SM U-16 (Germany)

SM U-16[Note 1] was one of the 329 submarines serving in the Imperial German Navy in World War I.

For other ships with the same name, see German submarine U-16.
U-Boats at Kiel, 1914.
U-22, U-20, U-19, & U-21 (1st row, l-r);
U-14, U-15, U-11, U-16, U-18, and U-?? (2nd row, l-r).
History
Germany
NameU-16
Ordered26 August 1909
BuilderGermaniawerft, Kiel
Cost2,539,000 Goldmark
Yard number157
Laid down10 May 1910
Launched29 August 1911
Commissioned28 December 1911
FateFebruary 1919 - Sunk in an accident in position 58°59′N 08°29′E while on passage to surrender.
General characteristics
Class and typeGerman Type U 16 submarine
Displacement
  • 489 t (481 long tons) surfaced
  • 627 t (617 long tons) submerged
Length57.80 m (189 ft 8 in)
Beam6.00 m (19 ft 8 in)
Draught3.36 m (11 ft 0 in)
Propulsion
  • 2 shafts
  • 2 × Körting 6-cylinder and 2 × Körting 8-cylinder two stroke paraffin motors with 900 PS (660 kW; 890 shp)
  • 2 × SSW electric motors with 1,040 PS (760 kW; 1,030 shp)
  • 550 rpm surfaced
  • 600 rpm submerged
Speed
  • 15.6 knots (28.9 km/h; 18.0 mph) surfaced
  • 10.7 knots (19.8 km/h; 12.3 mph) submerged
Test depth50 m (160 ft)
Boats & landing
craft carried		1 dingi
Complement4 officers, 25 men
Armament
Service record
Part of:
  • II Flotilla
  • 1 August 1914 – unknown end
Commanders:
  • Kptlt. Claus Hansen[1]
  • 1 August 1914 – 15 March 1915
  • Oblt.z.S. Leo Hillebrand[2]
  • 16 March – 21 October 1915
Operations: 4 patrols
Victories:
  • 11 merchant ships sunk
    (11,730 GRT)
  • 2 merchant ships damaged
    (11,228 GRT)
  • 1 merchant ship taken as prize
    (838 GRT)

Service history

U-16 was engaged in the naval warfare and took part in the First Battle of the Atlantic.

Summary of raiding history
Date Ship Name Nationality Tonnage[Note 2] Fate[3]
15 February 1915 Dulwich  United Kingdom 3,289 Sunk
15 February 1915 Ville de Lille  France 997 Sunk
18 February 1915 Dinorah  France 4,208 Damaged
19 February 1915 Belridge  Norway 7,020 Damaged
26 May 1915 M. Roosval  Sweden 309 Sunk
26 May 1915 Betty  Denmark 2,109 Sunk
28 May 1915 Mars  Russian Empire 251 Sunk
30 May 1915 Søborg  Denmark 2,108 Sunk
20 September 1915 Thorvaldsen  Denmark 1,220 Sunk
26 September 1915 Ellen Benzon  Denmark 143 Sunk
29 September 1915 Flora  Norway 184 Sunk
29 September 1915 Actie  Norway 562 Sunk
30 September 1915 Florida  Norway 558 Sunk
1 October 1915 Pallas  Sweden 838 Captured as prize

References

Notes
  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
  1. Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat commanders: Claus Hansen". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 15 March 2015.
  2. Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat commanders: Leo Hillebrand (Royal House Order of Hohenzollern)". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 15 March 2015.
  3. Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U 16". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 19 February 2014.

Bibliography
  • 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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