SM U-45

SM U-45[Note 1] was one of the 329 submarines serving in the Imperial German Navy in World War I. U-45 was engaged in the naval warfare and took part in the First Battle of the Atlantic.

For other ships with the same name, see German submarine U-45.
History
German Empire
NameU-45
Ordered22 June 1914
BuilderKaiserliche Werft Danzig
Yard number23
Launched15 April 1915
Commissioned9 October 1915
FateSunk 12 September 1917
General characteristics [1]
Class and typeType U-43 submarine
Displacement
  • 725 t (714 long tons) surfaced
  • 940 t (930 long tons) submerged
Length65.00 m (213 ft 3 in) (o/a)
Beam
  • 6.20 m (20 ft 4 in) (oa)
  • 4.18 m (13 ft 9 in) (pressure hull)
Height9.00 m (29 ft 6 in)
Draught3.74 m (12 ft 3 in)
Installed power
  • 2 × 2,000 PS (1,471 kW; 1,973 shp) surfaced
  • 2 × 1,200 PS (883 kW; 1,184 shp) submerged
Propulsion2 shafts
Speed
  • 15.2 knots (28.2 km/h; 17.5 mph) surfaced
  • 9.7 knots (18.0 km/h; 11.2 mph) submerged
Range
  • 11,400 nmi (21,100 km; 13,100 mi) at 8 knots (15 km/h; 9.2 mph) surfaced
  • 51 nmi (94 km; 59 mi) at 5 knots (9.3 km/h; 5.8 mph) submerged
Test depth50 m (164 ft 1 in)
Complement36
Armament
Service record
Part of:
  • III Flotilla
  • 11 November 1916 - 12 September 1917
Commanders:
  • Kptlt. Erich Sittenfeld
  • 9 October 1915 - 12 September 1917
Operations: 7 patrols
Victories:
  • 27 merchant ships sunk
    (47,286 GRT)
  • 1 merchant ship damaged
    (3,891 GRT)

U-45 was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean northwest of the Shetland Islands (55°48′N 7°30′W) by the Royal Navy submarine HMS D7 on 12 September 1917 with the loss of 43 of her 45 crewmen.

Summary of raiding history
Date Name Nationality Tonnage[Note 2] Fate[2]
27 April 1916 Industry  United Kingdom 4,044 Sunk
30 April 1916 Vinifreda  Spain 1,441 Sunk
2 May 1916 Le Pilier  France 2,427 Sunk
2 May 1916 Maud  United Kingdom 120 Sunk
5 July 1916 Geertruida  Netherlands 140 Sunk
28 September 1916 Fuchsia  United Kingdom 145 Sunk
21 January 1917 Gladys  United Kingdom 275 Sunk
21 January 1917 Lucy  United Kingdom 280 Sunk
21 January 1917 Star of the Sea  United Kingdom 197 Sunk
26 January 1917 Tabasco  United Kingdom 2,987 Sunk
2 February 1917 Garnet Hill  Russian Empire 2,272 Sunk
3 February 1917 Belford  United Kingdom 1,905 Sunk
3 February 1917 Eavestone  United Kingdom 1,858 Sunk
4 February 1917 Eridania  Kingdom of Italy 3,171 Sunk
4 February 1917 Thor II  Norway 2,144 Sunk
10 February 1917 Ostrich  United Kingdom 148 Sunk
28 April 1917 Olga  Russian Empire 1,672 Sunk
3 May 1917 Palm Branch  United Kingdom 3,891 Damaged
3 May 1917 Truvor  Russian Empire 2,462 Sunk
11 May 1917 Hermes  Russian Empire 3,579 Sunk
19 May 1917 Elise  Denmark 137 Sunk
1 July 1917 Eclipse  United Kingdom 185 Sunk
15 July 1917 Mariston  United Kingdom 2,908 Sunk
16 July 1917 Ribston  United Kingdom 3,372 Sunk
17 July 1917 Haworth  United Kingdom 4,456 Sunk
20 July 1917 Nevisbrook  United Kingdom 3,140 Sunk
21 July 1917 Dafila  United Kingdom 1,754 Sunk
24 July 1917 Zateja  Russian Empire 67 Sunk

References

Notes
  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.
  2. Tonnages are in gross register tons

Citations
  1. Gröner 1991, pp. 8–10.
  2. Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U 45". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 28 November 2014.

Bibliography
  • 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.

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