List of the largest ships hit by U-boats in World War I
December 20, 2023
During the First World War, U-boats of the German Imperial Navy (German: Kaiserliche Marine) and the Austro-Hungarian Navy (German: Kaiserliche und Königliche Kriegsmarine or K.u.K. Kriegsmarine) sank over 6,000 Allied and neutral ships totaling over 14,200,000 tons.[1] Many additional ships that are not included in those totals were damaged, but were able to return to service after repairs. This list contains the approximately 100 ships over 10,000 tons that were either damaged or sunk by U-boats by torpedoes, submarine-laid mines, gunfire, or other means.[Note 1]
Ships listed are presented in descending order on the tonnage figure. Those that were damaged are indicated with an asterisk after their names. Three ships—Justicia, Celtic, and Southland—appear on the list twice. Justicia was damaged by UB-64 on 19 July 1918 and sunk while under tow the following day by UB-124.[2]Celtic was damaged by U-80 and UB-77 in separate incidents in February 1917 and March 1918, respectively.[3]Southland was seriously damaged by UB-14 in September 1915 and sunk by SM U-70 in June 1917.[4] All U-boats listed are German unless otherwise noted in the table.
Four U-boat commanders appear four or more times on the list. Kptlt. Hans Rose in U-53 sank two ships and damaged two others between June 1917 and April 1918,[7] while Kptlt.Otto Steinbrinck in UC-65 did the same between March and July 1917.[7] Between October 1916 and October 1918, Kptlt. Wolfgang Steinbauer sank three ships on the list in UB-47 and damaged a fourth in UB-48.[7] Kptlt. Gustav Sieß—responsible for sinking the largest ship on the list, the hospital ship Britannic struck a mine and sunk (the younger sister ship of Titanic and Olympic)—topped the list with five entries, four (including Britannic) sunk in U-73 and a fifth sunk in U-33, all between April 1916 and April 1917.[7] Other notable commanders that appear on the list are Kptlt. Lothar von Arnauld de la Perière (three times) who sank the most tonnage of any submarine commander ever,[8] and LinienschiffsleutnantGeorg Ritter von Trapp of the Austro-Hungarian Navy (two times), known as the patriarch of the family made famous in The Sound of Music and its subsequent film adaptation.[9]
^Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit during WWI: Justicia". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 14 April 2009.
^Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit during WWI: Celtic". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 14 April 2009.
^Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit during WWI: Southland". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 14 April 2009.
^Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by UB 14". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 30 April 2016.
^ abcdeHelgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit during WWI: Largest Ships sunk or damaged". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 14 April 2009.
Gibson, R. H.; Maurice Prendergast (2003) [1931]. The German Submarine War, 1914–1918. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN9781591143147. OCLC 52924732.
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During the First World War U boats of the German Imperial Navy German Kaiserliche Marine and the Austro Hungarian Navy German Kaiserliche und Konigliche Kriegsmarine or K u K Kriegsmarine sank over 6 000 Allied and neutral ships totaling over 14 200 000 tons 1 Many additional ships that are not included in those totals were damaged but were able to return to service after repairs This list contains the approximately 100 ships over 10 000 tons that were either damaged or sunk by U boats by torpedoes submarine laid mines gunfire or other means Note 1 Contents 1 List 2 Notes 3 References 4 BibliographyList editShips listed are presented in descending order on the tonnage figure Those that were damaged are indicated with an asterisk after their names Three ships Justicia Celtic and Southland appear on the list twice Justicia was damaged by UB 64 on 19 July 1918 and sunk while under tow the following day by UB 124 2 Celtic was damaged by U 80 and UB 77 in separate incidents in February 1917 and March 1918 respectively 3 Southland was seriously damaged by UB 14 in September 1915 and sunk by SM U 70 in June 1917 4 All U boats listed are German unless otherwise noted in the table Kapitanleutnant Kptlt Otto Weddigen in U 9 sank three Royal Navy cruisers that appear on the list Aboukir Hogue and Cressy in a little more than an hour during the action of 22 September 1914 5 The first three victims of UB 14 s career the Italian armored cruiser Amalfi the British troopship Royal Edward and the troopship Southland which was seriously damaged in July August and September 1915 respectively are all on the list 6 Four U boat commanders appear four or more times on the list Kptlt Hans Rose in U 53 sank two ships and damaged two others between June 1917 and April 1918 7 while Kptlt Otto Steinbrinck in UC 65 did the same between March and July 1917 7 Between October 1916 and October 1918 Kptlt Wolfgang Steinbauer sank three ships on the list in UB 47 and damaged a fourth in UB 48 7 Kptlt Gustav Siess responsible for sinking the largest ship on the list the hospital ship Britannic struck a mine and sunk the younger sister ship of Titanic and Olympic topped the list with five entries four including Britannic sunk in U 73 and a fifth sunk in U 33 all between April 1916 and April 1917 7 Other notable commanders that appear on the list are Kptlt Lothar von Arnauld de la Periere three times who sank the most tonnage of any submarine commander ever 8 and Linienschiffsleutnant Georg Ritter von Trapp of the Austro Hungarian Navy two times known as the patriarch of the family made famous in The Sound of Music and its subsequent film adaptation 9 Largest ships hit by U boats in World War I 7 Ship Nationality Note 1 Tons Date U boat Commander NotesHMHS Britannic nbsp Royal Navy 48 758 21 November 1916 U 73 Gustav Siess Sunk by MineJusticia a nbsp United Kingdom 32 234 19 July 1918 UB 64 Otto von Schrader Damaged taken under towJusticia nbsp United Kingdom 32 234 20 July 1918 UB 124 Hans Oskar Wutsdorff Sunk while under tow from 1st attackLusitania nbsp United Kingdom 30 396 7 May 1915 U 20 Walther Schwieger Sunk with great loss of lifeJean Bart a nbsp French Navy 22 189 21 December 1914 U 12 Austria Hungary Egon Lerch Returned to port under own powerCeltic a nbsp United Kingdom 20 904 15 February 1917 U 80 Alfred von Glasenapp Struck mine returned to port under towCeltic a nbsp United Kingdom 20 904 31 March 1918 UB 77 Wilhelm Meyer Torpedoed returned to port under towMerion nbsp United Kingdom 19 380 29 May 1915 UB 8 Ernst von Voigt Decoy disguised as HMS Tiger sunkLapland a nbsp United Kingdom 18 565 7 April 1917 UC 65 Otto Steinbrinck Struck mine returned to portFranconia nbsp United Kingdom 18 510 4 October 1916 UB 47 Wolfgang Steinbauer Torpedoed while emptyVoltaire a nbsp French Navy 18 400 18 October 1918 UB 48 Wolfgang Steinbauer Lightly damaged by 2 torpedoesUSS Mount Vernon a nbsp United States Navy 18 372 5 September 1918 U 82 Heinrich Middendorf Heavy damage returned to port under own powerDanton nbsp French Navy 18 300 19 March 1917 U 64 Robert Moraht Torpedoed and sunkUSS President Lincoln nbsp United States Navy 18 168 31 May 1918 U 90 Walter Remy Torpedoed and sunk most lives savedLaconia nbsp United Kingdom 18 099 25 February 1917 U 50 Gerhard BergerUSS Minnesota a nbsp United States Navy 18 000 29 September 1918 U 117 Otto DroscherHMS Britannia nbsp Royal Navy 16 350 9 November 1918 UB 50 Heinrich KukatUSS Covington nbsp United States Navy 16 339 1 July 1918 U 86 Helmut Brummer PatzigArabic nbsp United Kingdom 15 801 19 August 1915 U 24 Rudolf SchneiderRurik a nbsp Imperial Russian Navy 15 544 19 November 1916 UC 27 Karl VesperHMS Formidable nbsp Royal Navy 15 000 1 January 1915 U 24 Rudolf SchneiderGallia nbsp France 14 966 4 October 1916 U 35 Lothar von Arnauld de la PeriereHMS Majestic nbsp Royal Navy 14 900 27 May 1915 U 21 Otto HersingLaurentic nbsp United Kingdom 14 892 25 January 1917 U 80 Alfred von GlasenappTransylvania nbsp United Kingdom 14 348 4 May 1917 U 63 Otto SchultzeTuscania nbsp United Kingdom 14 348 5 February 1918 UB 77 Wilhelm MeyerMinnewaska nbsp United Kingdom 14 317 29 November 1916 UC 23 Johannes KirchnerHMS Drake nbsp Royal Navy 14 300 2 October 1917 U 79 Otto RohrbeckIvernia nbsp Royal Navy 14 278 1 January 1917 UB 47 Wolfgang SteinbauerHMS King Alfred a nbsp Royal Navy 14 150 11 April 1918 UB 86 Hans TrenkHMS Russell nbsp Royal Navy 14 000 27 April 1916 U 73 Gustav SiessHMS Cornwallis nbsp Royal Navy 14 000 9 January 1917 U 32 Kurt HartwigAurania nbsp United Kingdom 13 936 4 February 1918 UB 67 Gerhard SchulzTubantia nbsp Netherlands 13 911 16 March 1916 UB 13 Arthur MetzLa Provence nbsp France 13 753 26 February 1916 U 35 Lothar von Arnauld de la PeriereMinnehaha nbsp United Kingdom 13 714 7 September 1917 U 48 Karl EdelingUSS San Diego nbsp United States Navy 13 680 19 July 1918 U 156 Richard FeldtCarpathia nbsp United Kingdom 13 603 17 July 1918 U 55 Wilhelm Werner TorpedoedMinneapolis nbsp United Kingdom 13 543 23 March 1916 U 35 Lothar von Arnauld de la PeriereMinnetonka nbsp United Kingdom 13 528 30 January 1918 U 64 Robert MorahtPeresvet nbsp Imperial Russian Navy 13 500 2 January 1917 U 73 Gustav SiessAvenger nbsp United Kingdom 13 441 14 June 1917 U 69 Ernst WilhelmsRegina Margherita nbsp Regia Marina 13 427 12 December 1916 UC 14 Franz BeckerAlaunia nbsp United Kingdom 13 405 19 October 1916 UC 16 Egon von WernerAndania nbsp United Kingdom 13 405 27 January 1918 U 46 Leo HillebrandCymric nbsp United Kingdom 13 370 8 May 1916 U 20 Walther SchwiegerOrama nbsp United Kingdom 12 927 19 October 1917 U 62 Ernst HashagenSuffren nbsp French Navy 12 750 25 November 1916 U 52 Hans WaltherAthos nbsp France 12 644 17 February 1917 U 65 Hermann von FischelRijndam ID 2505 a nbsp Netherlands 12 527 18 January 1916 UC 1 Egon von WernerCalgarian 1913 nbsp United Kingdom 12 515 1 March 1918 U 19 Johannes SpiessMissanabie nbsp United Kingdom 12 469 9 September 1918 UB 87 Karl PetriMaloja nbsp United Kingdom 12 431 27 February 1916 UC 6 Matthias Graf von SchmettowLeon Gambetta nbsp French Navy 12 416 27 April 1915 U 5 Austria Hungary Georg Ritter von TrappMedina nbsp United Kingdom 12 350 28 April 1917 UB 31 Thomas BieberFinland a nbsp United States Army 12 222 28 October 1917 U 93 Helmut GerlachArgyllshire a nbsp United Kingdom 12 097 5 February 1917 UC 46 Friedrich MoeckeOtway nbsp United Kingdom 12 077 23 July 1917 UC 49 Karl PetriPersic a nbsp United Kingdom 12 045 7 September 1918 UB 87 Karl PetriOrsova a nbsp United Kingdom 12 036 14 March 1917 UC 68 Hans DegetauBurdigala nbsp France 12 009 14 November 1916 U 73 Gustav SiessAsturias a nbsp United Kingdom 12 002 20 March 1917 UC 66 Herbert PustkuchenHMS Aboukir nbsp Royal Navy 12 000 22 September 1914 U 9 Otto WeddigenHMS Cressy nbsp Royal Navy 12 000 22 September 1914 U 9 Otto WeddigenHMS Hogue nbsp Royal Navy 12 000 22 September 1914 U 9 Otto WeddigenAfric nbsp United Kingdom 11 999 12 February 1917 UC 66 Herbert PustkuchenHMS Triumph nbsp Royal Navy 11 985 25 May 1915 U 21 Otto HersingHMT Southland a nbsp Royal Navy 11 899 2 September 1915 UB 14 Heino von HeimburgHMT Southland nbsp Royal Navy 11 899 4 June 1917 U 70 Otto WunscheHaverford a nbsp United Kingdom 11 635 26 June 1917 U 94 Alfred SaalwachterVolturno nbsp Kingdom of Italy 11 495 26 March 1918 UB 50 Franz BeckerDemerara a nbsp United Kingdom 11 484 1 July 1917 U 84 Walter RoehrDrina nbsp United Kingdom 11 483 1 March 1917 UC 65 Otto SteinbrinckMilazzo nbsp Kingdom of Italy 11 477 29 August 1917 U 14 Austria Hungary Georg Ritter von TrappHMHS Llandovery Castle nbsp Royal Navy 11 423 27 June 1918 U 86 Helmut Brummer PatzigRotorua nbsp United Kingdom 11 140 22 March 1917 UC 17 Ralph WenningerBerrima a nbsp United Kingdom 11 137 18 February 1917 U 84 Walter RoehrBallarat nbsp United Kingdom 11 120 25 April 1917 UB 32 Max ViebegHMT Royal Edward nbsp Royal Canadian Navy 11 117 13 August 1915 UB 14 Heino von HeimburgCadillac a nbsp United Kingdom 11 106 7 April 1918 U 53 Hans RoseGaulois nbsp French Navy 11 100 27 December 1916 UB 47 Wolfgang SteinbauerHMS Ariadne nbsp Royal Navy 11 000 26 July 1917 UC 65 Otto SteinbrinckCameronia nbsp United Kingdom 10 963 15 April 1917 U 33 Gustav SiessYasaka Maru nbsp Japan 10 932 21 December 1915 U 38 Max ValentinerHesperian nbsp United Kingdom 10 920 4 September 1915 U 20 Walther SchwiegerHMS Roxburgh a nbsp Royal Navy 10 850 20 June 1915 U 38 Max ValentinerHMS Hampshire nbsp Royal Navy 10 850 5 June 1916 U 75 Curt BeitzenNew York a nbsp United States 10 798 9 April 1917 UC 65 Otto SteinbrinckVirginian a nbsp United Kingdom 10 757 21 August 1917 U 102 Ernst KillmannHurunui nbsp United Kingdom 10 644 18 May 1918 U 94 Martin SchwabMarmora nbsp United Kingdom 10 509 23 July 1918 UB 64 Otto von SchraderVestris a nbsp United Kingdom 10 494 26 January 1918 UB 54 Egon von WernerDevonian nbsp United Kingdom 10 435 21 August 1917 U 53 Hans RoseWinifredian a nbsp United Kingdom 10 422 17 April 1917 UC 76 Wilhelm BartenUltonia nbsp United Kingdom 10 402 27 June 1917 U 53 Hans RoseRowanmore nbsp United Kingdom 10 320 26 October 1916 U 57 Carl Siegfried Ritter von GeorgO B Jennings nbsp United States 10 289 4 August 1918 U 140 Waldemar KophamelSan Melito a nbsp United Kingdom 10 160 21 August 1915 U 38 Max ValentinerSan Hilario nbsp United Kingdom 10 157 20 April 1917 U 43 Hellmuth JurstAmalfi nbsp Regia Marina 10 118 7 July 1915 UB 14 Heino von HeimburgSan Nazario a nbsp United Kingdom 10 064 15 October 1917 U 53 Hans RoseRaranga a nbsp United Kingdom 10 040 26 June 1918 UC 71 Walter WarzechaAmazon nbsp United Kingdom 10 037 15 March 1918 U 110 Karl Kroll a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac damaged but not sunkNotes edit a b Merchant ship tonnages are in gross register tons Military vessels are listed by tons displacementReferences edit Gibson and Prendergast pp 380 382 Helgason Gudmundur Ships hit during WWI Justicia German and Austrian U boats of World War I Kaiserliche Marine Uboat net Retrieved 14 April 2009 Helgason Gudmundur Ships hit during WWI Celtic German and Austrian U boats of World War I Kaiserliche Marine Uboat net Retrieved 14 April 2009 Helgason Gudmundur Ships hit during WWI Southland German and Austrian U boats of World War I Kaiserliche Marine Uboat net Retrieved 14 April 2009 Gibson and Prendergast pp 7 9 Helgason Gudmundur Ships hit by UB 14 German and Austrian U boats of World War I Kaiserliche Marine Uboat net Retrieved 30 April 2016 a b c d e Helgason Gudmundur Ships hit during WWI Largest Ships sunk or damaged German and Austrian U boats of World War I Kaiserliche Marine Uboat net Retrieved 14 April 2009 Tarrant p 146 Gearin Joan The Real Story of the von Trapp Family National Archives and Records Administration Retrieved 15 April 2009 Bibliography editGibson R H Maurice Prendergast 2003 1931 The German Submarine War 1914 1918 Annapolis Maryland Naval Institute Press ISBN 9781591143147 OCLC 52924732 Tarrant V E 1989 The U Boat Offensive 1914 1945 Annapolis MD Naval Institute Press ISBN 978 0 87021 764 7 OCLC 20338385 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title List of the largest ships hit by U boats in World War I amp oldid 1182821204, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
