SM U-93
{{Short description|German submarine}}
{{other ships|German submarine U-93}}
| {{Infobox ship begin}}
{{Infobox ship image | Ship image = | Ship caption = }} {{Infobox ship career | Hide header = | Ship country = German Empire | Ship flag = {{Shipboxflag|German Empire|naval}} | Ship name = U-93 | Ship ordered = 15 September 1915 | Ship builder = Germaniawerft, Kiel | Ship yard number = 257 | Ship laid down = 12 January 1916 | Ship launched = 15 December 1916 | Ship commissioned = 10 February 1917 | Ship fate = Lost to unknown cause off Hardelot, France in January 1918{{cite book |author=Innes McCartney |author-link=Innes McCartney |year=2015 |title=The Maritime Archaeology of a Modern Conflict: Comparing the Archaeology of German Submarine Wrecks to the Historical Text |location=New York |publisher=Routledge |pages=117–119 |isbn=978-1138814356 }} | Ship homeport = }} {{Infobox ship characteristics | Hide header = | Header caption = {{sfn|Gröner|1991|pp=12-14}} | Ship class = Type U 93 submarine | Ship displacement = *{{convert|838|t|LT|abbr=on|lk=on}} surfaced
| Ship length = *{{convert|71.55|m|ftin|abbr=on}} (o/a)
| Ship beam = *{{convert|6.30|m|ftin|abbr=on}} (o/a)
| Ship height = {{convert|8.25|m|ftin|abbr=on}} | Ship draught = {{convert|3.94|m|ftin|abbr=on}} | Ship power = *2 × {{convert|2400|PS|kW shp|abbr=on|lk=on|0}} surfaced
| Ship propulsion = 2 shafts, 2 × {{convert|1.66|m|ftin|abbr=on}} propellers | Ship speed = *{{convert|16.8|kn|lk=in}} surfaced
| Ship range = *{{convert|9020|nmi|abbr=on|lk=in}} at {{convert|8|kn}} surfaced
| Ship test depth = {{convert|50|m|ft|abbr=on}} | Ship complement = 4 officers, 32 enlisted | Ship armament = *6 × {{convert|50|cm|in|1|abbr=on}} torpedo tubes (four bow, two stern)
| Ship notes = }} {{Infobox service record |is_ship=yes |label=Service record{{cite Uboat.net |id=93 |name=U 93 |type=1sub |accessdate=14 December 2014 }} |partof=
|commanders =
|operations=5 patrols |victories=
}} |
SM U-93 was one of the 329 submarines serving in the Imperial German Navy in World War I.
U-93 was engaged in the naval warfare and took part in the First Battle of the Atlantic.
Design
Type U 93 submarines were preceded by the shorter Type U 87 submarines. U-93 had a displacement of {{convert|838|t|LT}} when at the surface and {{convert|1000|t|LT}} while submerged.{{sfn|Gröner|1991|pp=12-14}} She had a total length of {{convert|71.55|m|ftin|abbr=on}}, a pressure hull length of {{convert|56.05|m|ftin|abbr=on}}, a beam of {{convert|6.30|m|ftin|abbr=on}}, a height of {{convert|8.25|m|ftin|abbr=on}}, and a draught of {{convert|3.94|m|ftin|abbr=on}}. The submarine was powered by two {{convert|2400|PS|kW shp}} engines for use while surfaced, and two {{convert|1200|PS|kW shp}} engines for use while submerged. She had two propeller shafts. She was capable of operating at depths of up to {{convert|50|m}}.{{sfn|Gröner|1991|pp=12-14}}
The submarine had a maximum surface speed of {{convert|16.8|kn}} and a maximum submerged speed of {{convert|8.6|kn}}.{{sfn|Gröner|1991|pp=12-14}} When submerged, she could operate for {{convert|52|nmi}} at {{convert|5|kn}}; when surfaced, she could travel {{convert|9020|nmi}} at {{convert|8|kn}}. U-93 was fitted with six {{convert|50|cm}} torpedo tubes (four at the bow and two at the stern), twelve to sixteen torpedoes, and one 8.8 cm SK L/30 naval gun deck gun. She had a complement of thirty-six (thirty-two crew members and four officers).{{sfn|Gröner|1991|pp=12-14}}
Operational history
File:HMS Prize Q-ship attacking U-93.jpg
After February 1917 she was commanded by the late author of books (e.g. U boat 202. The war diary of a German submarine, 1919) and experienced submarine commander Edgar von Spiegel von und zu Peckelsheim
On 30 April 1917 about {{convert|180|nmi}} south of Ireland, in the Atlantic, U-93 attacked HMS Prize, a three-masted topsail schooner (one of the Q ships) commanded by Lieutenant William Edward Sanders (who received a Victoria Cross for the action). HMS Prize was damaged by shellfire. After the 'panic party' had taken to the boats and the ship appeared to be sinking, the U-boat approached to within {{convert|80|yds|m}} of her port quarter, whereupon the White Ensign was hoisted and the Prize opened fire.
Within a few minutes the submarine was on fire and her bows rose in the air, whilst the Prize was further damaged. The U-boat disappeared from sight, and was believed to have been sunk by the crew of the Prize and by several of the German crew (including her captain) who had been blown or jumped into the sea.
Neither of the crippled ships had sunk, with the Prize being towed in flames back to Kinsale, while the U-93 struggled back to the Sylt nine days later after a dramatic escape effort through the British mine and destroyer barrages off Dover.
U 93 after repairs operated in the English channel. She was lost to unknown cause off Hardelot, France in January 1918. The wreck was located by divers in 2003.{{cite book |author=Innes McCartney |author-link=Innes McCartney |year=2015 |title=The Maritime Archaeology of a Modern Conflict: Comparing the Archaeology of German Submarine Wrecks to the Historical Text |location=New York |publisher=Routledge |pages=117–119 |isbn=978-1138814356 }}
Summary of raiding history
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| width="140px"|Date
! width="140px"|Name ! width="160px"|Nationality ! width="25px" |TonnageMerchant ship tonnages are in gross register tons. Military vessels are listed by tons displacement. ! width="160px"|Fate{{cite Uboat.net |id=u93 |name=U 93 |type=1boat |accessdate=14 December 2014 }} |
|---|
| align="right"|15 April 1917
|align="left" |Fram |align="left" |{{flag|Denmark}} |align="right"|105 |align="left" |Sunk |
| align="right"|18 April 1917
|align="left" |Troldfos |align="left" |{{flag|Norway}} |align="right"|1,459 |align="left" |Sunk |
| align="right"|18 April 1917
|align="left" |West Lothian |align="left" |{{flag|Norway}} |align="right"|1,887 |align="left" |Sunk |
| align="right"|22 April 1917
|align="left" |Vestelv |align="left" |{{flag|Norway}} |align="right"|1,729 |align="left" |Sunk |
| align="right"|28 April 1917
|align="left" |Diana |align="left" |{{flag|Denmark}} |align="right"|207 |align="left" |Damaged |
| align="right"|29 April 1917
|align="left" |Comedian |align="left" |{{flag|United Kingdom|civil}} |align="right"|4,889 |align="left" |Sunk |
| align="right"|29 April 1917
|align="left" |Ikbal |align="left" |{{flag|United Kingdom|civil}} |align="right"|5,434 |align="left" |Sunk |
| align="right"|30 April 1917
|align="left" |Ascaro |align="left" |{{flagcountry|Kingdom of Italy|civil}} |align="right"|3,245 |align="left" |Sunk |
| align="right"|30 April 1917
|align="left" |Horsa |align="left" |{{flag|United Kingdom|civil}} |align="right"|2,949 |align="left" |Sunk |
| align="right"|30 April 1917
|align="left" |Parthenon |align="left" |{{flag|Greece|old}} |align="right"|2,934 |align="left" |Sunk |
| align="right"|30 April 1917
|align="left" |HMS Prize |align="left" |{{navy|United Kingdom}} |align="right"|199 |align="left" |Damaged |
| align="right"|19 June 1917
|align="left" |Louise |align="left" |{{flag|Norway}} |align="right"|645 |align="left" |Sunk |
| align="right"|27 June 1917
|align="left" |Baron Ogilvy |align="left" |{{flag|United Kingdom|civil}} |align="right"|4,570 |align="left" |Sunk |
| align="right"|4 July 1917
|align="left" |Kodan |align="left" |{{flag|Denmark}} |align="right"|308 |align="left" |Sunk |
| align="right"|12 August 1917
|align="left" |Bestum |align="left" |{{flag|Norway}} |align="right"|3,520 |align="left" |Sunk |
| align="right"|14 August 1917
|align="left" |Asti |align="left" |{{flagcountry|Kingdom of Italy|civil}} |align="right"|5,300 |align="left" |Sunk |
| align="right"|20 August 1917
|align="left" |Elswick Lodge |align="left" |{{flag|United Kingdom|civil}} |align="right"|3,558 |align="left" |Sunk |
| align="right"|21 August 1917
|align="left" |Volodia |align="left" |{{flag|United Kingdom|civil}} |align="right"|5,689 |align="left" |Sunk |
| align="right"|23 August 1917
|align="left" |Carl F. Cressy |align="left" |{{flag|United States|1912}} |align="right"|898 |align="left" |Sunk |
| align="right"|25 August 1917
|align="left" |Heatherside |align="left" |{{flag|United Kingdom|civil}} |align="right"|2,767 |align="left" |Sunk |
| align="right"|25 August 1917
|align="left" |Ovar |align="left" |{{flag|Portugal}} |align="right"|1,650 |align="left" |Sunk |
| align="right"|26 August 1917
|align="left" |Marmion |align="left" |{{flag|United Kingdom|civil}} |align="right"|4,066 |align="left" |Sunk |
| align="right"|26 August 1917
|align="left" |Minas Queen |align="left" |{{flag|Canada|1868}} |align="right"|492 |align="left" |Sunk |
| align="right"|29 August 1917
|align="left" |Treloske |align="left" |{{flag|United Kingdom|civil}} |align="right"|3,071 |align="left" |Sunk |
| align="right"|18 October 1917
|align="left" |Macao |align="left" |{{flag|Brazil|1889}} |align="right"|3,557 |align="left" |Sunk |
| align="right"|27 October 1917
|align="left" |D. N. Luckenbach |align="left" |{{flag|United States|1912}} |align="right"|2,929 |align="left" |Sunk |
| align="right"|28 October 1917
|align="left" |USAT Finland |align="left" |{{army|United States|1912}} |align="right"|12,222 |align="left" |Damaged |
| align="right"|29 October 1917
|align="left" |La Epoca |align="left" |{{flag|Uruguay}} |align="right"|2,432 |align="left" |Sunk |
| align="right"|30 October 1917
|align="left" |Liff |align="left" |{{flag|Norway}} |align="right"|2,521 |align="left" |Sunk |
| align="right"|2 January 1918
|align="left" |Veda |align="left" |{{flag|United Kingdom|civil}} |align="right"|25 |align="left" |Sunk |
| align="right"|4 January 1918
|align="left" |Goeland I |align="left" |{{navy|France}} |align="right"|235 |align="left" |Sunk |
| align="right"|6 January 1918
|align="left" |Kanaris |align="left" |{{flag|Greece|old}} |align="right"|3,793 |align="left" |Sunk |
| align="right"|6 January 1918
|align="left" |Harry Luckenbach |align="left" |{{flag|United States|1912}} |align="right"|2,798 |align="left" |Sunk |
| align="right"|6 January 1918
|align="left" |Henri Lecour |align="left" |{{flag|France}} |align="right"|2,488 |align="left" |Sunk |
| align="right"|6 January 1918
|align="left" |Dagny |align="left" |{{flag|Denmark}} |align="right"|1,220 |align="left" |Sunk |
| align="right"|14 January 1918
|align="left" |Babin Chevaye |align="left" |{{flag|France}} |align="right"|2,174 |align="left" |Sunk |
| align="right"|15 January 1918
|align="left" |War Song |align="left" |{{flag|United Kingdom|civil}} |align="right"|2,535 |align="left" |Sunk |
References
=Notes=
{{Reflist|group=Note}}
=Citations=
{{Reflist}}
Bibliography
- {{cite book
|last1=Gröner
|first1=Erich
|last2=Jung
|first2=Dieter
|last3=Maass
|first3=Martin
|translator-last1=Thomas
|translator-first1=Keith
|translator-last2=Magowan
|translator-first2=Rachel
|year=1991
|title=U-boats and Mine Warfare Vessels
|volume=2
|series=German Warships 1815–1945
|location=London
|publisher=Conway Maritime Press
|isbn=0-85177-593-4
|ref=CITEREFGröner1991
}}
{{German Type U 93 submarines}}
{{January 1918 shipwrecks}}
{{use dmy dates|date=June 2015}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:U0093}}
Category:World War I submarines of Germany
Category:German Type U 93 submarines
Category:U-boats commissioned in 1917