German Type UE II submarine
Encyclopedia
The Type UE II submarines were a class
of submarine
s built by the German Empire
during World War I
as long-range mine-layers.
UE II boats carried 14 torpedoes and were armed with one 150 mm deck gun. They carried a crew of 40 and had a cruising range of about 9,400 miles. Nine were built between 1917 and 1918.
The UE IIs joined the conflict in the middle of 1917, at a time when the tide of the war was turning against Germany. In the months beforehand, the United States Navy was added to the ranks of their enemies; and the convoy system was introduced, making it difficult to engage enemy merchant shipping without being spotted by destroyer escorts. Because they entered service late in the war, the UE IIs only sank 24 ships and damaged 3 others before the end of hostilities. SM U-117
was by far the most successful U-boat, taking credit for 21 ships sunk out of the total of 24 for the entire type. The UE II's were the last of the UE class U-boats built by the German Imperial Navy; the last of the class, U-126, was commissioned on 3 October 1918, a little over a month before the armistice at Compiègne
.
. SM U-117 was handed over to the United States
where she remained in the Philadelphia Navy Yard along with other U-boats. In June 1921 she was taken out to sea and sunk as a target for aerial bombing tests conducted by the Navy and Army. SM U-118 was turned over to France
but got washed ashore at Hastings
in Sussex
where she remained until being finally broken up in December 1919. SM U-119 was surrendered to France in November 1918. She was renamed the René Audry and saw service in the French Navy and was eventually broken up in October 1937. SM U-120 was transferred to Italy
in November 1918. She was broken up soon after in April 1919. SM U-122 was surrendered to England on 26 November 1918. She later ran aground on the English east coast while on her journey to Scapa Flow
. Like SM U-122, SM U-123 also ran aground on the English coast where she was broken up. SM U-124 was surrendered in December 1918 and was later broken up in Swansea
in 1921. SM U-125 Surrendered to Japan in late November 1918. She served in the Japanese Navy as the O1 in 1920-21. between January and March 1921, U-125 was dismantled at Yokosuka Navy Yard. SM U-126 was handed over to the allies in November 1918 and later broken up at Upnor
in 1923.
* Ship was damaged
Ship class
A ship class is a group of ships of a similar design. This is distinct from a ship-type, which might reflect a similarity of tonnage or intended use. For example, the is a nuclear aircraft carrier of the Nimitz class....
of submarine
Submarine
A submarine is a watercraft capable of independent operation below the surface of the water. It differs from a submersible, which has more limited underwater capability...
s built by the German Empire
German Empire
The German Empire refers to Germany during the "Second Reich" period from the unification of Germany and proclamation of Wilhelm I as German Emperor on 18 January 1871, to 1918, when it became a federal republic after defeat in World War I and the abdication of the Emperor, Wilhelm II.The German...
during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
as long-range mine-layers.
UE II boats carried 14 torpedoes and were armed with one 150 mm deck gun. They carried a crew of 40 and had a cruising range of about 9,400 miles. Nine were built between 1917 and 1918.
The UE IIs joined the conflict in the middle of 1917, at a time when the tide of the war was turning against Germany. In the months beforehand, the United States Navy was added to the ranks of their enemies; and the convoy system was introduced, making it difficult to engage enemy merchant shipping without being spotted by destroyer escorts. Because they entered service late in the war, the UE IIs only sank 24 ships and damaged 3 others before the end of hostilities. SM U-117
SM U-117
SM U-117 was a Type UE II long-range minelayer submarine of the Imperial German Navy. It was laid down in 1917 at Hamburg, Germany, by Aktiengesellschaft Vulcan and launched on 10 December 1917. It was commissioned in the Imperial German Navy on 28 March 1918 with Kapitänleutnant Otto Dröscher in...
was by far the most successful U-boat, taking credit for 21 ships sunk out of the total of 24 for the entire type. The UE II's were the last of the UE class U-boats built by the German Imperial Navy; the last of the class, U-126, was commissioned on 3 October 1918, a little over a month before the armistice at Compiègne
Armistice with Germany (Compiègne)
The armistice between the Allies and Germany was an agreement that ended the fighting in the First World War. It was signed in a railway carriage in Compiègne Forest on 11 November 1918 and marked a victory for the Allies and a complete defeat for Germany, although not technically a surrender...
.
Post-war years
Following the end of the war, all of the Type UE II submarines were handed over to the allies as part of the Treaty of VersaillesTreaty of Versailles
The Treaty of Versailles was one of the peace treaties at the end of World War I. It ended the state of war between Germany and the Allied Powers. It was signed on 28 June 1919, exactly five years after the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand. The other Central Powers on the German side of...
. SM U-117 was handed over to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
where she remained in the Philadelphia Navy Yard along with other U-boats. In June 1921 she was taken out to sea and sunk as a target for aerial bombing tests conducted by the Navy and Army. SM U-118 was turned over to France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
but got washed ashore at Hastings
Hastings
Hastings is a town and borough in the county of East Sussex on the south coast of England. The town is located east of the county town of Lewes and south east of London, and has an estimated population of 86,900....
in Sussex
Sussex
Sussex , from the Old English Sūþsēaxe , is an historic county in South East England corresponding roughly in area to the ancient Kingdom of Sussex. It is bounded on the north by Surrey, east by Kent, south by the English Channel, and west by Hampshire, and is divided for local government into West...
where she remained until being finally broken up in December 1919. SM U-119 was surrendered to France in November 1918. She was renamed the René Audry and saw service in the French Navy and was eventually broken up in October 1937. SM U-120 was transferred to Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
in November 1918. She was broken up soon after in April 1919. SM U-122 was surrendered to England on 26 November 1918. She later ran aground on the English east coast while on her journey to Scapa Flow
Scapa Flow
right|thumb|Scapa Flow viewed from its eastern endScapa Flow is a body of water in the Orkney Islands, Scotland, United Kingdom, sheltered by the islands of Mainland, Graemsay, Burray, South Ronaldsay and Hoy. It is about...
. Like SM U-122, SM U-123 also ran aground on the English coast where she was broken up. SM U-124 was surrendered in December 1918 and was later broken up in Swansea
Swansea
Swansea is a coastal city and county in Wales. Swansea is in the historic county boundaries of Glamorgan. Situated on the sandy South West Wales coast, the county area includes the Gower Peninsula and the Lliw uplands...
in 1921. SM U-125 Surrendered to Japan in late November 1918. She served in the Japanese Navy as the O1 in 1920-21. between January and March 1921, U-125 was dismantled at Yokosuka Navy Yard. SM U-126 was handed over to the allies in November 1918 and later broken up at Upnor
Upnor
Lower Upnor and Upper Upnor are two small villages in Medway, Kent, England. They are in the parish of Frindsbury Extra on the western bank of the River Medway...
in 1923.
Ships sunk by Type UE II submarines
| Date | Name | Tonnage | Nationality | U-boat credited with loss |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aleda May | 31 | American | U-117 | |
| Cruiser | 28 | American | U-117 | |
| Earl & Nettie | 24 | American | U-117 | |
| Katie L. Palmer | 31 | American | U-117 | |
| Mary E. Sennett | 26 | American | U-117 | |
| On Time | 18 | American | U-117 | |
| Progress | 34 | American | U-117 | |
| Reliance | 19 | American | U-117 | |
| William H. Starbuck | 53 | American | U-117 | |
| Sommerstad | 3,875 | Norwegian | U-117 | |
| Frederic R. Kellogg* | 7,127 | American | U-117 | |
| Dorothy B. Barrett | 2,088 | American | U-117 | |
| Madrugada | 1,613 | American | U-117 | |
| Mirlo | 6,978 | British | U-117 | |
| Nordhav | 2,846 | Norwegian | U-117 | |
| Bianca* | 408 | British | U-117 | |
| Rush | 162 | American | U-117 | |
| Bergsdalen | 2,555 | Norwegian | U-117 | |
| Elsie Porter | 136 | British | U-117 | |
| Potentate | 136 | British | U-117 | |
| Wellington | 5,600 | British | U-118 | |
| Minnesota* | 18,000 | American | U-117 | |
| San Saba | 2,458 | American | U-117 | |
| Arca | 4,938 | British | U-118 | |
| Njordur | 278 | Iceland | U-122 | |
| Chaparra | 1,510 | Cuban | U-117 | |
| Saetia | 2,873 | American | U-117 | |
List of Type UE II submarines
There were 9 Type UE II submarines commissioned into the Kaiserliche Marine.- SM U-117SM U-117SM U-117 was a Type UE II long-range minelayer submarine of the Imperial German Navy. It was laid down in 1917 at Hamburg, Germany, by Aktiengesellschaft Vulcan and launched on 10 December 1917. It was commissioned in the Imperial German Navy on 28 March 1918 with Kapitänleutnant Otto Dröscher in...
- SM U-118SM U-118SM U-118 was a type UE II mine laying submarine of the Imperial German Navy and one of 329 submarines serving with that navy during World War I.U-118 engaged in naval warfare and took part in the First Battle of the Atlantic.-Career:...
- SM U-119SM U-119SM U-119 was one of the 329 submarines serving in the Imperial German Navy in World War I.U-119 was engaged in the naval warfare and took part in the First Battle of the Atlantic.-References:...
- SM U-120SM U-120SM U-120 was a Type UE II long-range minelayer submarine of the Imperial German Navy. She was built at Hamburg, Germany, by Aktiengesellschaft Vulcan and launched on 20 June 1918...
- SM U-122SM U-122SM U-122 was a Type UE II long-range minelayer submarine of the Imperial German Navy during World War I. U-122 was engaged in naval warfare and took part in the First Battle of the Atlantic. U-122 succeeded in sinking one ship during her career for a total of 278 tons. Shortly after, she was...
- SM U-123SM U-123SM U-123 was one of the 329 submarines serving in the Imperial German Navy in World War I.U-123 was engaged in the naval warfare and took part in the First Battle of the Atlantic....
- SM U-124SM U-124SM U-124 was one of the 329 submarines serving in the Imperial German Navy in World War I.U-124 was engaged in the naval warfare and took part in the First Battle of the Atlantic under the command of Kapitänleutnant Rolf Carls ....
- SM U-125SM U-125SM U-125 was one of the 329 submarines serving in the Imperial German Navy in World War I.U-125 was engaged in the naval warfare and took part in the First Battle of the Atlantic....
- SM U-126SM U-126SM U-126 was one of the 329 submarines serving in the Imperial German Navy in World War I.U-126 was engaged in the naval warfare and took part in the First Battle of the Atlantic....
External links
- http://www.uboat.net/