SM U-8
 SM U-8 sinking after being scuttled on March 4, 1915
| |
| History | |
|---|---|
 German Empire | |
| Name | U-8 |
| Ordered | 8 April 1908 |
| Builder | Germaniawerft, Kiel |
| Cost | 2,540,000 Goldmark |
| Yard number | 150 |
| Laid down | 19 May 1909 |
| Launched | 14 March 1911 |
| Commissioned | 18 June 1911 |
| Fate | 4 March 1915 - Trapped in nets, forced to surface and scuttled under gunfire from HMS Gurkha and Maori at position 50°41′N 0°06′E / 50.683°N 0.100°E. |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | German Type U 5 submarine |
| Displacement |
|
| Length |
|
| Beam |
|
| Draught | 3.55 m (11 ft 8 in) |
| Propulsion | |
| Speed |
|
| Range | 3,300 nmi (6,100 km; 3,800 mi) at 9 knots (17 km/h; 10 mph) |
| Test depth | 30 m (98 ft) |
| Boats & landing craft carried | 1 dingi |
| Complement | 4 officers, 25 men |
| Armament |
|
| Service record | |
| Part of: |
|
| Commanders: | |
| Operations: | 1 patrol |
| Victories: | 5 merchant ships sunk (15,049 GRT) |
Service History
SM U-8 was one of the 329 submarines serving in the Imperial German Navy in World War I. U-8 was engaged in the naval warfare and took part in the First Battle of the Atlantic.
Fate
Trapped in nets, forced to surface and scuttled under gunfire from HMS Gurkha and Maori, in the English Channel, at position 50°56′N 01°16′E / 50.933°N 1.267°E. In June 2015 the submarine's propeller, which had been illegally removed from the wreck, was recovered and presented to the German Navy. It will be exhibited at the Laboe Naval Memorial near Kiel.[3][4] In July 2016 the wreck of U-8 was officially designated as a protected site.[5]
Summary of raiding history
| Date | Ship Name | Nationality | Tonnage (GRT) |
Fate[6] |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23 February 1915 | Branksome Chine |  United Kingdom
|
2,026 | Sunk |
| 23 February 1915 | Oakby | United Kingdom
|
1,976 | Sunk |
| 24 February 1915 | Harpalion | United Kingdom
|
5,867 | Sunk |
| 24 February 1915 | Rio Parana | United Kingdom
|
4,015 | Sunk |
| 24 February 1915 | Western Coast | United Kingdom
|
1,165 | Sunk |
References
- ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat commanders: Konrad Gansser (Royal House Order of Hohenzollern)". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 13 March 2015.
- ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat commanders: Alfred Stoß". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 13 March 2015.
- ^ "WW1 German U-boat propeller returned". BBC News. 16 June 2015. Retrieved 18 June 2015.
- ^ "A symbol of friendship and reconcilation(sic)..." Maritime and Coastguard Agency. 17 June 2015. Retrieved 18 June 2015.
- ^ "British A3 submarine sunk off Jurassic Coast in 1912 gets protected status". Dorset Echo. Newsquest Media. 22 July 2016. Retrieved 24 July 2016.
- ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U 8". 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. Vol. 2. Translated by Thomas, Keith; Magowan, Rachel. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-593-4.
{{cite book}}:|work=ignored (help); Cite has empty unknown parameter:|last-author-amp=(help) - Rössler, Eberhard (1985). U-Bootbau bis Ende des 1. Weltkriegs, Konstruktionen für das Ausland und die Jahre 1935-1945 (in German). Vol. I. Koblenz: Bernard & Graefe. ISBN 3-7637-5213-7.
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External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to SM U 8 (submarine, 1909).
'U-8 Off South Varne Buoy, English Channel: Undesignated Site Assessment' Historic England project to research First World War Submarines