SM U-34 was a German U-boat of World War I. Launched on 9 May 1914, U-34 sank a total of 119 ships during 17 combat patrols, while damaging another 5 ships. The vessel had three commanders during its time: Kptlt. Claus Rucker, Kptlt. Johannes Klasing, Kptlt. Wilhelm Canaris, and Klasing again, in that order. On 18 October 1918, U-34 sailed for the last time, disappearing with all 38 crew members lost. Although it was claimed that she was depth charged and sunk near Gibraltar by on 9 November 1918, it is believed that the U-boat had been lost prior to that, but it has never been confirmed one way or the other.

During an episode of the documentary TV series 'Mysteries of the Deep', it was claimed that SM U-34 was sunk after its track and silhouette were highlighted underwater by bio-luminance. Marine experts interviewed on the episode speculated that U-34 had sailed through a mass of darkened bio-luminous plankton; the submarine's disturbance caused the plankton to bio-luminously shine in increasing tones as a natural reaction. This bio-luminance revealed the submarine to the British vessel, which then launched a successful depth-charge attack.

U-34 sailed 17 patrols, sinking 119 ships for a total of , and damaging another five for .

Design Type U 31 submarines were double-hulled ocean-going submarines similar to Type 23 and Type 27 subs in dimensions and differed only slightly in propulsion and speed. They were considered very good high sea boats with average manoeuvrability and good surface steering.

U-34 had an overall length of , her pressure hull was long. The boat's beam was (o/a), while the pressure hull measured . Type 31s had a draught of with a total height of . The boats displaced a total of ; when surfaced and when submerged.

U-34 was fitted with two Germania 6-cylinder two-stroke diesel engines with a total of for use on the surface and two Siemens-Schuckert double-acting electric motors with a total of for underwater use. These engines powered two shafts each with a propeller, which gave the boat a top surface speed of , and when submerged. Cruising range was at on the surface, and at under water. Diving depth was .

The U-boat was armed with four torpedo tubes, two fitted in the bow and two in the stern, and carried 6 torpedoes. Additionally U-34 was equipped in 1915 with one Uk L/30 deck gun, which was replaced with a gun in 1916/17. The boat's complement was 4 officers and 31 enlisted.

Summary of raiding history DateNameNationalityTonnageTonnages are in gross register tonsFate18 March 1915Blue Jacket3,515Damaged18 March 19155,201Sunk21 March 1915Cairntorr3,588Sunk22 March 1915Concord2,861Sunk1 June 1915Victoria155Sunk2 June 1915Delta B220Sunk2 June 1915Hirose274Sunk3 June 1915Penfeld793Sunk4 June 1915Inkum4,747Sunk7 June 1915Superb1,515Sunk4 September 1915Natal Transport4,107Sunk8 September 1915Indien800Sunk9 November 1915Californian6,223Damaged, sunk later by sister .10 November 1915Bosnia2,561Sunk14 November 1915Treneglos3,886Sunk15 November 1915Orange Prince3,583Sunk19 November 1915Hallamshire4,420Sunk24 December 1915Ville De La Ciotat6,431Sunk24 December 1915Yeddo4,563Sunk29 December 1915Kenkoku Maru3,217Sunk30 December 1915Abelia3,650Sunk1 January 1916Glengyle9,395Sunk4 January 1916Coquet4,396Sunk3 April 1916Ellaston3,796Sunk3 April 1916Sneaton3,470Sunk5 April 1916Chantala4,951Sunk6 April 1916Yonne4,039Sunk8 April 1916Zafra3,578Sunk11 April 1916Angus3,619Sunk11 April 1916Imperator394Damaged12 April 1916Orlock Head1,945Sunk12 April 1916Vega2,957Sunk15 May 1916Mira3,050Sunk16 May 1916San Andrea225Sunk18 May 1916Adamantios Korais2,947Sunk20 May 1916Erminia1,544Sunk20 May 1916Fabbricotti F.150Sunk20 May 1916Languedoc1,612Sunk21 May 1916Myosotis356Sunk21 May 1916Tjømø1,453Sunk22 May 1916Australia1,586Sunk22 May 1916Genista1,856Sunk22 May 1916Istros1,891Sunk22 May 1916Orealla1,876Sunk22 May 1916Roberto G587Sunk23 May 1916Cornigliano2,862Sunk23 May 1916Regina593Sunk30 May 1916Julia Park2,900Sunk21 August 1916Maria242Sunk22 August 1916San Pietro53Sunk24 August 1916Alix141Sunk24 August 1916Angelina153Sunk25 August 1916Socoa2,772Sunk27 August 1916Torridon1,526Sunk28 August 1916Gorgona861Sunk29 August 1916Fede1,273Sunk31 August 1916Santa Maria947Sunk31 August 1916Nostra Signora Assunta1,256Sunk31 August 1916Quinto836Sunk1 September 1916Baron Yarborough1,784Sunk1 September 1916Giuseppe180Sunk4 September 1916Pasquale Lauro1,188Sunk4 September 1916Silverstream1,224Sunk7 September 1916Luigia917Sunk8 September 19167,395Sunk10 September 1916Elli631Sunk10 September 1916Spiridon562Sunk12 September 1916Panaghia Akathistou421Sunk26 October 1916Valborg207Sunk28 October 1916Germaine2,573Sunk29 October 1916Marie Therese219Sunk2 November 1916Giovanni Anteri Beretta332Sunk4 November 1916Mogador1,364Sunk8 November 1916Luigi Pastro3,228Sunk8 November 1916Sheldrake2,697Sunk19 March 1917Angiolina3,541Damaged20 March 1917Paul Et Marie321Sunk23 March 1917Artemis528Sunk23 March 1917Bellatrix2,568Sunk23 March 1917Noli1,569Sunk28 March 1917Antonietta R.84Sunk28 March 1917Carlo T134Sunk28 March 1917Giuseppina223Sunk28 March 1917Giuseppina Rosa132Sunk28 March 1917La Maria43Sunk28 March 1917Pietro Lofaro291Sunk28 March 1917Raffaele53Sunk4 May 1917Francesco C.984Sunk9 May 1917Harpagus5,866Sunk10 May 1917Carmen319Sunk11 May 1917Lefkosia1,087Sunk11 May 1917Medjerda1,918Sunk12 May 1917Zanoni3,851Sunk14 May 1917Gravelinoise129Sunk14 May 1917Tejo201Sunk15 May 1917Tung Shan3,999Sunk16 May 1917Dorothy Duff186Sunk16 May 1917Patricio2,164Damaged17 May 1917Alfonso230Sunk19 May 1917Mardinian3,322Sunk20 May 1917Caspian3,606Sunk21 May 1917Saint Michel175Sunk28 June 1917Minerve723Sunk30 June 1917Mont Viso4,820Sunk3 July 1917Marthe Roux1,962Sunk4 July 1917Fratelli Bianchi3,542Sunk7 July 1917Wilberforce3,074Sunk12 July 1917Ondine84Sunk2 December 1917Berwick Law4,680Sunk2 December 1917Minas2,506Sunk6 December 1917Ilvington Court4,217Sunk12 December 1917Emanuele C.284Sunk28 January 1918Djibouti4,305Sunk30 January 1918Maizar7,293Sunk6 February 1918Ville De Verdun4,576Sunk12 April 1918Autolycus5,806Sunk12 April 1918Moyune4,935Sunk19 April 1918Elka2,128Sunk19 April 1918Lord Charlemont3,209Sunk22 April 1918Dronning Maud2,663Sunk28 August 1918Emilia G.246Sunk28 August 1918Johanne234Sunk4 September 1918Richard175Sunk9 September 1918Policastra4,594Damaged9 September 1918War Arabis5,183Sunk

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