SM U-15 or U-XV was a U-10-classsubmarine or U-boat of the Austro-Hungarian Navy (German: Kaiserliche und Königliche Kriegsmarine or K.u.K. Kriegsmarine) during World War I. U-15 was constructed in Germany and shipped by rail to Pola where she was assembled and launched in April 1915. She was commissioned in October 1915. U-15 was the most successful boat of the U-10 class, sinking six ships totaling 8,044 gross register tons (GRT) and 745 tons. The boat survived the war and was handed over to Italy as a war reparation and scrapped in 1920.
U-15 was constructed at AG Weser in Bremen for the Austro-Hungarian Navy and then shipped by rail in sections to the navy yard at Pola, where the sections were riveted together. Though there is no specific mention of how long it took for U-15's sections to be assembled, a sister boat, the German Type UB I submarineUB-3, shipped to Pola from Germany in mid-April 1915, was assembled in about two weeks.[6][Note 1]U-15 was launched in April.
U-15 was a small, coastal submarine that displaced 125.5 long tons (127.5 t) surfaced and 140.25 long tons (142.50 t) submerged. She featured a single shaft, a single 59 bhp (44 kW) Daimlerdiesel engine for surface running, and a single 119 shp (89 kW) electric motor for submerged travel.[3]U-15 was capable of up to 6.5 knots (12.0 km/h; 7.5 mph) while surfaced and 5.5 knots (10.2 km/h; 6.3 mph) while submerged at a diving depth of up to 50 metres (160 ft). She was designed for a crew of 17 officers and men.[3]
U-15 was equipped with two 45 cm (17.7 in) torpedo tubes located in the front and carried a complement of two torpedoes. In October 1916, U-15's armament was supplemented with a 37 mm/23 (1.5 in) quick-firing (QF) gun. This gun was replaced by a 47 mm (1.9 in)/33 QF gun in November 1917.[3]
Operational historyedit
SM U-15 was commissioned into the Austro-Hungarian Navy on 6 October under the command of Linienschiffsleutnant Friedrich Schlosser. On 28 November, Linienschiffsleutnant Friedrich Fähndrich was assigned to the first of two stints in command of the boat.[4] On 18 December, Fähndrich and U-15 attacked and sank two Albanian sailing vessels near Lezhë. The Erzen, of 25 GRT, and the Figlio Preligiona, of 80 GRT, were both sunk at position 41°47′N19°31′E / 41.783°N 19.517°E / 41.783; 19.517.[7][8][9] After being relieved by Linienschiffsleutnant Franz Rzemenowsky von Trautenegg from late March to early May 1916, Fähndrich resumed command on 10 May.[4] One week later, on 17 May, U-15 torpedoed and sank the 2,237 GRT Italian steamer Stura in the Adriatic some 18 nautical miles (33 km) east of Brindisi.[10][Note 2]
The following month, Fähndrich and the crew of U-15 scored their second double kill when they sank the Italian auxiliary cruiserCittá di Messina (3,495 GRT) and the French destroyerFourche (745 tons).[11][12] While about 20 nautical miles (37 km) east of Otranto on 23 June, U-15 torpedoed and sank Cittá di Messina. The escorting destroyer Fourche began a depth charge attack on U-15 and assumed success when an oil slick appeared on the surface. After the captain of Fourche turned his attentions to the rescue Cittá di Messina's survivors, U-15 launched a single torpedo that struck Fourche amidships and sank her.[13]
On 25 October, U-15, back under the command of von Trautenegg,[4] sank the 2,207 GRT Italian steamer Polcevera,[14] a sister ship to Stura (sunk by U-15 in May).[15]Polcevera was the last ship sunk by U-15.
From October 1916 to the end of the fighting in November 1918, U-15's activities are unknown. U-15 was at Pola at the end of the war when Austria-Hungary handed her over to Italy.[16]U-15 was scrapped at Pola by 1920.[3]
^The Austro-Hungarian U-10 class and the German Type UB I were virtually identical.
^Stura, launched in 1883, had sailed in passenger duty for Navigazione Generale Italiana between the Mediterranean and New York before the war. See: Immigration Information Bureau, pp. 8–9, 16, 23.
^ abcdeHelgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boats: KUK U15". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 6 November 2008.
^Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit during WWI: Erzen". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 4 November 2008.
^Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit during WWI: Figlio Preligiona". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 4 November 2008.
^Google (4 November 2008). "SM U-15 (Austria-Hungary)" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved 4 November 2008.
^Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit during WWI: Stura". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 4 November 2008.
^Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit during WWI: Citta Di Messina". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 4 November 2008.
^Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit during WWI: Fourche". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 4 November 2008.
^Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit during WWI: Polceverra". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 4 November 2008. Helgason refers to the ship as "Polceverra", but Haworth, and Swiggum & Kohli identify the ship as "Polcevera".For Haworth, see: "Polcevera". Miramar Ship Index. R.B.Haworth. Retrieved 4 November 2008.For Swiggum & Kohli, see: Swiggum, S.; M. Kohli (13 October 2006). . TheShipsList.com. Archived from the original on 17 November 2008. Retrieved 4 November 2008.
^Swiggum, S.; M. Kohli (13 October 2006). . TheShipsList.com. Archived from the original on 17 November 2008. Retrieved 4 November 2008.
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. ISBN0-85177-593-4.
Baumgartner, Lothar; Erwin Sieche (1999). Die Schiffe der k.(u.)k. Kriegsmarine im Bild = Austro-Hungarian warships in photographs (in German). Wien: Verlagsbuchhandlung Stöhr. ISBN978-3-901208-25-6. OCLC 43596931.
Compton-Hall, Richard (2004) [1991]. Submarines at War, 1914–18. Penzance: Periscope Publishing. ISBN978-1-904381-21-1. OCLC 57639764.
Gibson, R. H.; Prendergast, Maurice (2003) [1931]. The German Submarine War, 1914–1918. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN978-1-59114-314-7. OCLC 52924732.
Immigration Information Bureau (1987) [1931]. Morton Allan directory of European passenger steamship arrivals for the years 1890 to 1930 at the Port of New York and for the years 1904 to 1926 at the ports of New York, Philadelphia, Boston, and Baltimore. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Company. ISBN978-0-8063-0830-2. OCLC 16464579.
Messimer, Dwight R. (2002). Verschollen: World War I U-boat Losses. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN978-1-55750-475-3. OCLC 231973419.
January 01, 1970
austria, hungary, class, submarine, boat, austro, hungarian, navy, german, kaiserliche, königliche, kriegsmarine, kriegsmarine, during, world, constructed, germany, shipped, rail, pola, where, assembled, launched, april, 1915, commissioned, october, 1915, most. SM U 15 or U XV was a U 10 class submarine or U boat of the Austro Hungarian Navy German Kaiserliche und Konigliche Kriegsmarine or K u K Kriegsmarine during World War I U 15 was constructed in Germany and shipped by rail to Pola where she was assembled and launched in April 1915 She was commissioned in October 1915 U 15 was the most successful boat of the U 10 class sinking six ships totaling 8 044 gross register tons GRT and 745 tons The boat survived the war and was handed over to Italy as a war reparation and scrapped in 1920 History Austria Hungary NameSM U 15 BuilderAG Weser Bremen 3 Yard number232 2 LaunchedSeptember 1915 1 Commissioned6 October 1915 FateHanded over to Italy as war reparations and scrapped 1920 Service record Commanders Friedrich Schlosser 6 October 18 November 1915 4 Friedrich Fahndrich 28 November 1915 25 March 1916 Franz Rzemenowsky von Trautenegg 25 March 10 May 1916 Friedrich Fahndrich 10 May 11 December 1916 Franz Rzemenowsky von Trautenegg 9 28 October 1916 Otto Molitor 11 December 1916 15 June 1917 Franz Rzemenowsky von Trautenegg 1 12 June 1917 Otto Molitor 12 June 17 July 1917 Ludwig Muller 17 July 1917 9 March 1918 Andreas Korparic 17 March 31 October 1918Victories 5 merchant ships sunk 8 044 GRT 1 warship sunk 745 tons 4 General characteristics TypeU 10 class submarine Displacement125 5 long tons 127 51 t surfaced 140 25 long tons 142 50 t submerged 3 Length28 10 m 92 ft 2 in o a 23 62 m 77 ft 6 in pressure hull Beam3 15 m 10 ft 4 in Draught3 03 m 9 ft 11 in Propulsion1 shaft 1 Daimler diesel engine 59 bhp 44 kW 1 electric motor 119 shp 89 kW Speed6 5 knots 12 0 km h 7 5 mph surfaced 5 5 knots 10 2 km h 6 3 mph submerged 3 Range1 500 nmi 2 800 km 1 700 mi at 5 knots 9 3 km h 5 8 mph surfaced 45 nmi 83 km 52 mi at 4 knots 7 4 km h 4 6 mph submerged 5 Complement17 3 Armament2 45 cm 17 7 in torpedo tubes both in front 2 torpedoes 3 1 37 mm 23 1 5 in QF gun October 1916 3 1 47 mm 1 9 in 33 QF gun November 1917 3 Contents 1 Design and construction 2 Operational history 3 Summary of raiding history 4 Notes 5 References 6 BibliographyDesign and construction editU 15 was constructed at AG Weser in Bremen for the Austro Hungarian Navy and then shipped by rail in sections to the navy yard at Pola where the sections were riveted together Though there is no specific mention of how long it took for U 15 s sections to be assembled a sister boat the German Type UB I submarine UB 3 shipped to Pola from Germany in mid April 1915 was assembled in about two weeks 6 Note 1 U 15 was launched in April U 15 was a small coastal submarine that displaced 125 5 long tons 127 5 t surfaced and 140 25 long tons 142 50 t submerged She featured a single shaft a single 59 bhp 44 kW Daimler diesel engine for surface running and a single 119 shp 89 kW electric motor for submerged travel 3 U 15 was capable of up to 6 5 knots 12 0 km h 7 5 mph while surfaced and 5 5 knots 10 2 km h 6 3 mph while submerged at a diving depth of up to 50 metres 160 ft She was designed for a crew of 17 officers and men 3 U 15 was equipped with two 45 cm 17 7 in torpedo tubes located in the front and carried a complement of two torpedoes In October 1916 U 15 s armament was supplemented with a 37 mm 23 1 5 in quick firing QF gun This gun was replaced by a 47 mm 1 9 in 33 QF gun in November 1917 3 Operational history editSM U 15 was commissioned into the Austro Hungarian Navy on 6 October under the command of Linienschiffsleutnant Friedrich Schlosser On 28 November Linienschiffsleutnant Friedrich Fahndrich was assigned to the first of two stints in command of the boat 4 On 18 December Fahndrich and U 15 attacked and sank two Albanian sailing vessels near Lezhe The Erzen of 25 GRT and the Figlio Preligiona of 80 GRT were both sunk at position 41 47 N 19 31 E 41 783 N 19 517 E 41 783 19 517 7 8 9 After being relieved by Linienschiffsleutnant Franz Rzemenowsky von Trautenegg from late March to early May 1916 Fahndrich resumed command on 10 May 4 One week later on 17 May U 15 torpedoed and sank the 2 237 GRT Italian steamer Stura in the Adriatic some 18 nautical miles 33 km east of Brindisi 10 Note 2 The following month Fahndrich and the crew of U 15 scored their second double kill when they sank the Italian auxiliary cruiser Citta di Messina 3 495 GRT and the French destroyer Fourche 745 tons 11 12 While about 20 nautical miles 37 km east of Otranto on 23 June U 15 torpedoed and sank Citta di Messina The escorting destroyer Fourche began a depth charge attack on U 15 and assumed success when an oil slick appeared on the surface After the captain of Fourche turned his attentions to the rescue Citta di Messina s survivors U 15 launched a single torpedo that struck Fourche amidships and sank her 13 On 25 October U 15 back under the command of von Trautenegg 4 sank the 2 207 GRT Italian steamer Polcevera 14 a sister ship to Stura sunk by U 15 in May 15 Polcevera was the last ship sunk by U 15 From October 1916 to the end of the fighting in November 1918 U 15 s activities are unknown U 15 was at Pola at the end of the war when Austria Hungary handed her over to Italy 16 U 15 was scrapped at Pola by 1920 3 Summary of raiding history editDate Name Nationality Tonnage Note 3 Fate 17 18 December 1915 Erzen nbsp Albania 25 Sunk 18 December 1915 Figlio Preligiona nbsp Albania 80 Sunk 17 May 1916 Stura nbsp Kingdom of Italy 2 237 Sunk 23 June 1916 Citta Di Messina nbsp Kingdom of Italy 3 495 Sunk 23 June 1916 Fourche nbsp French Navy 745 Sunk 25 October 1916 Polceverra nbsp Kingdom of Italy 2 207 SunkNotes edit The Austro Hungarian U 10 class and the German Type UB I were virtually identical Stura launched in 1883 had sailed in passenger duty for Navigazione Generale Italiana between the Mediterranean and New York before the war See Immigration Information Bureau pp 8 9 16 23 Merchant ship tonnages are in gross register tons Military vessels are listed by tons displacement References edit Gibson and Pendergast p 385 Baumgartner and Sieche as excerpted here reprinted and translated into English by Sieche Retrieved 17 November 2008 a b c d e f g h i j k Gardiner p 343 a b c d e Helgason Gudmundur WWI U boats KUK U15 German and Austrian U boats of World War I Kaiserliche Marine Uboat net Retrieved 6 November 2008 Gardiner p 180 Messimer p 126 27 Helgason Gudmundur Ships hit during WWI Erzen German and Austrian U boats of World War I Kaiserliche Marine Uboat net Retrieved 4 November 2008 Helgason Gudmundur Ships hit during WWI Figlio Preligiona German and Austrian U boats of World War I Kaiserliche Marine Uboat net Retrieved 4 November 2008 Google 4 November 2008 SM U 15 Austria Hungary Map Google Maps Google Retrieved 4 November 2008 Helgason Gudmundur Ships hit during WWI Stura German and Austrian U boats of World War I Kaiserliche Marine Uboat net Retrieved 4 November 2008 Helgason Gudmundur Ships hit during WWI Citta Di Messina German and Austrian U boats of World War I Kaiserliche Marine Uboat net Retrieved 4 November 2008 Helgason Gudmundur Ships hit during WWI Fourche German and Austrian U boats of World War I Kaiserliche Marine Uboat net Retrieved 4 November 2008 Compton Hall p 230 Helgason Gudmundur Ships hit during WWI Polceverra German and Austrian U boats of World War I Kaiserliche Marine Uboat net Retrieved 4 November 2008 Helgason refers to the ship as Polceverra but Haworth and Swiggum amp Kohli identify the ship as Polcevera For Haworth see Polcevera Miramar Ship Index R B Haworth Retrieved 4 November 2008 For Swiggum amp Kohli see Swiggum S M Kohli 13 October 2006 Societa Italiana di Transporti Marittimi Raggio amp Co Genoa 1882 1885 TheShipsList com Archived from the original on 17 November 2008 Retrieved 4 November 2008 Swiggum S M Kohli 13 October 2006 Societa Italiana di Transporti Marittimi Raggio amp Co Genoa 1882 1885 TheShipsList com Archived from the original on 17 November 2008 Retrieved 4 November 2008 Gibson and Pendergast p 388 Helgason Gudmundur Ships hit by KUK U 15 German and Austrian U boats of World War I Kaiserliche Marine Uboat net Retrieved 21 January 2015 Bibliography editBendert Harald 2000 Die UB Boote der Kaiserlichen Marine 1914 1918 Einsatze Erfolge Schicksal in German Hamburg Verlag E S Mittler amp Sohn GmbH ISBN 3 8132 0713 7 Groner 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 Baumgartner Lothar Erwin Sieche 1999 Die Schiffe der k u k Kriegsmarine im Bild Austro Hungarian warships in photographs in German Wien Verlagsbuchhandlung Stohr ISBN 978 3 901208 25 6 OCLC 43596931 Compton Hall Richard 2004 1991 Submarines at War 1914 18 Penzance Periscope Publishing ISBN 978 1 904381 21 1 OCLC 57639764 Gardiner Robert ed 1985 Conway s All the World s Fighting Ships 1906 1921 Annapolis Maryland Naval Institute Press ISBN 978 0 87021 907 8 OCLC 12119866 Gibson R H Prendergast Maurice 2003 1931 The German Submarine War 1914 1918 Annapolis Maryland Naval Institute Press ISBN 978 1 59114 314 7 OCLC 52924732 Immigration Information Bureau 1987 1931 Morton Allan directory of European passenger steamship arrivals for the years 1890 to 1930 at the Port of New York and for the years 1904 to 1926 at the ports of New York Philadelphia Boston and Baltimore Baltimore Genealogical Publishing Company ISBN 978 0 8063 0830 2 OCLC 16464579 Messimer Dwight R 2002 Verschollen World War I U boat Losses Annapolis Maryland Naval Institute Press ISBN 978 1 55750 475 3 OCLC 231973419 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title SM U 15 Austria Hungary amp oldid 1172010980, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
