SM U-55 in Yokosuka |
| History |
|---|
| German Empire |
|---|
| Name | U-55 |
| Ordered | 23 August 1914 |
| Builder | Germaniawerft, Kiel |
| Yard number | 237 |
| Laid down | 28 December 1914 |
| Launched | 18 March 1916 |
| Commissioned | 8 June 1916 |
| Renamed |
- O-3 in 1920
- Auxiliary Vessel No. 2538 in 1923
|
| Fate |
- Surrendered to Japan on 26 November 1918
- Served with them as O-3 between 1920 and 1921
- Dismantled by June 1921
- Briefly recommissioned in 1923 as Auxiliary Vessel No. 2538
|
| General characteristics |
|---|
| Class & type | Type U 51 submarine |
| Displacement |
- 715 t (704 long tons) surfaced
- 902 t (888 long tons) submerged
|
| Length | |
| Beam |
- 6.44 m (21 ft 2 in) (oa)
- 4.18 m (13 ft 9 in) (pressure hull)
|
| Height | 7.82 m (25 ft 8 in) |
| Draught | 3.64 m (11 ft 11 in) |
| Installed power |
- 2 × 2,400 PS (1,765 kW; 2,367 shp) surfaced
- 2 × 1,200 PS (883 kW; 1,184 shp) submerged
|
| Propulsion | 2 shafts |
| Speed |
- 17.1 knots (31.7 km/h; 19.7 mph) surfaced
- 9.1 knots (16.9 km/h; 10.5 mph) submerged
|
| Range |
- 9,400 nmi (17,400 km; 10,800 mi) at 8 knots (15 km/h; 9.2 mph) surfaced
- 55 nmi (102 km; 63 mi) at 5 knots (9.3 km/h; 5.8 mph) submerged
|
| Test depth | 50 m (164 ft 1 in) |
| Complement | 36 |
| Armament | |
| Service record |
| Part of: |
|
| Commanders: |
- Kptlt. Wilhelm Werner
- 9 June 1916 – 9 August 1918
- Kptlt. Alexander Weiß
- 10 August – 14 September 1918
- Oblt.z.S. Hans Friedrich
- 15 September – 11 November 1918
|
| Operations: |
14 patrols |
| Victories: |
- 61 merchant ships sunk
(126,010 GRT)
- 3 auxiliary warship sunk
(7,732 GRT)
- 7 merchant ships damaged
(26,161 GRT)
- 2 merchant ships taken as prize
(3,466 GRT)
|
SM U-55 was one of the six Type U-51 U-boats of the Imperial German Navy during the First World War.
