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 … Read more
Germany: SM U27, 28, 29, 30 (1913) The U27 class submarine succeeded to the U23 double-hulled type, part of the “mittel-U” prewar super-class, or third U19 sub-class, all equipped with diesels. They originated indeed in Dantzig’s U19. The imperial shipyard (Kaiserliches Werft) at Kiel manufactured their own version of the MAN diesels under licence, and … Read more
Germany: SM U23, 24, 25, 25 (1912) The U23 class submarine were of the so-called double-hulled type, designed as oceanic models in official design documentation. They were also called the “mittel-U”, second class equipped with Diesels, and a copy of the U19 by Germaniawerft, from the large imperial shipyard of Kiel. The latter recovered the … Read more
Germany: SM U19, 20, 21, 22 (1912) The U19-22 series were the first German U-Boat class fitted with diesel engines and other radical new improvements. They became a critical stepping stone in the development of world war one submarines, also also the first in German service fitted with 50 cm instead of 45cm torpedo tubes … Read more
Germany: SM U13, U14, U15 (1909-1912), U16 (1911). Class U17: U17, U18 (1912) The U 13 class (U 13, 14, 15) was an evolutionary design from the U9 class built at the Kaiserliche Werft in Danzig on 8-10 1909-1912. They were larger and powered by Gasoline engines. U13 was the class leader of three units … Read more
Germany: SM U9, U10, U11, U12 (1910-1911) The U9 was the first in a series of four submersibles built at Danzig and closely derived from the U5. Their length was unchanged, but their width was increased by 40 cm while their draft was 50 cm lower. Their surface speed was increased from 13.4 to 14.2 … Read more
Germany: SM U5, U6, U7, U8 (1910-1915) Development The short-lived U5 class was a simple evolution of the U3 class (two boats launched in 1909). They were conceived as a general improvement, built by Germaniawerft in 1908-1910, unlike the U3, from Danzig NyD. They passed the cape of 500t surfaced, had four instead of two … Read more
Germany: SM U3, U4 (1908-1909) Development SM U-3 was the third German U-boat, at a time the head of staff of the Kaiserliches Marine still wanted nothing to do with “these experimental vessels” that he saw of little use. The German Empire previously had three more, Forelle, the private venture prototype for Russia, U1, the … Read more
German Empire – 113 submersible planned, 25 comp.* UC-90 to UC-114 Type UC III minelaying submarines were designred and built for the Kaiserliche Marine (Imperial German Navy)in World War I. They were largely inspired by the contemporary UB-III in size, albeit smaller at 474/571 t and in addition to a deck gun and 7 torpedoes … Read more
Germany (1913-1919) U-31 to U-41, launched/commissioned 1914-15 The U31 class were a continuation of previous diesel boats, a serie started with U19 and continued with the U23 and U27 classes, made by either Germaniawerft or Kaiserliche Werft Danzig. This was the same basic design, incrementally improved, increased in size and tonnage and becoming the standard … Read more
