SM U-98 was a Type U 93 submarine and one of the 329 submarines serving in the Imperial German Navy in World War I. U-98 was engaged in the naval warfare and took part in the First Battle of the Atlantic.[5]

History
German Empire
NameU-98
Ordered15 September 1915
BuilderGermaniawerft, Kiel
Yard number262
Launched28 February 1917
Commissioned31 May 1917
FateSurrendered 16 January 1919
General characteristics [1]
Class and typeGerman Type U 93 submarine
Displacement
  • 837 t (824 long tons) surfaced
  • 998 t (982 long tons) submerged
Length
Beam
  • 6.30 m (20 ft 8 in) (o/a)
  • 4.15 m (13 ft 7 in) (pressure hull)
Height8.25 m (27 ft 1 in)
Draught3.94 m (12 ft 11 in)
Installed power
  • 2 × 2,300 PS (1,692 kW; 2,269 shp) surfaced
  • 2 × 1,200 PS (883 kW; 1,184 shp) submerged
Propulsion2 shafts, 2 × 1.66 m (5 ft 5 in) propellers
Speed
  • 16.9 knots (31.3 km/h; 19.4 mph) surfaced
  • 8.6 knots (15.9 km/h; 9.9 mph) submerged
Range
  • 8,290 nmi (15,350 km; 9,540 mi) at 8 knots (15 km/h; 9.2 mph) surfaced
  • 47 nmi (87 km; 54 mi) at 5 knots (9.3 km/h; 5.8 mph) submerged
Test depth50 m (160 ft)
Complement4 officers, 32 enlisted
Armament
Service record
Part of:
  • IV Flotilla
  • 9 September 1917 – 11 November 1918
Commanders:
  • Kptlt. Curt Beitzen[2]
  • 31 May – 24 November 1917
  • Oblt.z.S. Walter Strasser[3]
  • 25 November – 21 December 1917
  • Kptlt. Rudolf Andler[4]
  • 22 December 1917 – 11 November 1918
Operations: 5 patrols
Victories:
  • 3 merchant ships sunk
    (1,750 GRT)
  • 1 merchant ship damaged
    (5,430 GRT)

Design edit

German Type U 93 submarines were preceded by the shorter Type U 87 submarines. U-98 had a displacement of 838 tonnes (825 long tons) when at the surface and 1,000 tonnes (980 long tons) while submerged.[1] She had a total length of 71.55 m (234 ft 9 in), a pressure hull length of 56.05 m (183 ft 11 in), a beam of 6.30 m (20 ft 8 in), a height of 8.25 m (27 ft 1 in), and a draught of 3.94 m (12 ft 11 in). The submarine was powered by two 2,300 metric horsepower (1,700 kW; 2,300 shp) engines for use while surfaced, and two 1,200 metric horsepower (880 kW; 1,200 shp) engines for use while submerged. She had two propeller shafts. She was capable of operating at depths of up to 50 metres (160 ft).[1]

The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 16.8 knots (31.1 km/h; 19.3 mph) and a maximum submerged speed of 8.6 knots (15.9 km/h; 9.9 mph).[1] When submerged, she could operate for 47 nautical miles (87 km; 54 mi) at 5 knots (9.3 km/h; 5.8 mph); when surfaced, she could travel 8,290 nautical miles (15,350 km; 9,540 mi) at 8 knots (15 km/h; 9.2 mph). U-98 was fitted with six 50 centimetres (20 in) torpedo tubes (four at the bow and two at the stern), twelve to sixteen torpedoes, and one 8.8 cm (3.5 in) SK L/30 deck gun. She had a complement of thirty-six (thirty-two crew members and four officers).[1]

Summary of raiding history edit

Date Name Nationality Tonnage[Note 1] Fate[6]
24 March 1918 Anchoria   United Kingdom 5,430 Damaged
26 May 1918 Janvold   Norway 1,366 Sunk
14 July 1918 Maurice   France 115 Sunk
31 July 1918 Alkor   Norway 269 Sunk

References edit

Notes edit

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

Citations edit

  1. ^ a b c d e Gröner 1991, pp. 12–14.
  2. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat commanders: Curt Beitzen". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
  3. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat commanders: Walter Strasser". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
  4. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat commanders: Rudolf Andler". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
  5. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boats: U 98". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
  6. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U 98". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 21 January 2015.

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.