I would like to start a thread in which members will post their WWI U-boat photos and post cards. Hopefully, we can collectively create a substantial photo reference. I will start with these three postcards and one photo.
U-111
The U-111 was commissioned on 30 June 1917 and is credited with sinking three ships for a total of 3,011 BRT. On 28 November 1918 she was turned over to the USA and taken to the Brooklyn Navy Yard. From 21 April to 10 May 1919 she was one of the war trophies used in the Victory Bond Drive. The U-111 type was used to develop the Type IX U-boat in WWII. The above photo was taken in April 1919 in the Brooklyn Navy Yard.
LOA 71.55 m (234.7 feet); beam 6.3 m (20.66 feet); draft 3.76 m (12.33 feet) Max rated depth 50 m (164 feet) diving time 45 to 66 seconds, Max speed surfaced, 16.4 knots; submerged 8.4 knots. Armamnet: 4 bow tubes, 2 stern tubes; 1 i05mm X 45 gun + 1 88mm X 30 gun
UB-22
The UB-22 was a Type II U-Boat commissioned on 2 March 1916. She is credited with sinking 27 vessels for a total of 16, 646 BRT. On 19 January 1918 while leaving Helgoland under escort, she ran into a British offensive minefield and went down with all hands. The above photo was taken in June 1917.
LOA 36.13 m (118.5 feet); Beam 4.36 m (14.3 feet), draft 3.7 m (12 feet) Max rated depth 50 m (164 feet) dive time 32 to 45 seconds. Torpedo tubes, 4 fwd., 2 aft, the deck gun was either 88mm or 105 mm. Max speed surfaced 9.15 knots submerged, 5.8 knots
UC-5
The UC-5 was a type I Uc-mine layer that was commissioned on 19 June 1915. Her mines sunk two ships totalling 1100 BRT. On the night of 27 April 1916 she ran aground and was stranded off Harwich. The British captured the boat and the crew the following morning and towed the UB-22 into Harwitch. She was used later in the war as a trophy display.
LOA 33.99m (111.5 feet) Beam 3.15 m (10.33 feet) draft 3.04 m (9.97 feet) max rated depth 50m (164 feet) Dive time 23 to 36 seconds speed surfaced 6.2 knots, submerged 5.22 knots No guns and no torpedoes. 12 mines in 6 chutes, loaded through the top and dropped through the bottom. These were very dangerous boats to be assigned to because several blew up on their own mines.
UC-97
The UC-97 was a Type III UC-mine layer that was commissioned on 6 September 1918. The boat is not credited with any sinkings. After the war she was turned over to the USA and used in the Victory Loan Drive from 21 April to 10 May 1919. On 7 June 1921 she was used as an artillery target on Lake Michigan. The photo above was taken in Ney York Harbor during the Victory Loan Drive. The grates are mine chute doors for loading the mines.
LOA 56.51 m (185.4 feet) Beam 5.54 m (18.2 feet) draft 3.77 m (12.4 feet) Max rated depth 75 m (246 feet) dive time 15 seconds, speed surfaced 11.5 knots, submerged 6.6 knots 2 bow torpedo tubes and 1 stern tube the deck gun was either 88 or 105mm. six mine chutes with a total of 14 mines. Dwight
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