared in detail to a number of reputable references. Through this process it was determined that many differences exist between the different works, particularly concerning the cause of loss. In this record the best supported version has been used as the primary cause with the other incidents being listed as possibilities.
ROYAL NAVY | GERMAN NAVY |
Captain
Commander Lt. Commander Lieutenant Sub-Lieutenant Skipper (RNR) |
Capt
Cdr Lt Cdr Lt S-Lt Skpr |
Kapitän
Korvetten Kapitän Kapitän Leutenant Oberleutenant zur See Leutenant zur See |
Kap
KvKpt Kplt Oblt Lt |
TERMINOLOGY |
D/C
Expl M/S MS S/M SS SV |
Depth Charge
Explosive Minesweeper Motor ship Submarine Steam ship Sailing vessel |
Medium and large ocean-going torpedo and gun armed submarine typically around 500 - 800 tons.Includes the heavily armed "UA" U-cruisers and the ocean-going "UE" minelayers of around 1500 - 2000 tons.
Small, medium and short range, torpedo and gun armed attack-type submarines in the 250 - 500 tons size.
Small, short range, minelaying submarines in the 150 - 400 tons size.
U-BOAT | CO | DATE | LOCATION | MEANS | DETAILS OF LOSS |
1914 |
U-15 | Pohl, Kplt | Aug 9 | Fair Isle | Rammed | Rammed by HMS BIRMINGHAM |
U-13 | Schwinitz, Kplt von | Aug 12 | Heligoland Bight | Unknown | Probably mined. |
U-18 | Hennig, Kplt von | Nov 23 | Pentland Firth | Rammed | Attacked by the armed trawler DOROTHY
GRAY and rammed by the destroyer HMS
GARRY.
Crew rescued. |
U-11 | Suchodoletz, | Dec 9 | off Zeebrugge | Unknown | Presumed mined. |
1915 |
U-5 | Lemner | Dec 18 | off Zeebrugge | Mined | |
U-31 | Wachendorff, Kplt | January | UK East Coast | Unknown | Probably mined |
U-7 | König, KvKap | Jan 21 | Dutch coast | Torpedoed | Torpedoed in error by German U-22.
One survivor, the CO. |
U-8 | Stoss, KvKap | Mar 4 | Dover barrage | Expl. sweep | Sunk by the destoyers HMS MAORI and
GHURKA when caught in nets.
Crew rescued. |
U-12 | Kratzsch, Kplt | Mar 10 | Fife Ness | Rammed | Attacked by HMS ATTACK and rammed by
HMS ARIEL, Lt Cdr J.V. Creagh.
10 survivors captured |
U-29 | Weddigen, Kplt Otto | Mar 18 | Pentland Firth | Rammed | Rammed by HMS DREADNOUGHT. |
U-37 | Wilke, Kplt | March 30 | English Channel | Unknown | Possibly caught on the surface off Fécamp and rammed by HM trawler STE. JEMANNE. |
UB-3 | S. Schmidt | May | Gulf of Smyrna | Unknown | |
U-14 | Hammerle, Oblt | June 5 | off Peterhead | Rammed | Gunfire and ramming by armed trawler
HAWK, Lt H.J. Ferguson.
27 rescued, CO remained aboard. |
U-40 | Fürbringer, Kplt G. | June 23 | off Aberdeen | Torpedoed | Torpedoed by HMS/M C-24, Lt Taylor, which
was being towed by the trawler TARANAKI,
Lt Cdr Edwards.
CO and 2 crewmen rescued |
UC-2 | Mey, Oblt Karl | July 2 | off Yarmouth | Rammed | Accidently struck while at periscope depth by the small steamer COTTINGHAM. Investigating sweepers dislodged a mine which later detonated. A diver entered the wreck next day and recovered code books and papers. The wreck was later raised and examined. |
U-23 | Schulthess, Kplt | July 20 | Fair Isle, N. Sea | Torpedoed | Torpedoed by C-27, Lt Cdr Dobson, while
being towed by the trawler PRINCESS
LOUISE, Lt Cantlie.
CO and nine others rescued. |
U-36 | Graeff, Kplt | July 24 | Hebrides | Gunfire | Q-ship PRINCE CHARLES, Lt M. Wardlaw. 15 survivors. |
UB-4 | Gross, Oblt Karl | Aug 15 | Yarmouth | Gunfire | Q-ship, the armed smack INVERLYON, Gnr. E. Jehan. |
U-27 | Wegener, Kplt | Aug 19 | Scillies | Gunfire | Q-ship ship BARALONG, Lt Cdr G. Herbert. |
U-26 | Berkheim, Kplt F. v | Aug/Sept | Gulf of Finland | Mined | Probably a Russian mine. |
U-6 | Lepsius, KvKap | Sept 15 | off Stavanger | Torpedoed | Torpedoed by HMS/M E-16, Cdr Talbot.
CO and 4 others captured. |
U-41 | Hansen | Sept 24 | Scillies | Gunfire | Sunk by Q-ship WYANDRA, (ex-BARALONG) Lt Cdr A. Wilmot-Smith. Two officers captured. |
UC-9 | Schürman | October | Longsands L.V. | Own mines | |
UC-8 | (Not known) | Nov 14 | Tershelling Isl. | Stranded | Crew interned, U-boat to Dutch Navy. |
UC-13 | Kirchner | Nov 29 | Black Sea | Stranded | Went aground during a storm, 55 miles E of
Bosporus.
Crew saved. |
1916 |
UC-12 | Fröhner, Lt E. | Mar 16 | Off Taranto | Own mines | |
U-68 | Guntzel, Kplt | Mar 2 | SW. Ireland | Gunfire | Q-ship ship FARNBOROUGH, Lt Cdr G. Campbell. |
UB-26 | Smiths, Lt W. | Apr 5 | off Le Havre | D/C'd | Caught in nets laid by drifters under command of Lt J.M. McLaughlin, ENDURANCE, and D/C'd by French destroyer TROMBE. Crew of 21 captured. Boat salvaged by the French. |
UB-13 | Metz, Oblt A. | ca Apr 25 | off Zeebrugge | Unknown | Possibly caught in explosive nets off Walcheren Isl. tended by HM drifter GLEANER OF THE SEA, Skpr. R.G. Hurren, and HMS AFRIDI. |
UC-5 | Mohrbutter, Oblt U. | Apr 27 | Shipwash Shoal | Stranded | Crew taken off by HMS FIREDRAKE. U-boat salvaged. |
UC-3 | Kreysern, Oblt G. | May 27 | off Zeebrugge | Mined | Also claimed to have been sunk in nets towed by drifter CHEERO, Lt W.F. Scott, on 23 Apr. This is hardly likely, however in view of the German records which show that she sailed from Zeebrugge on 25 May to lay mines off Orforness. |
U-74 | Weisbach, Kplt E. | May 27 | off Peterhead | Gunfire | Sunk by the trawler KIMBERLEY and three other armed trawlers. |
U-10 | Stuhr | June | Gulf of Finland | Mined | Probably Russian mines. |
UC-7 | Haag, Lt Georg | July 5 | off Zeebrugge | Mined | Also claimed to have been depth charged by HM MB SALMON, S-Lt E.T. West, off Lowestoft 6 July. |
U-77 | Guntzel, Kplt Erich | ca July 7 | N. North Sea | Unknown | Possibly sunk by trawler ALBATROSS or own mines. |
U-51 | Rumpel | July 14 | Ems Estuary | Torpedoed | HMS/M H-5, Lt Cromwell H. Varley.
Two survivors captured. |
UB-44 | Wäger, Oblt | August | Aegean Sea | Unknown | Sailed Cattaro for Constantinople 4 Aug, |
UC-10 | Albrecht, W. | Aug 21 | Schouwen Bank | Torpedoed | HMS/M E-54, Lt Cdr R.H.T. Raikes. |
UB-7 | Lütjohan, Oblt | September | Black Sea | Unknown | |
U-56 | Lorenz, Oblt Helmut | ca Nov 3 | Lapland | Unknown | Had been damaged by gunfire from Russian trawlers on 2 Nov. Sailed from Tana Fiord on 3 Nov and disappeared. |
U-20 | Schwieger, Kaplt W. | Nov 4 | W. coast Jutland | Stranded | Crew rescued. |
UB-45 | Palis | Nov 6 | Varna, Black Sea | Mined | Russian minefield, 5 survivors rescued. |
UC-15 | Heller | November | Danube Estuary | Unknown | |
UB-19 | Noodt, Oblt Erich | Nov 30 | English Channel | Gunfire | Q-ship PENHURST, Cdr F.H. Grenfell.
16 survivors captured. |
UC-19 | Nitzche | Dec 6 | SW Approaches | Expl sweep | High-speed paravane streamed by the destroyer HMS ARIEL, Lt J.V. Creagh. |
UB-46 | Bauer | Dec 7 | Bosporus | Mined | Russian minefield. |
UB-29 | Platsch, Oblt Erich | Dec 15 | Bishop's Rock | Expl sweep | Sunk by the destroyer HMS LANDRAIL. |
1917 |
UB-37 | Günther, Kplt | Jan 14 | English Channel | Gunfire | Q-ship PENHURST, Cdr H.F. Grenfell, DSO. |
U-76 | Bender | Jan 22 | off Hammerfest | Foundered | Sank in a storm after having been rammed and damaged by a Russian trawler the previous day off North Cape. The crew was rescued by the Norwegians and repatriated to Germany. |
UC-46 | Moecke | Feb 8 | SE Goodwins | Rammed | Rammed by the destroyer HMS LIBERTY, Lt Cdr P.W.S. King. |
UC-39 | Ehrentraut | Feb 8 | Flamborough | D/C'd | Destroyer HMS THRASHER, Lt E.M.
Hawkins.
17 crew captured and 2 British prisoners rescued. |
U-83 | Hoppe | Feb 17 | SW Ireland | Gunfire. | Q-ship FARNBOROUGH, Lt Cdr G.
Campbell.
2 survivors captured. |
UC-18 | Kiel | Feb 19 | English Channel | Gunfire | Sunk by the Q-ship LADY OLIVE which also sank having been torpedoed by UC-18. |
UB-6 | Hacker | Feb 23 | Dutch Coast | Stranded. | |
UC-32 | Breyer | Feb 23 | Sunderland | Own mines. | CO and 2 men captured. |
UC-43 | Sebelin | Mar 10 | Muckle Flugga | Torpedoed | HMS/M G-13, Lt Cdr Bradshaw. |
U-85 | Petz | Mar 12 | Start Point | Gunfire | Sunk by the Q-ship PRIVET, Lt Cdr G.G.Matheson. |
UC-68 | Degetau | April 5 | Schouwen Bank | Torpedoed | HMS/M C-7, Lt A.W. Forbes. |
UC-30 | Stenzler, Kplt | Apr 21 | Hiorns Reef | Mined | |
U-81 | Weisbach | May 1 | W. Ireland | Torpedoed | HMS/M E-54, Lt Cdr E.H.T. Raikes.
CO and 6 men captured. |
UC-26 | Schmettow, Kplt G. | May 8 | Thames Estuary. | Rammed | HMS MILNE, Cdr V.L.A. Campbell.
2 survivors captured. |
UC-76 | Barten, Oblt W. | May 10 | Heligoland | Blew up | Accident while embarking mines. U-boat was salvaged. |
U- 59 | von Firks | May 14 | Hiorns Reef | Mined | German minefield. 4 survived. |
UB-39 | Küstner, Oblt Heinrich | May 14/15 | E. of Dover | Mined | Also possibly by gunfire from Q-Schooner GLEN, Lt R.J. Turnbull, RNR, off The Needles, 17 May. |
UC-36 | Buch | May 19 | The Needles | Own mines | |
UB-36 | Keyserlink, Oblt von | May 20 | Near Ushant | Unknown | Possibly sunk by gunfire from the Q-schooner MARY B. MITCHEL, Lt Lawrie, or possibly a French destroyer or the USN destroyer CUMMINGS. Fate uncertain. |
UC-24 | Willich | May 24 | off Cattaro | Torpedoed | Torpedoed by French S/M CIRCE.
2 survivors. |
UC-29 | Rosenow, Kplt Ernst | June 7 | S. Ireland | Gunfire | Sunk by Q-ship SS PARGUST, Cdr G. Campbell, VC, and crew ex-FARNBOROUGH. This was Campbell's third U-boat. |
UC-66 | Pustkutchen, Oblt H. | June 12 | off The Lizard | D/C'd | Armed trawler SEA KING, Cdr G. Herbert. |
U-99 | Eltester, Kplt Max | June 20 | S.W. Ireland | Rammed | Rammed by the Cunarder VALERIA while UK bound from New York; or, possibly torpedoed by HMS/M J-2, Lt Cdr V.M. Cooper, on 7 July in the North Sea. (J-2 was not credited with this sinking and the former is the most widely accepted fate). |
UC-1 | Mildenstien | July 19 | off Nieuport | Mined | Possibly bombed by aircraft from Felixstowe off the N.Hinder L.V., on 25 July. (The former is the most likely fate). |
UC-61 | Gerth | July 26 | off Gris Nez | Stranded | Blown-up by own crew. Crew interned in Belgiun. |
UB-20 | Glimpf, Lt | July 28 | Zeebrugge | Mined | Possibly sunk by two seaplanes off N.Hinder L.V. the same day while on a "Jolly" with guests aboard including some women. |
UB-27 | Stien, Oblt von | July 29 | Smith's Knoll | D/C'd | Depth charged and rammed by the gunboat |
UB-23 | Ziemer, Oblt | July 29 | Corunna, Spain | Internment | Badly damaged in an attack by HM PC-60 off The Lizard on 26 July. |
U-69 | Wilhelms, Kplt Ernst | July | SW Ireland | Unknown | Possibly the U-boat depth charged by HMS PATRIOT on 12 July. |
UC-44 | Tebenjohans, Kplt | Aug 4 | Off Waterford | Own mines | Lured into a German - laid minefield.
CO survived and was captured. |
U-44 | Wagenführ, Kplt Paul | Aug 12 | S. Norway | Rammed | Damaged by Q-ship gunfire the previous day; W/T message intercepted; rammed by HMS ORACLE, Lt Cdr A. Grendon Tippet. |
UC-72 | Voigt, Kplt | Aug 20 | Bay of Biscay | Gunfire | Sunk by the Q-ship ACTON. |
UC-41 | Foerste | Aug 21 | Tay Estuary | D/C | Damaged by own mine and D/C'd by minesweepers, HM trawlers JACINTH, THOMAS YOUNG & CHIKARA. |
U-50 | Berger | Aug 31 | Terschelling | Mined | |
U-28 | Schmidt, Kplt G. | Sept 2 | North Cape | Foundered | Holed by debris from the explosion of the munitions ship OLIVE BRANCH which blew-up after being torpedoed by U-28. |
U-66 | Muhle | Sept 3 | Dogger Bank | Probably mined | |
U-88 | Schwieger, Kplt W. | Sept 5 | Terschelling | Mined | In U-20 this CO and most of his crew had torpedoed LUSITANIA. |
UC-42 | Müller, Oblt Hans A. | Sept 10 | Cork, Ireland | Own mines | |
U-49 | Hartmann | Sept 11 | W. Bay of Biscay | Rammed | Run-down by the SS BRITISH TRANSPORT. |
U-45 | Sittenfeld | Sept 12 | W. Shetlands | Torpedoed | HMS/M D-7, Lt Oswald E. Hallifax.
2 survivors rescued. |
UB-32 | Ditfurth, V. | Sept 22 | Near Sunk L.V. | Bomb | Sunk by bombs dropped by seaplane No. 8695. |
UC-21 | Derboni di Sposetti, Oblt | Sept | off Zeebrugge | Mined | |
UC-33 | Arnold, Oblt Alfred | Sept 26 | St. George's Chan. | Rammed | Escort craft HMS PC-61, Lt Cdr F.Worsley. CO rescued. |
UC-6 | Reichenbach | Sept 27 | Kentish Knock L.V. | Mined nets | Caught in mined nets. Another account describes how UC-6 was caught on the surface near The Sunk L.V. and was bombed by seaplane No.8676, Maj. B.D. Hobbs, RFC. This incident was witnessed and reported by several German ships. |
UC-55 | Lilienstern, Oblt von | Sept 29 | Lerwick | Scuttled | S/M out of control while laying mines, abandoned and scuttled by crew. Crew captured. |
UC-14 | Feddersen, Oblt d R. | Oct 3 | Zeebrugge | Mined | |
UC-16 | Reimarus, Oblt | October | Uncertain | Uncertain | Possibly mined in Zeebrugge approaches on departure 3.10.17; or sunk by HMS MELAMPUS off Selsey Bill 23.10.17 using D/C's and explosive sweep. (Former version most likely but latter officially accepted). |
UB-41 | Ploen | Oct 5 | Scarborough | Mined | German minefield. |
U-106 | Hufnagel, Kplt Hans | Oct 7 | Heligoland Bight | Mined. | |
UC-62 | Schmitz | Oct 14 | Off Portland | Mined | Another account claims UC-62 was torpedoed by HMS/M E-45(ML), Lt Cdr G.R.S. Watkins. |
UC-63 | Heyderbeck, von | Nov 1 | S. Goodwins | Torpedoed | HMS/M E-52, Lt P.E. Philips.
One survivor |
UC-65 | Lafrenz, Kplt Claus | Nov 3 | Dartmouth | Torpedoed | HMS/M C-15, Lt E. Dolphin.
CO and four others captured. |
UC-51 | Galster | Nov 17 | off Start Point | Mined | Also claimed to have been sunk by the destroyer FIREDRAKE off Harwich on 13 Nov. |
U-58 | Amberger, Kplt Gustav | Nov 17 | Milford Haven | D/C'd | Destroyer USS FANNING. 39 crew survived. Only U-boat sunk by unassisted USN ships. |
UC-47 | Wigankow, Oblt | Nov 18 | E. of Flamborough | Rammed | Patrol vessel HMS P-57, Lt Cdr Birnie. |
UC-57 | Wissmann | ca Nov 18 | Gulf of Finland | Mined | |
U-48 | Edeling | Nov 24 | SW Goodwins | Stranded | Driven aground by HM armed drifters PRESENT, HELP, PARAMOUNT and MAJESTY and was blown-up by own crew. |
UB-61 | Schultz, Oblt Theodor, | Nov 29 | Vlieland | Mined | Minefield laid by HMS/M E-51(ML).
9 survivors. |
UB-81 | Salzwedel, Kplt R. | Dec 2 | The Owers | Mined | 6 survivors captured. |
UC-69 | Thielman | Dec 6 | Cap Barfleur | Foundered | Collided with U-96 at night.
18 crew rescued. |
UB-18 | Neimeyer, Oblt Georg, | Dec 9 | English Channel | Rammed | Sunk by convoy escort, HM armed trawler
BEN LAWER.
Also reported mined in the Channel 17 November. However, as UB-18's departure from Zeebrugge on 1 December is recorded in the German records the former account is the more likely. (See Grant). |
UB-75 | Walther, F. | Dec 10 | Flamborough Hd. | Mined | |
U-75 | Schmolling | Dec 10 | off Terschelling | Mined | Mined while departing on patrol. CO and 7 men rescued by German steamer NORDSTERN. |
UC-38 | Wendlandt | Dec 14 | Gulf of Corinth | D/C'd | Sunk by French destroyers MAMELUCK and
LANSQUENET.
CO + 24 captured. |
UB-56 | Valentiner, Oblt Hans | Dec 19 | Dover Straits | Mined | |
U-87 | Schülzburg, von Speth | Dec 25 | Irish Sea | Rammed | Sunk by the sloop HMS BUTTERCUP after being D/C'd and rammed by HMS PC-56. |
1918 |
U-93 | Gerlach, Kplt Helmuth | Jan 7 | Lizard Pt. | Rammed | Rammed by the SS BRAENIEL at night. |
UB-69 | Klatt | Jan 9 | off Bizerta | Expl sweep | High-speed explosive paravane and D/C's from HMS CYCLAMEN. |
UB-66 | Wernicke, Kplt | Jan 18 | off Cap Bon | D/C'd | Sunk by the sloop HMS CAMPANULA, Cdr P.L.Goddard. |
UB-22 | Wacker, Oblt Karl | Jan 19 | North Sea | Mined | |
U-95 | Prinz, Kplt Athaluin | Jan 19 | Dover Strait | Mined | |
U-109 | Ney | Jan 24 | Dover Strait | Mined | U-109 was forced to dive in the barrage by the drifter BERYL III, Skpr J.H. Bullock, where she was sunk. |
U-84 | Röhr, Kplt | Jan 26 | St.George's Chan. | Rammed | Sunk by HMS PC-62 |
UB-35 | Stöter, Oblt Karl | Jan 26 | N. of Calais | D/C'd | Sunk by the destroyer HMS LEVEN. 6 men who had been left aboard the Greek steamer SS EPSTATIOS when a boarding operation was interrupted the previous day survived to be captured. |
UB-63 | Gebeschus, Kplt v R. | Jan-Feb | Irish Sea | D/C'd | The fate of this boat is uncertain but she may have been the U-boat D/C'd by the armed trawler CORMORANT IV and drifter YOUNG FRED 27 Jan N. of Ireland, or the one attacked by HMS P-68 on 30 Jan or by USS ALLEN on 2 Feb in the Irish Sea. |
UC-50 | Seuffer, Kplt Rudolph | Feb 4 | Dover Strait | D/C'd | Sunk by the destroyer HMS NUBIAN, Lt Hartnoll. |
UB-38 | Bachmann, Oblt G. | Feb 8 | Dover barrage | Mined | |
U-89 | Bauck, Kplt W. | Feb 12 | N. of Malin Hd | Rammed | Sunk by the cruiser HMS ROXBOROUGH. |
UB-58 | Löwe, Oblt Werner | Mar 10 | Dover barrage | Mined | |
UB-17 | Branscheid, Oblt A. | Mar 11-15 | S. North Sea | Unknown | Possibly D/C'd by HM CMB-20 on 18 March but not confirmed. |
U-110 | Kroll, KvKap | Mar 15 | NW. of Malin Hd | D/C'd | Sunk by the destroyer HMS MICHAEL, (HMS MORESBY assisted), forced to the surface and abandoned. Six (one account gives 10) of the crew were taken prisoner. |
UB-54 | Hecht, Oblt Erich | March 19 | Dover barrage | Mined | Also reported caught in nets and sunk by a French TBD off Cap de Antifer, ca 12 Mar but not confirmed. |
UC-48 | Lorenz | March 23 | Ferrol, Spain. | Interned | Voluntary internment. Badly damaged by HMS LOYAL in the Channel 20 March |
U-61 | Dieckmann, Kplt V. | Mar 26 | St. George's Channel | D/C'd | Sunk by HMS P-51, Lt Murray. |
UB-33 | Gregor, Oblt Fritz | Apr 11 | Dover Barrage | Mined | |
UB-82 | Becker | Apr 17 | North Channel | D/C'd | Attacked and sunk by patrol drifters. |
UC-79 | Krameyer | ca April 18 | Unknown | Unknown | Probably mined on return trip through the Dover barrage. |
UB-71 | Schapler | Apr 21 | Straits of Gibraltar | D/C'd | Sunk by HM ML-413 while attempting passage into the Mediterranean. |
UB-55 | Wenninger, Kplt Ralph | April 22 | Dover Straits | Mined | 20 escaped but only the CO and six others survived to be picked up. |
U-104 | Bernis, Kplt | April 25 | St. George's Chan. | D/C'd | Damaged on the previous day by USS CUSHING and was sunk by D/C attack from HMS JESSAMINE. One survivor. |
UB-85 | Krech, Kplt Gunther | April 30 | off Belfast Lough | Gunfire | Sunk by the the drifter COREOPSIS. Crew taken off before boat sank. |
UB-31 | Braun, Oblt | May 2 | Dover Straits | Mined. | D/C'd by drifter OCEAN ROAMER and sunk by hitting a deep mine. Airship Z-29 assisted. |
UC-78 | Kukat, Kplt | May 2 | Dover Straits | Mined. | The true fate of this U-boat is not definite but it is fairly certain she was attacked by drifters and forced into mined nets. |
UB-70 | Remy, Kplt Johannes | April/May | Unknown | Unknown | This U-boat left Germany for the Adriatic on Apr. 16 and nothing more was ever heard of her. It is possible she was the U-boat D/C'd and rammed by HMS BASILISK and USS LYDONIA off Algiers on 8 May. |
U-32 | Albrecht, Kplt | May 8 | Malta Channel | D/C'd | Attacked and probably sunk by the sloop HMS WALLFLOWER. |
UB-78 | Stosberg, Oblt Arthur | May 9 | N. Eng. Channel | Rammed | Sunk by the transport QUEEN ALEXANDRA north of Cherbourg. |
UB-16 | Lühe, Kplt von der | May 10 | off Harwich | Torpedoed | Sunk by HMS/M E-34, Lt Pulleyne.
Von der Lühe was the only survivor. |
U-154 | Gercke, KvKap | May 11 | 3645'N 1200'W | Torpedoed | Sunk by HMS/M E-35, Lt D'Oyly-Hughes. The position is Approx. 150 nm W of Cape St. Vincent. U-154 was rendezvousing with two other U-boats, U-153 and U-62. |
UB-119 | Kolbe | May | Unknown | Unknown | Most likely mined while returning to base at
Zeebrugge via the northern route sometime
after 25 May following operations in the Irish
Sea.
Possibly sunk by D/C attacks carried out by USS Patterson and USS Allen off Cardigan Bay on 19 May. |
U-103 | Rücker, Kplt Claus | May 11 | W. Eng. Channel | Rammed | Rammed by the liner RMS OLYMPIC. CO and 34 rescued by USS DAVIS. |
UB-72 | Träger, Oblt Freidrich, | May 12 | Eng. Channel | Torpedoed. | Sunk by HMS/M D-4, Lt C.B. Barry, while
waiting to attack the liner OLYMPIC.
CO and 2 survived. |
UC-35 | Korsch, Oblt Hans | May 17 | W. of Sardinia | Gunfire. | Sunk by the French patrol ship AILLY. 5 crew and one captive Spanish seaman were rescued. |
U-39 | Metzger, Lt | 18 May | Cartegena, Spain | Internment | Damaged by escorts and French aircraft earlier same day (Grant). |
UC-56 | Kisewetter, Kplt W. | May 24 | Santander, Spain. | Internment | Damaged by armed yatch USS CHRISTABEL. Later scuttled. |
UB-52 | Launburg, Oblt Otto | May 25 | S. of Cattaro | Torpedoed | Sunk by HMS/M H-4, Lt Cdr North. CO and quartermaster were rescued. |
UB-74 | Steindorf, Oblt | May 26 | Lyme Bay | D/C'd | Sunk by HM armed yacht LORNA, Lt
Tottenham.
Four men escaped but did not survive. |
UC-75 | Schmitz | May 31 | Flamborough Hd. | Rammed | Sunk by HMS FAIRY. CO and 13 men captured. The old 370 ton FAIRY also sank as a result of the damage received in ramming the much larger and newer U-boat. |
U-64 | Moraht, Kplt Robert | June 17 | Cape Bon, Tunisia | Gunfire | Sunk by D/C's and gunfire from HMS LYCHNIS and PARTRIDGE II. CO and 4 men survived. |
UC-64 | Schwartz | ca June 20 | Dover Straits | Mined. | Probably damaged by mine and sunk by D/C's from Dover Patrol craft. |
UC-11 | Utke, Oblt Kurt | June 26 | off the Sunk L.V. | Own mines | Apparently hit one of her own mines laid on a previous trip. CO escaped from wreck and was rescued. |
UB-65 | Schelle, Kplt Martin, | July 10 | S. of Fastnet Lt | Uncertain. | Apparently sank as the result of the premature explosion of one of her own torpedoes while attacking the American submarine USS (A)L-2. UB-65 had the reputation of being haunted by the ghost of her former 1st Lt. |
UC-77 | Ries, Oblt | July 10 | Dover Straits | D/C'd | Was probably the U-boat pursued and attacked with D/C's by the drifters KESSINGLAND and GOLDEN GRAIN. |
UB-108 | Amberger, W. | July | Unknown | Unknown | Probably destroyed in the Dover barrage but fate unknown. |
UB-110 | Fürbringer, Kplt W. | July 19 | off Hartlepool | D/C'd. | Shelled and rammed by HMS GARRY. D/C'd
by convoy escorts.
CO and 12 survived. |
UB-124 | Wutsdorf, Oblt Hans | July 20 | NW. of Skerryvore | D/C'd. | D/C'd and shelled by escorts HMS MARNE
and MILLBROOK. U-boat surfaced and
scuttled.
CO and 32 crew survived. |
UB-107 | von Prittwitz | July 27 | off Scarborough | D/C'd | Sunk by trawler CALVIA and destroyer HMS VANESSA. |
UB-53 | Sprenger, Kplt | Aug 3 | Otranto Strait | Mined | U-boat damaged by mines in the net barrage
and scuttled by crew.
27 survivors picked up. |
UC-49 | Kükenthal | Aug 8 | off Start Point | D/C'd | Damaged by own mines, pursued by HMS OPOSSUM using hydrophones and D/C'd by OPOSSUM and motor launches. |
UB-30 | Stier | Aug 13 | off Whitby | D/C'd | Sunk by armed trawlers, JOHN GILLMAN, JOHN BROOKER, FLORIO and VIOLA. |
UB-57 | Losz, Kplt | Aug 14 | off Zeebrugge | Mined. | |
UC-70 | Dobberstein | Aug 28 | off Whitby | D/C'd | Bombed by aircraft and D/C'd by HMS OUSE. |
UB-109 | Ramien | Aug 29 | Dover Straits | Mined. | CO and seven survived. |
UB-12 | Schoeller | August | Unknown | Unknown. | Failed to return from minelaying operation off the North Downs. |
U-92 | Ehrlich | ca Sept 9 | Northern Barrier | Mined | Failed to return from trip to Biscay area. Probably lost to mines in Fair Isle passage. |
UB-83 | Buntebardt | ca Sept 10 | Northern Barrier | Unknown | Probably sunk by HMS OPHELIA which made a D/C attack on an unidentified U-boat attempting passage near the Pentland Firth. |
UB-103 | Hundius, Kplt Paul | Sept 16 | Dover barrage | Mined | Sunk by barrage drifters near Gris Nez. |
UB-104 | Bieber | Sept | Unknown | Unknown. | Last heard from in Lyme Bay. Possibly sunk in Northern Barrage during return trip. |
UB-127 | Scheffler | Sept | Unknown | Unknown. | Failed to return after sailing for operations in the North Sea. Probably mined in Northern barrage. |
U-156 | Feldt, KvKap Richard | Sept 25 | Northern Barrage | Mined. | |
UB-115 | Thomsen | Sept 29 | off Sunderland | D/C'd. | Spotted and bombed by airship R-29, D/C'd by destroyers HMS OUSE and HMS STAR. |
U-102 | Beitzen, Kplt Kurt | Sept | Unknown | Unknown. | Failed to return from a patrol in the S. Irish Sea. Possibly mined in the Northern Barrage. |
UB-113 | Pilzecker | Sept/Oct | Unknown | Unknown | Possibly mined off Boulonge on 9 Oct. (Gröner, Die deutschen Kriegshiffe 1815-1936). |
UB-68 | Dönitz, Karl | Oct 4 | off Malta | Gunfire | Shelled by the steamer QUEENSLAND, Capt. W.M. Manson. CO and 33 men abandoned sinking boat, rescued by sloop SNAPDRAGON. |
UB-90 | Mayer, Kplt | Oct 16 | W. of Stavanger | Torpedoed | HMS/M L-12, Lt Cdr P.E. Phillips, DSO. |
UB-123 | Ramm | Oct 19 | Northern barrage | Mined | |
U-78 | Vollbrecht | Oct 28 | Skagerrak | Torpedoed | HMS/M G-2, Lt H.N. Lake, DSC. |
UB-116 | Emsmann, Kplt | Oct 28 | Hoxa Sound | Mined | |
U-35 | (NK) | early Nov | Barcelona | Interned | Broke down on way back to Germany from the Med. Later surrendered. |
U-34 | Klasing, Kplt Johannes | Nov 9 | Str. of Gibraltar | D/C'd | Shelled and D/C'd by HMS PRIVET, Lt Cdr G.G. Matheson, while attempting to leave the Mediterranean. |
This was the last U-boat sunk in action in World War One. |
U-BOATS DELIBERATELY DESTROYED
Evacuation of the Flanders base, 2 October, 1918. UB-10, UB-59, UB-40 UC-4 Evacuation of the Adriatic base at Pola, early November, 1918 U-4, U-73, U-65, U- 72, UB-48, UB-129, UC-25, UC-34, UC-53, & UC-54. |
(From Grant, U-Boats Destroyed)
Jan.1 | Jan.1 |
1915 | Built | Sunk | Other | Gain | 1916 | |
U-Boats | 29 | 15 | 14 | 1 | 0 | 29 |
UB-Boats | 0 | 22 | 2 | 6 | +14 | 14 |
UC-Boats | 0 | 15 | 3 | 1 | +11 | 11 |
Total | 29 | 52 | 19 | 8 | 25 | 54 |
U-42 on order for Italy never delivered
Others: U-30 accidently sunk, back in service 16 Apr 1916 UB-1 and UB-15 to Austria-Hungary, four others to training, UC-8 interned |
Jan.1 | Jan.1 |
1916 | Built | Sunk | Other | Gain | 1917 | |
U-Boats | 29 | 32 | 7 | 3 | 22 | 51 |
UB-Boats | 14 | 25 | 8 | 3 | 14 | 28 |
UC-Boats | 11 | 51 | 7 | 1 | 43 | 54 |
Total | 54 | 108 | 22 | 7 | 79 | 133 |
Other: U-9, U-16, U-17, & U-25 used for training; U-30 back in service 16 Apr.
UB-2, UB-5, & UB-28 used for training. UC-28 used for training. |
Jan.1 | Jan.1 |
1917 | Built | Sunk | Other | Gain | 1918 | |
U-Boats | 51 | 32 | 19 | 3 | +10 | 61 |
UB-Boats | 28 | 42 | 12 | 9 | +21 | 49 |
UC-Boats | 54 | 13 | 32 | 3 | -22 | 32 |
Total | 133 | 87 | 63 | 15 | +9 | 142 |
Other: U-24 & U-30 for training; U-52 accidently sunk 29 Oct.
UB-60, UB- 67, UB-76, & UB-84 for training; UB-43 & UB-47 to Austro-Hungary; UB-6 & UB-23 interned; UC-60 used for training; UC-45 & UC-76 accidentally sunk. |
Jan.1 | Nov 11 |
1918 | Built | Sunk | Other | Gain | 1918 | |
U-Boats | 61 | 23 | 17 | 3 | +3 | 64 |
UB-Boats | 49 | 47 | 42 | 4 | +1 | 50 |
UC-Boats | 32 | (16) | 10 | 2 | -12 | 20 |
Total | 142 | 70 | 69 | 9 | -8 | 134 |
Built includes: U-52 returned to service.
Other: U-21 & U-22 for training; U-39 interned. UB-97, UB-106 and UB-114 for training; UB- 89 accidently sunk 21.10.18 None of the 16 new boats (UC-90 thru -105) ever saw service. UC-48 & UC-56 were interned. |
At the end of the war 224 submarines were under construction in German yards. |
SUMMARY OF CAUSES |
Ramming | 20 |
Gunfire | 20 |
Expl sweep | 3 |
Aircraft bombs | 1 |
Depth charge | 30 |
Enemy torpedo | 18 |
Own torpedo | 2 |
Enemy mines | 48 |
Own mines | 9 |
Stranded | 5 |
Unknown | 19 |
Other | 3 |
TOTAL LOSSES | 178 |
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