SM U-94 was a Type U 93 submarine and one of the 329 submarines serving in the Imperial German Navy in World War I. U-94 was engaged in the naval warfare and took part in the First Battle of the Atlantic.[2]

History
German Empire
NameU-94
Ordered15 September 1915
BuilderGermaniawerft, Kiel
Yard number258
Laid down25 March 1916
Launched5 January 1917
Commissioned3 March 1917
FateSurrendered 20 November 1918
General characteristics [1]
Class and typeType U 93 submarine
Displacement
  • 838 t (825 long tons) surfaced
  • 1,000 t (980 long tons) submerged
Length
Beam
  • 6.30 m (20 ft 8 in) (o/a)
  • 4.15 m (13 ft 7 in) (pressure hull)
Height8.25 m (27 ft 1 in)
Draught3.94 m (12 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
Propulsion2 shafts, 2 × 1.66 m (5 ft 5 in) propellers
Speed
  • 16.8 knots (31.1 km/h; 19.3 mph) surfaced
  • 8.6 knots (15.9 km/h; 9.9 mph) submerged
Range
  • 9,020 nmi (16,710 km; 10,380 mi) at 8 knots (15 km/h; 9.2 mph) surfaced
  • 52 nmi (96 km; 60 mi) at 5 knots (9.3 km/h; 5.8 mph) submerged
Test depth50 m (160 ft)
Complement4 officers, 32 enlisted
Armament
Service record[2]
Part of:
  • IV Flotilla
  • 20 April 1917 – 11 November 1918
Commanders:
  • Kptlt. Alfred Saalwächter
  • 3 March 1917 – 24 March 1918
  • Oblt.z.S. Martin Schwab
  • 25 March – 11 November 1918
Operations: 13 patrol
Victories:
  • 20 merchant ships sunk
    (60,631 GRT)
  • 1 warship sunk
    (1,250 tons)
  • 3 merchant ships damaged
    (19,326 GRT)

Design

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Type U 93 submarines were preceded by the shorter Type U 87 submarines. U-94 had a displacement of 838 tonnes (825 long tons) when at the surface and 1,000 tonnes (980 long tons) while submerged.[1] She had a total length of 71.55 m (234 ft 9 in), a pressure hull length of 56.05 m (183 ft 11 in), a beam of 6.30 m (20 ft 8 in), a height of 8.25 m (27 ft 1 in), and a draught of 3.94 m (12 ft 11 in). The submarine was powered by two 2,400 metric horsepower (1,800 kW; 2,400 shp) engines for use while surfaced, and two 1,200 metric horsepower (880 kW; 1,200 shp) engines for use while submerged. She had two propeller shafts. She was capable of operating at depths of up to 50 metres (160 ft).[1]

The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 16.8 knots (31.1 km/h; 19.3 mph) and a maximum submerged speed of 8.6 knots (15.9 km/h; 9.9 mph).[1] When submerged, she could operate for 52 nautical miles (96 km; 60 mi) at 5 knots (9.3 km/h; 5.8 mph); when surfaced, she could travel 9,020 nautical miles (16,710 km; 10,380 mi) at 8 knots (15 km/h; 9.2 mph). U-94 was fitted with six 50 centimetres (20 in) torpedo tubes (four at the bow and two at the stern), twelve to sixteen torpedoes, and one 8.8 cm (3.5 in) SK L/30 deck gun. She had a complement of thirty-six (thirty-two crew members and four officers).[1]

Summary of raiding history

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Date Name Nationality Tonnage[Note 1] Fate[3]
9 June 1917 Deveron   Norway 1,261 Sunk
11 June 1917 Thessaly   United Kingdom 4,310 Damaged
12 June 1917 Amakura   United Kingdom 2,316 Sunk
13 June 1917 Cederic   Norway 2,344 Sunk
20 June 1917 HMS Salvia   Royal Navy 1,250 Sunk
24 June 1917 Sylvanian   United Kingdom 4,858 Sunk
26 June 1917 Haverford   United Kingdom 11,635 Damaged
29 July 1917 Ingeborg   Denmark 1,207 Sunk
29 July 1917 Adalia   United Kingdom 3,847 Sunk
30 July 1917 Kildin   Russian Empire 1,640 Sunk
30 July 1917 Manchester Inventor   United Kingdom 4,112 Sunk
30 July 1917 Souma   Russian Empire 2,200 Sunk
6 August 1917 Argalia   United Kingdom 4,641 Sunk
12 August 1917 Lynorta   United Kingdom 3,684 Sunk
16 August 1917 Svanholm   Denmark 1,400 Sunk
19 September 1917 Hydra   Denmark 174 Sunk
24 September 1917 Petersham   United Kingdom 3,381 Damaged
15 December 1917 Bernard   United Kingdom 3,682 Sunk
16 December 1917 Bristol City   United Kingdom 2,511 Sunk
19 February 1918 Barrowmore   United Kingdom 3,832 Sunk
26 February 1918 Snyg   Norway 370 Sunk
2 March 1918 Rockpool   United Kingdom 4,502 Sunk
18 May 1918 Hurunui   United Kingdom 10,644 Sunk
25 May 1918 Saphir   Norway 1,406 Sunk

References

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Notes

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  1. ^ Merchant ship tonnages are in gross register tons. Military vessels are listed by tons displacement.

Citations

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  1. ^ a b c d e Gröner 1991, pp. 12–14.
  2. ^ a b Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boats: U 94". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 10 December 2014.
  3. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U 94". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 10 December 2014.

Bibliography

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  • 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.