SM ''U-55'' was one of the six Type U-51

U-boat U-boats were naval submarines operated by Germany, particularly in the First and Second World Wars. Although at times they were efficient fleet weapons against enemy naval warships, they were most effectively used in an economic warfare ro ...

s of the

Imperial German Navy The Imperial German Navy or the Imperial Navy () was the navy of the German Empire, which existed between 1871 and 1919. It grew out of the small Prussian Navy (from 1867 the North German Federal Navy), which was mainly for coast defence. Kaise ...

during the

First World War World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

Construction and commissioning

''U-55'' was ordered from Germaniawerft,

Kiel Kiel () is the capital and most populous city in the northern German state of Schleswig-Holstein, with a population of 246,243 (2021). Kiel lies approximately north of Hamburg. Due to its geographic location in the southeast of the Jutland ...

on 23 August 1914, was

laid down Laying the keel or laying down is the formal recognition of the start of a ship's construction. It is often marked with a ceremony attended by dignitaries from the shipbuilding company and the ultimate owners of the ship. Keel laying is one o ...

on 28 December 1914 and launched on 18 March 1916. She was commissioned under her first commander Wilhelm Werner on 8 June 1916.

In German service

Werner commanded her for most of her wartime career, during which she undertook 14 patrols with II Flotilla, sinking 61 merchant ships for a total of . She also damaged another seven for a total of , and took another two as

prizes A prize is an award to be given to a person or a group of people (such as sporting teams and organizations) to recognize and reward their actions and achievements.

for a total of 3,466 GRT. Her most famous act was the sinking of the British passenger liner with three torpedoes, on 17 July 1918, off the east coast of

Ireland Ireland ( ; ga, Éire ; Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern Europe, north-western Europe. It is separated from Great Britain to its east by the North Channel (Grea ...

. ''Carpathia'' herself had become famous for her actions in coming to the rescue of the sinking in 1912. ''U-55'' also sank the hospital ship on 4 January 1918. Werner was replaced by Alexander Weiss on 10 August 1918, Weiss being succeeded by Hans Friedrich on 15 September and commanding ''U-55'' until the

armistice An armistice is a formal agreement of warring parties to stop fighting. It is not necessarily the end of a war, as it may constitute only a cessation of hostilities while an attempt is made to negotiate a lasting peace. It is derived from the ...

on 11 November 1918.

In Japanese service

On 26 November 1918 ''U-55'' was surrendered to the Royal Navy at Harwich, along with the rest of the surviving U-Boat fleet. It was subsequently handed over to Japan, and entered service with the

Imperial Japanese Navy The Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN; Kyūjitai: Shinjitai: ' 'Navy of the Greater Japanese Empire', or ''Nippon Kaigun'', 'Japanese Navy') was the navy of the Empire of Japan from 1868 to 1945, when it was dissolved following Japan's surrend ...

in 1920 as ''O-3'', serving as such until 1921.UBoat.net: U-boats turned over to Japan
/ref> It was dismantled at the

Sasebo Navy Yard was one of four principal naval shipyards owned and operated by the Imperial Japanese Navy. History The Sasebo Naval District was established at Sasebo, Nagasaki in 1886, as the third of the naval districts responsible for the defense of t ...

between March and June 1921, briefly recommissioning in 1923 as ''Auxiliary Vessel No. 2538''.

Summary of raiding history

Original documents from Room 40

References

Notes

Citations

Bibliography

* * * * * * * *

External links

Photos of cruises of German submarine U-54 in 1916-1918.
Great photo quality, comments in German.
A 44 min. film from 1917 about a cruise of the German submarine U-35.
A German propaganda film without dead or wounded; many details about submarine warfare in World War I. *

original documents, photos and maps about World War I German submarine warfare and British

Intelligence from

The National Archives National archives are central archives maintained by countries. This article contains a list of national archives. Among its more important tasks are to ensure the accessibility and preservation of the information produced by governments, both ...

, Kew, Richmond, UK. {{DEFAULTSORT:U0055 World War I submarines of Germany Type U 51 submarines Ships built in Kiel 1916 ships U-boats commissioned in 1916 Foreign submarines of the Imperial Japanese Navy Auxiliary ships of the Imperial Japanese Navy