U43 class (1914)

Germany: SM U43 to U-50 (1914)

The U43 class U-Boats were a brand-new type of submarines, not just a scaled up version of the previous U27 or U31 boats. The Project 25 U-Boats, were improved in many ways, not only in terms of range and diving time, while being also larger that previous boats, introducing a new type of hull streamlined, rounded double hull, new conning tower and five torpedo tubes. Eight were ordered before the war and launched in 1914 and up to late 1916, the last completed in the spring 1917. They saw heavy action and were also quite successful: U43 sank 44 ships, U44 sank 22, U45 sank 27, U46 sank 52 (top ace), U47 sank 14, U48 sank 34, U49 sank 38, and U50 sank 27 ships. They had a considerable impact on later U-Boat designs. One postwar became the IJN O2, completely disassembled for study and tests, also having quite an impact on Japanese Submarine construction. U50 was made infamous for the sinking od RMS Laconia, which made the headlines in the US and had an impact almost similar to the Lusitania.

U43 at sea, seen from her conning tower

Design of the U43 class:

Development

The competitive back and forth between Kaiserliches Werft in Danzig on one hand and Germaniawerft in Kiel on the other, for submarines, benefited greatly gradual, incremental improvement of a main oceanic type which was the bedrock for futre improvements.

The only exception was the purchase in Italy of U42, a Fiat-Laurenti type. It was to enable some extra competitive knowledge, as German designs were very much alike. This was “fresh blood” to be throughly studied and good ideas integrated in future U-Boat designs as the war was looming close. However, Italy’s shipbuilding efficience was not as edgy as in Germany. U42 was laid down in August 1913, but in May 1915, she not even launched yet at FIAT-San Giorgio, La Spezia. Construction was suspended, and by the time U42 was launched in August 1915, Italy, which was initally leaning on the central Powers, decided to join the entente instead. As the Government was ramping up its naval assets, it was decided to requisition U42, which was renamed “Balilla” and was eventually commissioned in late 1915. She saw little service, being sunk in July 1916, but she had little influence on Italian submarine design nevertheless, with her raised foredeck and almost straight stem.

Meanwhile, Danzig NyD almost immediately after the construction of the U27 class started, was given the task to develop Project 25, a major improvement on the design with several points emerging from earlier classes from service experience with the U19 up to U23 but also a failed attempt to acquire a streamlined double hull of the Laurenti design. Instead of being just an enlarged repeat of the U27, Project 25 targeted a slightly larger boat, not only to carry the same amount of fuel oil than the U31 class and exceed its diving time, already superior to U27.

The hull was design was to be completely different. Instead of the usual separated central “spine” that formed the narrow upper deck, going from the stern to the prow and enabling a narrow, edgy stem, then well separated extensions for the double hull, with a flat upper section, the new hull embedded the double hull and the flat deck in a single, cleaner, rounder hull shape. This streamlining was tested in pools and soon found superior, notably for underwater speed and agility.

As for the conn., many reports also pointed out the bow was too wet and asked for a raised stem, and the conning tower too narrow and also “wet” in heavy weather. It needed to be redesigned and enlarged. There were other detailed improvements on the hatches and the deck was reinforced from the start to take on an 8,8 cm deck gun fore and aft. It was also planned to potentially have a large gun later, and this was done and became standard in 1917-18. The U43 class kept either one or two guns for their whole career, whatever (see later).

The last great improvement was going from two to four tubes in the bow. This needed an enlargement and reshaping of the pressure hull, which was made a bit wider. The tubes themselves had now external caps and a new internal pressure system as well. The dive planes forward had also now more sturdied guards, and so were the stern ones. However it is not known when exaclty the final design from Project 25 by Danzig NyD was approved, likely in May or June 1913, with the first order in July 1913 and last in August 1914.

U43 was ordered from Danzig with a full order for eight boats called the “mobilization type” (“mob”) to follow until U50, having less capacity than Germaniawerft (11 boats ordered). These were considered still as “medium coastal” double hull submarines despite their superior range and size, reaching an unprecedented 940 tonnes underwater (878t for the U31 class, 867t for the U27 class) as the new hull shape had a consequence on buoyancy and the needed for larger trim tanks due to the new torpedo tubes forward.

Construction however somewhat dragged on given switching priorities and falling down manpower after the war started. For example, U50 was laid down at an unknown date in 1914, launched on 31 December 1915 (not in mid-1915 as sometimes reported) and commissioned in July, 4, 1916, with the naval was post-Jutland putting an ever greater emphasis on U-Boats.
Their cost also rose steadily. U50 was paid 3,465,000 marks, whereas U43, laid down in late 1913 after being ordered on 10 July 1913 (1st batch, with U44), was launched on 26 September 1914 and commissioned on 30 April 1915, so averaging 17 months at the same cost.

Hull and general design

The U43 types were an important, yet still incremental step towards a truly medium oceanic, rather than medium coastal type. The “Küste” designation was in reference for their expected area of operations, around the British Isles and not the Atlantic (as well as the Baltic and North Sea, also restricted). Since they were not expected to the Atlantic, the Project 25 classification remained valid. The U43 were dubbed the first “mob” or Mobilization types, but this was retroactive. The real first “mob” U-Boat types were Germaniawerft’s next U51 class (“MS”) which themselves improved on the late U31 class sub-class U41.

U48 in drydock at Wilhelmshaven, allowing to see her new “modern” hull and four forward tubes.

Th U43 Displaced 725 t (714 long tons) surfaced and 940 t (930 long tons) submerged, so more than all previous classes, reaching 65 m (213 ft 3 in) overall, so a few feet more than the U27 types (64.7 meters) while being of the same beam at 6.20 m (20 ft 4 in) overall and 4.18 m (13 ft 9 in) for the pressure hull versus 6.28 meters of the U27. From the keel to the top of the conning tower they reached 8.70 m (28 ft 7 in) for a draught of 3.74 m (12 ft 3 in), more than the U27. The hull was shaped always the same with a central flattened main outer deck, the pressure hull below, add-on double hull on either sides, riveted, but unlike having a slope to the higher stem starting way forward, the slope was not put back closer to the location of the forward main gun, improving seaworthiness at some allures. The double hull shape was not changed much however, but the flattened top was smoothed further for better diving time and the size and location of the water scoops was changed as well. However, unlike many other ocean-going submarines of the Imperial Navy, U 43, like her sister boat U 44, did not have a keel.

Another challenge was the conning tower, as engineers had to tackled contradictory demands. On one hand, having a less wet, taller and roomier conning tower, capable of housing more officers and watchmen while keeping the helmsman forward, and on the other hand, being better profiled to improved submergence time. The final CT design presented finer entries forward, a small platform still for the helmsman, but the attack periscope was now located in front of the wheel. Next came the taller, thinner watch periscope and immediately after a “bathtub” wide enouh to accommodate up to 6 officers and men, well protected by the elements while having scoops to facilitate water ingress and circulation. In short, with boots this was all fine. This ended with a small step aft for one hatch access. The other deck hatches were located forward in the sloped section of the foredeck, and one aft of the base for the aft wireless radio mast.

On this chapter, like previous designs, both were not telescopic and just folded on hinges alongside the deck. When erected, the foremast was almost at the same location of the forward deck gun. As other boats of these type, they had two main anchors in open recesses forward, two dive planes forward, underwater, two aft, the same, and an axial rudder for extra agility and backup for the main rudder below, located at the tip of the upper deck. The crew comprised 36 officers and men, and there was a small boat under the outer deck.

U43 sinking the Russian steamer Turgai on 3 October 1916, photo taken from the CT.

Power plant of the U43 class

There were not much change on this chapter. The U43 went with the usual pair of diesels. These engines provided for surface travel were two six-cylinder, four-stroke MAN S 6 V 41/42 diesel engines, with a combined output of 1,471 kW (2,000 hp, 1,200 hp or 2,000 PS, 1,471 kW; 1,973 shp. total). This was completed by two SSW twin Modyn electric motors rated for 880 kW for underwater runs. Other sources points out 1,200 PS (883 kW; 1,184 shp).
These enabled speeds of 15.2 knots when surfaced and 9.7 knots underwater, less than the U27 class (16.7/10.13 kts). The operating radius, thanks to the same capacity that in the U31 class was 110 tonnes, enabling up to 11,400 NM (21,100 km; 13,100 mi) at a speed of 8 knots (15 km/h; 9.2 mph) above water. When submerged at 5 knots (9.3 km/h; 5.8 mph) , they still could achieve 51 NM (94 km; 59 mi) and reach the same depth of 50 meters if needed (164 ft 1 in). Other sources states 132 tonnes of diesel oil, 15.2 kts surfaced and 9.7 knots underwater.

Armament

The U43 class repeated the same armament of earlier groups from U19 onwards, the first with 50 cm tubes. They carried six torpedoes, which could be fired via two bow and two stern tubes. A single 8.8 cm quick-firing gun was also installed initially, later supplemented by another gun of the same type. From 1916/17, however, these two guns were replaced by a single 10.5 cm quick-firing gun forward. Some were also equipped with P-mines. To be more precise, the first batch, U43 to U46 had a single 88mm/27 TK L/30 C/08 and the next four, U47 to U50 had two.
However in 1916, the first batch from U43 to U46 was given a second 8.8 cm C/08 in the aft position like the second batch and seemingly by late 1916 and to mid-1917 the single 105mm/43 TK L/45 C/16 replaced both.

Torpedo Tubes

Germany started by equipping its torpedo boats and early U-Boats of the 1890s with the 35cm (14 in) C35/91 and C35/91GA, then 45cm (17.7 in) C45/91 Br, C45/91S, C/03 and C/03 D were reserved for surface ships, and the C/06 and C/06 D for U-Boats from U3 onwards. They stayed standard before the introduction of the 50 cm. The initial model was reserved for surface ships. This was the (19.7″) G/6 and G/6D which used either the Decahydronaphthalene (Decalin) or Kerosene Wet-Heater.

U23 was the first to introduce the new and famous G7 (entering service in 1913), repeated by the U27 class and follow-up U31 class. Still, there were important stocks of G/6, and it’s possible they were used for training or tests. The Kerosene powered G/6D was considered too “temperamental” for submarine use indeed. The G/6 was developed from 1908 and entered service in 1911. The Royal Navy was slower on this chapter, only introducing the 21″ (53.3 cm) Marks II, II* and II** for submarine use from 1914 onwards. The four 500 mm (19.7 inches) torpedo tubes could be reloaded from above via the larger hatches going through the outer upper hull.

G/6 specs

Weight unknown, 236 in (6.000 m) lenght overall
Warhead 353 lbs. (160 kg) TNT/Hexanitrodiphenylamin (Hexanite) mixture
Range/Speed 2,410 yards (2,200 m) at 35 knots or 5,470 yards (5,000 m) at 27 knots
Power: Decahydronaphthalene (Decalin) Wet-Heater
More on navweaps

G7 Torpedo

The G7 was designed in 1910 and entered service in 1913. Originally designed for surface ships, but in 1917 it started to be used on U-boats.
Specs:
Weight: 3,009 lbs. (1,365 kg)
Overall Length: 276 in (7,020 m)
Explosive Charge: 430 lbs. (195 kg) Hexanite warhead
Range/Speed settings: 4,370 yards (4,000 m)/37 knots and 10,170 yards (9,300 m)/27 knots
Power: Decahydronaphthalene (Decalin) Wet-Heater

8.8 cm Schnelladekanone Länge 30 naval deck gun

For the U19 onwards, the classic 3,7 cm or 5cm deck guns were ditched out and as U19 was considered large and stable enough to have a larger gun installed and a single 88mm 27 calibre TK L/30 C/08 deck gun was installed forward. For this the deck was reinforced but no sponsons extensions appeared seemingly on photos.

In 1916, after captains reported this gun still weak, notably to scuttle a boarded ship or engage an armed trawler. They spent way too much time sinking their prey, which called for enemy reinforcements. Thus, all four boats had a second 8,8 cm deck gun installed aft, making two. U19 was the first U-Boat class with two guns, fore and aft. This was repeated for the U23 and U27 classes in wartime. U30 exchanged both guns for a single 10.5 cm/43 TK L/45 C/16 deck gun in 1918. The 8.8 cm became the standard go-to gun for all U-Boats built afterwards, until the U87 class (launched 1916), generally two for oceanic boats, one for minelayers and for later coastal subs. They accounted for many of their preys.

The 8.8 cm SK L/30 gun used the Krupp horizontal sliding block, or “wedge” and the submarine deck version was on either a retractable or fixed pivot mount. The Krupp mount retracted vertically through a hatch, and the Erhardt version folded down onto the ship’s deck. They avoided underwater drag and turbulences. It seems U19 class had the Ubts.L of the second type.
The 8.8 cm SK L/30 was a widely used naval gun on World War I pre-dreadnoughts, cruisers, coastal defence ships, avisos, submarines and torpedo boats in both casemates and turrets as well.
This calibre became so ubiquitous in the German Navy it was still a favourite for WW2 U-Boats as well starting with the Type VII. Read more

Specs 8.8 cm SK L/30 on Ubts.L mount

Weight: 644 kilograms (1,420 lb)
Overall length: 2.64 meters (8 ft 8 in).
Breech: Krupp horizontal sliding block
Shell: fixed 7 kg (15 lb) cal 88 mm (3.5 in)
Elevation: -10° to +30°
Rate of fire: 15 RPM
Muzzle velocity: 590 m/s (1,900 ft/s)
Maximum firing range: 7,3 km (8,000 yd) at 20° or 10,5 km (11,480 yards) at 30°

10.5 cm SK L/45 naval gun (1916)

In late 1917 and 1918, some boats traded their two 8,8cm deck guns (or single one) for a single 105mm deck gun with 300 rounds. The crew rose to 46-48 men less four officers, now with a proper gunnery officer.
Built by Meddinghaus, this heavy deck gun was designed specially for deck use, low, with many sensible elements protected from corrosion.

Specs 10.5 cm SK L/45

1,450 kg (3,200 lb), 4.725 m (15 ft 6.0 in), 6.8 mm (0.27 in) wide.
Shell 10.5 cm (4.1 in) 25.5 kg (56 lb) fixed Brass Casing 17.4 kg (38 lb)
Breech: Horizontal sliding-block, MPL C/06: -10° to +30° mount
Rate of fire: 15 RPM
Muzzle velocity 710 m/s (2,300 ft/s)
Effective range 12,700 m (41,700 ft) at 30°

Author’s old profile
New profile, U46, top ace, and the camouflaged U49 (to come).

⚙ U31 specifications
Displacement	725 t (714 long tons) surfaced 940 t (930 long tons) submerged
Dimensions	65 x 6.20 x 3.74m (213 ft 3 in x 20 ft 4 in x 12 ft 3 in)
Propulsion	2 shafts MAN diesel engines 2000 hp, 2 × twin Modyn electric motors 1200 hp
Speed	15.2 knots surfaced, 9.7 knots submerged
Range	11,400 nmi at 8 kn surfaced, 51 nmi at 5 knots submerged
Armament	6× 50cm TTs (4 bow, 2 stern, 8 torpedoes), 1/2 8.8 cm SK L/30 gun
Max depth	50 m (160 ft)
Crew	4 officers + 31 men

Career of the U43 class

U43

U43 was laid down as werk 21 at Danzig, ordered on 10 July 1913, laid down later this month (date unknown) and launched on 26 Sept. 1914, then commissioned on 30 Apr 1915. She was the second most successful U-Boat of the class, sinking a total of 45 ships for a total of 114,323 tons and taking two as prize for a total of 356 tons in eleven patrols. From her commission to 16 May 1917 she operated under KrvKpt. Hellmuth Jürst (Royal House Order of Hohenzollern), then until 17 Apr 1918 under Kptlt. Waldemar Bender and until the end of the war, by Kptlt. Johannes Kirchner, in the III Flotilla. She survived the war and was delivered to Great Britain on 20 January 1919, where it was scrapped in Swansea in 1922.
Contrary to the general rule of the time, which was to prohibit women and pets from being on board, the crew had themselves photographed in the commander’s private photo album in the submarine’s conning tower with their mixed-breed puppy, Nelly. Whether the dog was also on board during operational missions is unknown.
Full records

U44

U44 was ordered on 10 July 1913 at Kaiserliche Werft Danzig as Yard number 22, launched on 15 October 1914 and commissioned on 7 May 1915 under command of Paul Wagenführ, but completed in June -July 1915. She was sent to Kiel School for training until 20 August 1915 and trials. She was sent to the North Sea, 3rd Half Flotilla. Ger first patrol was on 25–26 September 1915 in the Bight and on 5–10 October, 16–21 October, and 26–29 October 1915, the same. On 14–25 December 1915 she made her first North Sea cruise, and on 17–28 January 1916 she roamed on the NE coast of England. On 18 March until 17 April 1916 she was north of the Channel approach, and is attributed her first kill, HMS Begonia, four more steamers and two sailing vessels.
On 17 May until 3 June 1916 she was deployed as a screen in the North Sea patrol as part of the Battle of Jutland. On 16–21 July 1916 she was part again of the North Sea patrol, no kill. Her patrol on 26 July – 5 August 1916 in North Sea was cut short due to bad weather. On 16–21 August 1916, North Sea patrol again, then on 17–29 September 1916 she was off the Fair Island Channel, sinking two steamers, one armed yacht and one armed trawler.
On 1–25 January 1917 she rounded the British Isles SW of Ireland and back with a fracture of the propeller shaft after sinking a steamer and making three trawlers as prize.
On 19 February 1917 she left for the North Sea but returned next day with diesel and shaft issues. From 24 February to 24 March 1917 she managed to round the Isles and enter the Atlantic. Sank three sailing vessels, and five steamers. On 23 April until around 7 May 1917 she reached an area west of Ireland and sank a sailing vessel and a steamer. On 12 August 1917, she was spotted while surfaced, rammed and sunk south of Norway by HMS Oracle. All 44 crewmen died.

U45

S.M.45 was ordered on 22 June 1914 at Kaiserliche Werft Danzig, yard number 23, launched on 15 April 1915 and commissioned on 9 October 1915. She started patrolling in 1916 under Erich Sittenfeld. In all, she sank 27 ships for 47,286 tons, damaged one of 3,891 tons in seven patrols from 11 Nov 1916 to 12 Sep 1917 as part of the III Flotilla. On 27 Apr 1916 she sank the steamer Industry 4,044 GRT, on 30 April the Spanish steamer Vinifreda. On 2 May she sank the French 2,427t sailing ship Le Pilier and British schooner Maud (120t). On 5 July for her next patrrol she sank the Belgian 140t drifter Geertruida. On 28 September, she sank the Briiths coaster Fuchsia. 21 Jan 1917, she bagged the same day the trawlers Gladys, Lucy and Star Of The Sea. On 26 January she sank the steamer Tabasco (2,987t) and the next days from 2-10 February she bagged the sailing ships Garnet Hill, Belford, steamers Eavestone, Eridania (Italian), sailing vessel Thor Iiand trawler Ostrich. On 28 April, she was relocated to the Baltic and sank the steamer Olga. On 3 May 1917 she sank the steamers Palm Branch and Truvor and on 11 May the Russian Hermes (3,579t). Eight days later, she sank the sailing vessel Elise. In July 1917 she sank the trawler Eclipse, steamers Mariston, Ribston, Haworth, Nevisbrook, Dafila and ZATEJA, a Russian Sailing vessel. She was sunk by a British submarine on 12 September 1917, torpedoed in the Atlantic Ocean north of Ireland by HMS D7. 2 men survived, likely in the CT when she went down.

U46

U46 in IJN service in 1921-22 as O2 src oldtokyo.com/
U-46 was ordered on 4 August 1914 at Kaiserliche Werft, Danzig, yard number 24, launched on 18 May 1915 and commissioned on 17 December 1915. Assigned to the III Flotilla under Kptlt. Leo Hillebrand (Royal House Order of Hohenzollern), which commanded her again from 16 January 1918 to 11 November 1918. Between those dates, she was under Kptlt. Alfred Saalwächter. She started her first war patrol on 29 March 1916 as part of the III Flotilla until the end of the war, in 11 war patrols, credited with 51 merchant ships for 138,942 gross register tons, one auxiliary 1,372 GMT and damaging a 7,378 GRT merchantman. She sank the Ravn, Sinsen, Hafnia, Hekla, Brantingham, Erika, Astoria, Iolo, Chassie Maersk, Taki Maru, Gerda, Bayhall, Falk, Marques De Urquijo, Marie Pierre (SV). She was briefly under command of in Dec. 1916 by Alfred Saalwächter, sinking the steamer Aislaby and Goulfar. By Mar 1917 back under Leo Hillebrand she sank the Argo (SV), Montreal, Aztec, Hesperus, Benheather, Fiskaa (SV), Grosholm, Lewisham, Llandrindod, Penhale, Lady Patricia (a Q-ship…), Tansan Maru ,Jersey City, Brumaire, Zermatt, Peninsula, Purley, Begona No. 4, Shimosa, Zillah, Ilderton, Baron Balfour, Irina, Obj, Andania (Passenger steamer 13,405t), Towneley, Cavallo, Lutece, Cresswell, Crayford, Atlantic Sun (Tanker), Stabil, Rathlin Head, Tasman and the French schooner Gloire A Jesus.
After the end of the war, she was ceded as war reparation to Japan on 26 November. In japanese service she started operations after a long transit in 1920-21 and was partially dismantled at Kure in April 1921 to be studied and reverse engineered, then rebuilt at Yokosuka in 1925 as testbed for submarine salvage operation from the tender IJN ASAHI. During transfer from Yokosuka to Kure on 21 April however she was lost due to a storm. 5 August 1927 her hulk was spotted by a U.S. merchant west of Oahu.

U47

U47 was ordered on 4 August 1914 at Kaiserliche Werft Danzig, yard number 25, launched on 16 August 1915 and commissioned on 28 February 1916 under Kptlt. Heinrich Metzger from 28 Feb. 1916 to 27 August 1917, then until 29 Oct 1917 under Kptlt. Johannes Feldkirchner and until 10 March 1918 by Oblt. Otto Gerke. He was replaced by Wilhelm Canaris (future chief of the Abwehr) until June 1918 then Adolf Franz, Erich Gerth and Carl Bünte, used for training until scuttled. In all, she performed only two patrols with the III Flotilla, and from 27 December 1916 with the Pola Flotilla, still managing to sink 14 ships for 23,932 GRT, damaged three for 9,500 GRT, captured another as prize. Her engine troubles had her retained for training from June 1918, until scuttled at Pola on 28 October 1918 as the Germans evacuated. Her best “coup” was when she managed to hit badly on 11 May 1917 the large steamer Hindoo 4,915t and on 15 May the 4,500t Pancras.

U48

SM U48, src ships nostalgia
U48 was ordered on 4 August 1914 to Kaiserliche Werft as Yard number 26, launched on 3 October 1915 and commissioned on 22 April 1916. She fought with the III Flotilla from 8 June 1916 to 24 November 1917 under Kptlt. Berndt Buß until 9 March 1917, then Oblt.z.S. Hinrich Hermann Hashagen (10–16 March 1917) and Kptlt. Karl Edeling until 24 November 1917, making 8 patrols and sinking 34 merchant ships (104,558 GRT), damaging one and taking two as prizes. She was scuttled on 24 November 1918. Full Records

U49

SM U49, src greatwarforum.org
U49 was ordered on 4 August 1914 to Kaiserliche Werft Danzig, Yard number 27, launched on 26 November 1915 and commissioned on 31 May 1916. In total she performed all her patrols under KptLt Richard Hartmann, sinking 39 ships (86,886 tons) damaging 2 (2,609 tons) in 6 patrols from August 1916 to September 1917. She was was sunk on 11 September 1917 in the Bay of Biscay while surfaced, and attacking the merchant ship “British Transport” headed from Brest, France to Archangel in Russia laden with munitions and other explosives. Short of torpedoes, U49 gave her surfaced gun battle lasting five hours and still fired her last two torpedoes, missing. The freighter managed to manoeuver, pushed her machinery to the max and ram her before she can sank, sinking with all hands. It was the first time the sheep killed the wolf, not the last. By February 1918 Captain AT Pope was awarded a DSO for his action, three officers were awarded the DSC, seven crewmen the DSM, three mentioned in dispatches.

U50

The last in class was ordered on 4 August 1914 at Kaiserliche Werft Danzig as yard number 28, launched on 31 December 1915 and commissioned on 4 July 1916. She operated under Kptlt. Gerhard Berger from 4 July 1916 to 31 August 1917 in the III flotilla, making five patrols, sinking 24 merchantmen for 92,924 GRT. Her most famous kill was the Laconia, former armed merchant cruiser returned to passenger service. Like the Lusitania, this claimed two US citizens, and she was the 15th largest ship destroyed by a submarine in this war. RMS Laconia was a recent (1912) and fast (17 kts) 18,099 GRT ship capable of carrying 3000 passengers in three classes, and much more troops.

On 25 February 1917, she was torpedoed just six nautical miles (11 km) N-NW of Fastnet while returning from the United States with just 75 passengers and a crew of 217 commanded by Captain Irvine. The first torpedo struck her starboard side abaft the engine room, but her bulkhead sheld on. 20 minutes later U50 landed a second torpedo at the same plane, this time breaching the engine room and causing her to sink at 10:20 pm. “only” 12 were killed, incl. two American citizens, which stirred up public opinion in the neutral United States, raised public support for the war. The sinking was graphicly decribed by Chicago Tribune reporter Floyd Gibbons, aboard when it happened and the case gained fame from his dispatches. Thie was read to both Houses of Congress and credited with helping joining the war.