Constantinople Flotilla
Encyclopedia
The Constantinople flotilla was an Imperial German Navy formation set up to prosecute the U-boat campaign against Allied shipping in the Mediterranean and the Black Sea in support of Germany’s ally, the Ottoman Empire
. Despite its official name, the Mediterranean Division (U-boote der Mittelmeer in Konstantinopel), it saw little service there, operating mostly against Russian
shipping in the Black Sea
.
The Constantinople Flotilla had a maximum strength of 11 U–boats but due to the unfavourable conditions for commerce raiding in the Black Sea saw little success during its three years of operations. In three years of operation, the force sank ships totalling 117,093 GRT.
14 U-boats served in the Constantinople Flotilla; 6 were lost operationally.
In 1917 the force was amalgamated with the Pola Flotilla
, coming under the command of the U-Boat Leader, Mediterranean (Führer der U-boote im Mittelmeer) there; the unit was re-named the Constantinople Half-Flotilla (U-Halbflotille Konstantinopel).
In 1918, with the collapse of the Central Powers
, the U-boats were scuttled, or fled to join the Pola boats in their evacuation to Germany.
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
. Despite its official name, the Mediterranean Division (U-boote der Mittelmeer in Konstantinopel), it saw little service there, operating mostly against Russian
Russian Empire
The Russian Empire was a state that existed from 1721 until the Russian Revolution of 1917. It was the successor to the Tsardom of Russia and the predecessor of the Soviet Union...
shipping in the Black Sea
Black Sea
The Black Sea is bounded by Europe, Anatolia and the Caucasus and is ultimately connected to the Atlantic Ocean via the Mediterranean and the Aegean seas and various straits. The Bosphorus strait connects it to the Sea of Marmara, and the strait of the Dardanelles connects that sea to the Aegean...
.
The Constantinople Flotilla had a maximum strength of 11 U–boats but due to the unfavourable conditions for commerce raiding in the Black Sea saw little success during its three years of operations. In three years of operation, the force sank ships totalling 117,093 GRT.
14 U-boats served in the Constantinople Flotilla; 6 were lost operationally.
In 1917 the force was amalgamated with the Pola Flotilla
Pola Flotilla
The Pola flotilla was an Imperial German Navy formation set up to prosecute the U-boat campaign against Allied shipping in the Mediterranean during the First World War in support of Germany’s ally, the Austro-Hungarian Empire...
, coming under the command of the U-Boat Leader, Mediterranean (Führer der U-boote im Mittelmeer) there; the unit was re-named the Constantinople Half-Flotilla (U-Halbflotille Konstantinopel).
In 1918, with the collapse of the Central Powers
Central Powers
The Central Powers were one of the two warring factions in World War I , composed of the German Empire, the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the Ottoman Empire, and the Kingdom of Bulgaria...
, the U-boats were scuttled, or fled to join the Pola boats in their evacuation to Germany.
Commanding officers
| Date | Commander | Title |
|---|---|---|
| 1915 | ? | |
| 1916 | ? | |
| 1917 | K/L Kreuger | (Chef) Commanding Officer (CO) Mediterranean Division |
| 1918 | K/L Adam | (Chef) CO Constantinople Half-Flotilla |