SM UB-119

Summary

SM UB-119 was a German Type UB III submarine or U-boat in the German Imperial Navy (German: Kaiserliche Marine) during World War I. She was commissioned into the German Imperial Navy on 9 February 1918 as SM UB-119.[Note 1]

UB-148 at sea, a U-boat similar to UB-119.
History
German Empire
NameUB-119
Ordered6 / 8 February 1917[2]
BuilderAG Weser, Bremen
Cost3,654,000 German Papiermark
Yard number292
Laid down10 April 1917[3]
Launched13 December 1917[1]
Commissioned9 February 1918[1]
FateSunk 5 May 1918
General characteristics [1]
Class and typeGerman Type UB III submarine
Displacement
  • 512 t (504 long tons) surfaced
  • 643 t (633 long tons) submerged
Length55.85 m (183 ft 3 in) (o/a)
Beam5.80 m (19 ft)
Draught3.72 m (12 ft 2 in)
Propulsion
Speed
  • 13.9 knots (25.7 km/h; 16.0 mph) surfaced
  • 7.6 knots (14.1 km/h; 8.7 mph) submerged
Range
  • 7,280 nmi (13,480 km; 8,380 mi) at 6 knots (11 km/h; 6.9 mph) surfaced
  • 55 nmi (102 km; 63 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph) submerged
Test depth50 m (160 ft)
Complement3 officers, 31 men[1]
Armament
Service record
Part of:
  • III Flotilla
  • 20 April – 5 May 1918
Commanders:
  • Oblt.z.S. Walter Kolbe[4]
  • 9 February – 5 May 1918
Operations: 1 patrol
Victories: None

UB-119 was rammed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean off Rathlin Island, County Donegal, Ireland, United Kingdom, at (55°16′N 6°24′W / 55.267°N 6.400°W / 55.267; -6.400) by the steamer Green Island with the loss of all 34 members of her crew.[1][5]

Construction edit

She was built by AG Weser of Bremen and following just under a year of construction, launched at Bremen on 13 December 1917. UB-119 was commissioned early the next year under the command of Oblt.z.S. Walter Kolbe. Like all Type UB III submarines, UB-119 carried 10 torpedoes and was armed with a 8.8 cm (3.46 in) deck gun. UB-119 would carry a crew of up to 3 officer and 31 men and had a cruising range of 7,280 nautical miles (13,480 km; 8,380 mi). UB-119 had a displacement of 512 t (504 long tons) while surfaced and 643 t (633 long tons) when submerged. Her engines enabled her to travel at 13.9 knots (25.7 km/h; 16.0 mph) when surfaced and 7.6 knots (14.1 km/h; 8.7 mph) when submerged.

References edit

Notes edit

  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.

Citations edit

  1. ^ a b c d e Gröner 1991, pp. 25–30.
  2. ^ Rössler 1979, p. 55.
  3. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boats: UB 119". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 13 February 2009.
  4. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat commanders: Walter Kolbe". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 10 March 2015.
  5. ^ "UB 119". Uboat.net. Retrieved 16 November 2012.

Bibliography edit

  • Bendert, Harald (2000). Die UB-Boote der Kaiserlichen Marine, 1914-1918. Einsätze, Erfolge, Schicksal (in German). Hamburg: Verlag E.S. Mittler & Sohn GmbH. ISBN 3-8132-0713-7.
  • 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.
  • Rössler, Eberhard (1979). Die deutschen U-Boote und ihre Werften: eine Bilddokumentation über den deutschen U-Bootbau; in zwei Bänden (in German). Vol. I. Munich: Bernard & Graefe. ISBN 3-7637-5213-7.