SM U-111
Encyclopedia
SM U-111 was one of the 329 submarine
s serving in the Imperial German Navy (Kaiserliche Marine
) in World War I
. She took part in the First Battle of the Atlantic
.. She was the only one submarine, which had a clergyman on board (Wilhelm Meinhold, Marinepfarrer).
Completed at Kiel early in January 1918, she went to the Kiel School for shakedown and training until March, when she joined 4. Flotille. She was monitored continuously by British Naval Intelligence
(Room 30), on which her movement reports are based. All her operations took place in 1918.
She departed 26 March on her first war patrol, operating in the Irish Sea and western entrance to the English Channel
, sinking two steamers and returning to Kiel and 23 April. Her second patrol began 27 May, sailing fro Heligoland Bight
via Muckle Flugga
to the western English Channel. She sank at least one confirmed steamer, and returned the same way, arriving 24 June. Her third patrol, between 25 August and 29 September, was via Fastnet and Scillies into the Irish Sea, where she was hampered by British A/S
patrols and obtained no sinkings.
U-111 surrendered at Harwich 20 November, after the Armistice
.
Submarine
A submarine is a watercraft capable of independent operation below the surface of the water. It differs from a submersible, which has more limited underwater capability...
s serving in the Imperial German Navy (Kaiserliche Marine
Kaiserliche Marine
The Imperial German Navy was the German Navy created at the time of the formation of the German Empire. It existed between 1871 and 1919, growing out of the small Prussian Navy and Norddeutsche Bundesmarine, which primarily had the mission of coastal defense. Kaiser Wilhelm II greatly expanded...
) in World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. She took part in the First Battle of the Atlantic
U-boat Campaign (World War I)
The U-boat Campaign from 1914 to 1918 was the World War I naval campaign fought by German U-boats against the trade routes of the Entente Powers...
.. She was the only one submarine, which had a clergyman on board (Wilhelm Meinhold, Marinepfarrer).
Completed at Kiel early in January 1918, she went to the Kiel School for shakedown and training until March, when she joined 4. Flotille. She was monitored continuously by British Naval Intelligence
Room 40
In the history of Cryptanalysis, Room 40 was the section in the Admiralty most identified with the British cryptoanalysis effort during the First World War.Room 40 was formed in October 1914, shortly after the start of the war...
(Room 30), on which her movement reports are based. All her operations took place in 1918.
She departed 26 March on her first war patrol, operating in the Irish Sea and western entrance to the English Channel
English Channel
The English Channel , often referred to simply as the Channel, is an arm of the Atlantic Ocean that separates southern England from northern France, and joins the North Sea to the Atlantic. It is about long and varies in width from at its widest to in the Strait of Dover...
, sinking two steamers and returning to Kiel and 23 April. Her second patrol began 27 May, sailing fro Heligoland Bight
Heligoland Bight
The Heligoland Bight, also known as Helgoland Bight, is a bay which forms the southern part of the German Bight, itself a bay of the North Sea, located at the mouth of the Elbe river...
via Muckle Flugga
Muckle Flugga
Muckle Flugga is a small rocky island north of Unst in the Shetland Islands, Scotland. It is often described as the northernmost point of the British Isles, but the smaller islet of Out Stack is actually farther north...
to the western English Channel. She sank at least one confirmed steamer, and returned the same way, arriving 24 June. Her third patrol, between 25 August and 29 September, was via Fastnet and Scillies into the Irish Sea, where she was hampered by British A/S
Anti-submarine warfare
Anti-submarine warfare is a branch of naval warfare that uses surface warships, aircraft, or other submarines to find, track and deter, damage or destroy enemy submarines....
patrols and obtained no sinkings.
U-111 surrendered at Harwich 20 November, after the Armistice
Armistice with Germany (Compiègne)
The armistice between the Allies and Germany was an agreement that ended the fighting in the First World War. It was signed in a railway carriage in Compiègne Forest on 11 November 1918 and marked a victory for the Allies and a complete defeat for Germany, although not technically a surrender...
.
External links
- Photos of cruises of German submarine U-54 in 1916-1918.
- A 44 min. German film from 1917 about a cruise of the German submarine U-35.
- Uboat.net: More detailed information about U-111.
- Room 40: original documents, photos and maps about World War I German submarine warfare and British Room 40Room 40In the history of Cryptanalysis, Room 40 was the section in the Admiralty most identified with the British cryptoanalysis effort during the First World War.Room 40 was formed in October 1914, shortly after the start of the war...
Intelligence from The National Archives, Kew, Richmond, UK.