SM U-55

SM U-55 was one of the six Type U-51 U-boats of the Imperial German Navy during the First World War.

Construction and commissioning U-55 was ordered from Germaniawerft, Kiel on 23 August 1914, was laid down 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 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. 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 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 in 1920 as O-3, serving as such until 1921.UBoat.net: U-boats turned over to Japan It was dismantled at the Sasebo Navy Yard between March and June 1921, briefly recommissioning in 1923 as Auxiliary Vessel No. 2538.

Summary of raiding history DateNameNationalityTonnageMerchant ship tonnages are in gross register tons. Military vessels are listed by tons displacement.Fate28 September 1916HMT Orsino172Sunk30 September 1916Atle1,725Captured as prize30 September 1916Talavera1,741Captured as prize24 October 1916Clearfield4,229Sunk28 October 1916Marina5,204Sunk22 January 1917Ethel23Sunk23 January 1917Eden142Sunk23 January 1917Salland3,657Sunk27 January 1917Artist3,570Sunk30 January 1917Euonymus60Sunk30 January 1917Helena And Samuel59Sunk30 January 1917Marcelle219Sunk30 January 1917Merit39Sunk30 January 1917Trevone46Sunk30 January 1917W.A.H.47Sunk30 January 1917Wetherill46Sunk31 January 1917Dundee2,290Sunk31 January 1917Saint Leon230Sunk31 January 1917Yvonne87Sunk1 February 1917Ada24Sunk1 February 1917Essonite589Sunk1 February 191759Sunk2 February 1917Pomoschnick167Sunk6 February 1917Saxon Briton1,337Sunk7 February 1917Yola3,504Sunk4 April 1917H. B. Linnemann444Damaged5 April 1917Vilja1,049Sunk6 April 1917Vine Branch3,442Sunk8 April 1917Petridge1,712Sunk8 April 19175,597Sunk8 April 1917Umvoti2,616Sunk12 April 1917Toro3,066Sunk15 April 1917Astræa260Sunk17 April 1917Cairnhill4,981Sunk8 June 1917Russian Prince4,158Damaged9 June 1917Achilles641Sunk11 June 1917Ausonia8,153Damaged12 June 1917Coronado6,539Damaged23 June 1917Sophie89Sunk23 June 1917Star120Sunk31 July 19174,765Sunk6 August 1917Eugenia4,835Sunk9 August 1917Oakfield3,618Damaged12 August 1917Falkland4,877Sunk17 August 1917Edina455Sunk18 August 1917HMT Benjamin Stevenson255Sunk4 January 19187,305Sunk5 January 19186,240Sunk9 January 1918Ula839Sunk16 January 1918Genevieve1,598Sunk20 January 1918Hirondelle28Sunk21 January 1918Maria Caterina71Sunk26 February 1918Eumaeus6,696Sunk26 February 1918Mouche65Sunk1 March 1918Borga1,046Sunk7 March 1918Brise160Sunk7 March 1918Saint Georges102Sunk7 March 1918Saint Joseph434Sunk8 March 1918Madeline2,890Sunk10 March 1918Cristina2,083Sunk15 May 1918War Grange3,100Damaged16 May 1918Tagona2,004Sunk17 May 1918Motricine4,047Sunk18 May 1918Denbigh Hall4,943Sunk18 May 1918Scholar1,635Sunk16 July 1918Miefield1,368Sunk17 July 191813,603Sunk23 July 1918Anna Sofie2,577Sunk31 July 1918Zwaantje Cornelia149Damaged1 October 1918Montfort6,578Sunk2 October 1918Keltier2,360Sunk4 October 1918Uranus350Sunk10 October 1918Andre160Sunk

Original documents from Room 40

SM U-55

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