SM U-64

SM U-64 was a Type U-63 class submarine in the Kaiserliche Marine that served during World War I. She was built in 1916 and served in the Mediterranean Sea.

History
German Empire
NameU-64
Ordered17 May 1915
BuilderGermaniawerft, Kiel
Yard number248
Laid down19 May 1915
Launched29 February 1916
Commissioned15 April 1916
FateSunk 17 June 1918 by depth charges from HMS Lychnis at 38°07′N 10°27′E. 38 dead and 5 survivors.[1]
General characteristics [2]
Class and typeType U 63 submarine
Displacement
  • 810 t (800 long tons) surfaced
  • 927 t (912 long tons) submerged
Length
Beam
  • 6.30 m (20 ft 8 in) (oa)
  • 4.15 m (13 ft 7 in) (pressure hull)
Height7.65 m (25 ft 1 in)
Draught4.04 m (13 ft 3 in)
Installed power
  • 2 × 2,200 PS (1,618 kW; 2,170 shp) surfaced
  • 2 × 1,200 PS (883 kW; 1,184 shp) submerged
Propulsion2 shafts
Speed
  • 16.5 knots (30.6 km/h; 19.0 mph) surfaced
  • 9.0 knots (16.7 km/h; 10.4 mph) submerged
Range
  • 9,170 nmi (16,980 km; 10,550 mi) at 8 knots (15 km/h; 9.2 mph) surfaced
  • 60 nmi (110 km; 69 mi) at 5 knots (9.3 km/h; 5.8 mph) submerged
Test depth50 m (164 ft 1 in)
Complement36
Armament
Service record
Part of:
  • IV Flotilla
  • 31 May – 19 November 1916
  • Pola / Mittelmeer / Mittelmeer I Flotilla
  • 19 November 1916 – 17 June 1918
Commanders:
  • Kptlt. Robert Moraht[3]
  • 15 April 1916 – 17 June 1918
Operations: 10 patrols
Victories:
  • 44 merchant ships sunk
    (129,326 GRT)
  • 1 warship sunk
    (18,300 tons)
  • 1 auxiliary warship sunk
    (243 GRT)
  • 3 merchant ships damaged
    (9,420 GRT)
  • 1 merchant ship taken as prize
    (186 GRT)

On 19 March 1917, while on patrol in the Tyrrhenian Sea, U-64 encountered the French battleship Danton 30 nautical miles (56 km; 35 mi) south of Sardinia.[4] U-64 torpedoed Danton which sank in 45 minutes with the loss of 296 men.

During her career, U-64 was under the command of Kapitänleutnant Robert Moraht. She was lost on 17 June 1918.

Summary of raiding history
Date Name Nationality Tonnage[Note 1] Fate[5]
25 September 1916 Bella  United Kingdom 11 Sunk
26 September 1916 Loch Ryan  United Kingdom 186 Captured as prize
10 November 1916 Freja  Denmark 2,168 Sunk
10 November 1916 Tripel  Norway 4,633 Sunk
15 November 1916 F. Matarazzo  United Kingdom 2,823 Sunk
17 February 1917 HMT Hawk  Royal Navy 243 Sunk
17 February 1917 Okement  United Kingdom 4,349 Sunk
18 February 1917 Asturian  United Kingdom 3,193 Damaged
19 February 1917 Corso  United Kingdom 3,242 Sunk
12 March 1917 Nina M.  Italy 117 Sunk
16 March 1917 Catania  Italy 3,188 Sunk
17 March 1917 Tripoli  Italy 658 Sunk
19 March 1917 Danton  French Navy 18,300 Sunk
23 March 1917 Eptalofos  United Kingdom 4,413 Sunk
25 March 1917 Berbera  United Kingdom 4,352 Sunk
25 March 1917 Immacolata  Italy 137 Sunk
5 June 1917 Kallundborg  United Kingdom 1,590 Sunk
6 June 1917 Oriana  Argentina 1,015 Sunk
7 June 1917 Mama Filomena  Italy 148 Sunk
9 June 1917 Fert  Italy 5,567 Sunk
9 June 1917 Gratangen  Norway 2,484 Sunk
12 June 1917 Moreni  United States 4,045 Sunk
19 June 1917 La Giuseppina  Italy 28 Sunk
19 June 1917 Nuovo Mondo Carmelo  Italy 25 Sunk
12 September 1917 Gisla  Norway 2,118 Sunk
12 September 1917 Urd  United Kingdom 3,049 Sunk
12 September 1917 Wilmore  United States 5,395 Sunk
14 September 1917 Amiral De Kersaint  France 5,570 Sunk
14 September 1917 Ausonia  Italy 1,438 Sunk
14 September 1917 Chulmleigh  United Kingdom 4,911 Sunk
19 October 1917 War Clover  United Kingdom 5,174 Sunk
25 October 1917 Erviken  Norway 2,134 Sunk
25 October 1917 Ness  United Kingdom 3,050 Sunk
25 October 1917 Sheaf Blade  United Kingdom 2,378 Sunk
26 October 1917 Le Tarn  France 1,658 Sunk
28 October 1917 Ferrona  United Kingdom 4,591 Sunk
9 December 1917 Adour  Norway 1,940 Sunk
10 December 1917 Crathorne  Norway 2,619 Sunk
10 December 1917 Owasco  United States 4,630 Sunk
11 December 1917 D. A. Gordon  United Kingdom 2,301 Sunk
11 December 1917 Minorca  United Kingdom 1,145 Sunk
14 December 1917 Coila  United Kingdom 4,135 Sunk
30 January 1918 Minnetonka  United Kingdom 13,528 Sunk
4 February 1918 Participation  Italy 2,438 Sunk
5 February 1918 Caprera  Italy 1,875 Sunk
6 February 1918 Duca Di Genova  Italy 7,893 Sunk
7 February 1918 Montenegro  France 1,306 Damaged
8 February 1918 Agnese Madre  Italy 235 Sunk
8 February 1918 Emma Felice  Italy 128 Sunk
17 June 1918 Kandy  United Kingdom 4,921 Damaged

References

Notes
  1. Merchant ship tonnages are in gross register tons. Military vessels are listed by tons displacement.

Citations
  1. Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boats: U 64". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net.
  2. Gröner 1991, pp. 8–10.
  3. Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat commanders: Robert Moraht". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
  4. BBC, "Danton wreck".
  5. Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U 64". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 25 November 2014.

Bibliography
  • Amos, Jonathan (19 February 2009). "Danton wreck found in deep water". BBC News. Retrieved 19 February 2009.
  • 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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