SM U-18
Encyclopedia
SM U-18 was one of 329 submarine
s serving in the Imperial German Navy (Kaiserliche Marine
) in World War I
. U-18 engaged in the commerce warfare
in the First Battle of the Atlantic.
Launched in October 1914, she was commanded by Kaptlt. von Hennig.
On her third mission, on 23 November U-18 penetrated the fleet anchorage of Scapa Flow
via Hoxa Sound, following a steamer through the boom and entering the anchorage with little difficulty. However, the fleet was absent, being dispersed in achorages on the west coast of Scotland and Ireland. As U-18 was making her way back out through Hoxa Sound to the open sea, her periscope was spotted by a guard boat. The trawler Dorothy Gray altered course and rammed the periscope, rendering it unserviceable. U-18 then suffered a failure of her diving plane motor and the boat became unable to maintain her depth, at one point even impacting the seabed. She was rammed a second time by the Dorothy Gray and eventually, her captain was forced to surface and scuttle his command just outside the Hoxa Gate, and all crewmembers except one were picked up by British boats.58.41N, 02.55W. One man died and 22 were captured.
The wreck lies 75 m (246.1 ft) below the surface just outside the Hoxa Gate, at 58.41N, 02.55W.
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 serving in the Imperial German Navy (Kaiserliche Marine
Kaiserliche Marine
The Imperial German Navy was the German Navy created at the time of the formation of the German Empire. It existed between 1871 and 1919, growing out of the small Prussian Navy and Norddeutsche Bundesmarine, which primarily had the mission of coastal defense. Kaiser Wilhelm II greatly expanded...
) in 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...
. U-18 engaged in the commerce warfare
Naval warfare of World War I
Naval warfare in World War I was mainly characterized by the efforts of the Allied Powers, with their larger fleets and surrounding position, to blockade the Central Powers by sea, and the efforts of the Central Powers to break that blockade or to establish an effective blockade of the United...
in the First Battle of the Atlantic.
Launched in October 1914, she was commanded by Kaptlt. von Hennig.
On her third mission, on 23 November U-18 penetrated the fleet anchorage of 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...
via Hoxa Sound, following a steamer through the boom and entering the anchorage with little difficulty. However, the fleet was absent, being dispersed in achorages on the west coast of Scotland and Ireland. As U-18 was making her way back out through Hoxa Sound to the open sea, her periscope was spotted by a guard boat. The trawler Dorothy Gray altered course and rammed the periscope, rendering it unserviceable. U-18 then suffered a failure of her diving plane motor and the boat became unable to maintain her depth, at one point even impacting the seabed. She was rammed a second time by the Dorothy Gray and eventually, her captain was forced to surface and scuttle his command just outside the Hoxa Gate, and all crewmembers except one were picked up by British boats.58.41N, 02.55W. One man died and 22 were captured.
The wreck lies 75 m (246.1 ft) below the surface just outside the Hoxa Gate, at 58.41N, 02.55W.
External links
- Uboat.net: More detailed information about U-18.
- Room 40: original documents, photos and maps about World War I German submarine warfare and British Room 40Room 40In the history of Cryptanalysis, Room 40 was the section in the Admiralty most identified with the British cryptoanalysis effort during the First World War.Room 40 was formed in October 1914, shortly after the start of the war...
Intelligence from The National Archives, Kew, Richmond, UK.