SM U-71 was one of 329 submarine

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...

.

U-71 was engaged in the naval warfare

Naval warfare of World War I

Naval warfare in World War I was mainly characterized by the efforts of the Allied Powers, with their larger fleets and surrounding position, to blockade the Central Powers by sea, and the efforts of the Central Powers to break that blockade or to establish an effective blockade of the United...

 and took part in the First Battle of the Atlantic.

Operations

SM U-71. Kaptlt. Gude. In August 1918 Kaptlt. Richard Scheurlen. Came off the stocks at Hamburg (Vulcan) in January 1916, and joined the Kiel School where she remained until 7 April 1916, when she entered the North Sea, to join the 1st Half Flotilla.

• 12 April - ? 21 April 1916. Apparently cruising in North Sea.
• 21 June - 8 July 1916. Northabout. Laid mines off Skerryvore
  Skerryvore
  Skerryvore is a remote reef that lies off the west coast of Scotland, 12 miles south west of the island of Tiree...
  
  .
• 14 October - 4 November 1916. Skagerrak. Sank 3 S.S., 1 sailing vessel.
• 11–23 December 1916. North Sea. Sank 2 S.S., 2 sailing vessels.
• 10–22 January 1917. Minelaying in North Sea, St. Magnus Bay, Shetland Isles. Returned owing to bad weather and overheating of engine.
• 6–21 February 1917. ? Laid mines in Loch Ewe, North Minch
  The Minch
  The Minch , also called The North Minch, is a strait in north-west Scotland, separating the north-west Highlands, and the northern Inner Hebrides, from Lewis and Harris in the Outer Hebrides...
  
  , off Butt of Lewis
  Butt of Lewis
  The Butt of Lewis is the most northerly point of the Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides. The headland, which lies in the North Atlantic, is frequently battered by heavy swells and storms.-Lighthouse:...
  
  , Broad Bay and Firth of Lorne.
• At sea 16 May 1917 - 8 June 1917. Possible laid mines off Tory I. Sank 1 S.S., 2 sailing vessels.
• 7–26 July 1917. North Sea. Locality of her mines not fixed. Sank 223 tons.
• 1/5 September 1917. Went out 3 times and returned, the last time with defects.
• 10–14 October 1917. In Baltic. Returned with defects.
• 20–24 December 1917. Laid mines off Dutch coast.
• 29 December 1917 - 2 January 1918. Laid mines off Dutch coast. ? Took 1 prize.
• 18–23 January 1918. Laid mines off Dutch coast.
• 4–15 February 1918. Laid mines off Dutch coast. Emerged from Skagerrak and returned by Sound.
• 18–29 March 1918. Laid mines off Dutch coast. Went out by Skagerrak. Returned to Bight.
• 23 April - 2 May 1918. Laid mines off Firth of Forth
  Firth of Forth
  The Firth of Forth is the estuary or firth of Scotland's River Forth, where it flows into the North Sea, between Fife to the north, and West Lothian, the City of Edinburgh and East Lothian to the south...
  
  .
• 18–24 June 1918. Laid mines off Aberdeen.
• Early in July - 22 July 1918. Laid mines off Firth of Forth.
• ? 29 September - 11 October 1918. ? Dutch coast. Submarine reports “Task given up.”
• 23 February 1919. Surrendered at Harwich.