SM U-125[Note 1] was one of the 329 submarines serving in the Imperial German Navy in World War I. U-125 was engaged in the naval warfare and took part in the First Battle of the Atlantic.[3]
| History | |
|---|---|
 German Empire | |
| Name | U-125 |
| Ordered | 27 May 1916 |
| Builder | Blohm & Voss, Hamburg |
| Yard number | 302 |
| Launched | 26 May 1918 |
| Commissioned | 4 September 1918 |
| Fate | Surrendered to Japan, left service in 1935 |
| General characteristics [1] | |
| Class and type | Type UE II submarine |
| Type | Coastal minelaying submarine |
| Displacement | |
| Length |
|
| Beam | 7.42 m (24 ft 4 in) |
| Height | 10.16 m (33 ft 4 in) |
| Draught | 4.22 m (13 ft 10 in) |
| Installed power |
|
| Propulsion | 2 shafts, 2 × 1.61 m (5 ft 3 in) propellers |
| Speed |
|
| Range |
|
| Test depth | 75 m (246 ft) |
| Complement | 4 officers, 36 enlisted |
| Armament |
|
| Service record | |
| Commanders: |
|
| Operations: | None |
| Victories: | None |
Design
editType UE II submarines were preceded by the shorter Type UE I submarines. U-125 had a displacement of 1,163 tonnes (1,145 long tons) when at the surface and 1,468 tonnes (1,445 long tons) while submerged.[1] She had a total length of 82 metres (269 ft), a beam of 7.42 m (24 ft 4 in), a height of 10.16 m (33 ft 4 in), and a draught of 4.22 m (13 ft 10 in). The submarine was powered by two 2,400 metric horsepower (1,800 kW; 2,400 shp) engines for use while surfaced, and two 1,235 metric horsepower (908 kW; 1,218 shp) engines for use while submerged. She had two shafts and two 1.61 m (5.3 ft) propellers. She was capable of operating at depths of up to 75 metres (246 ft).[1]
The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 14.7 knots (27.2 km/h; 16.9 mph) and a maximum submerged speed of 7.2 knots (13.3 km/h; 8.3 mph).[1] When submerged, she could operate for 35 nautical miles (65 km; 40 mi) at 4.5 knots (8.3 km/h; 5.2 mph); when surfaced, she could travel 11,470 nautical miles (21,240 km; 13,200 mi) at 8 knots (15 km/h; 9.2 mph). U-125 was fitted with four 50 centimetres (20 in) torpedo tubes (fitted at its bow), twelve torpedoes, two 100 centimetres (39 in) mine chutes (fitted at its stern), forty-two mines, one 15 cm (5.9 in) SK L/45 deck gun, and 494 rounds. She had a complement of forty (thirty-six crew members and four officers).[1]
Service
editGermany
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Post-war
editU-125 was surrendered to Japan on 26 November 1918 and was renamed O-1 in 1920 or 1921. She was dismantled at the Yokosuka Naval Arsenal between January and March 1921. Between March 1924 and January 1925, she was used as a floating jetty at the Kure KSubmarine School. In 1925, she was rebuilt at Yokosuka as testbed for submarine salvage operations carried out by the submarine tender Asahi. On 19 August 1931, the formerO-1 was recommissioned as Auxiliary Vessel No. 2900 and used as such until 1935.[citation needed]
References
editNotes
edit- ^ "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- ^ a b c d e Gröner 1991, p. 15.
- ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat commanders: Hans Scabell". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
- ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boats: U 125". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 22 January 2010.
Bibliography
edit- 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.