SM U-78

SM U-78 was one of the 329 submarines serving in the Imperial German Navy in World War I. U-78 was engaged in the naval warfare and took part in the First Battle of the Atlantic as a minelayer. On 27 October 1918 low frequency communications from U-78 in the Skagerrak were detected by the British submarine which sank her with the loss of her crew of 40. The commonly listed sinking date of 28 October 1918 is in error.

The wreck has been identified in April 2014.

Original documents from Room 40 The following is a verbatim transcription of the recorded activities of SM U-78 known to British Naval Intelligence, Room 40 O.B.:National Archives, Kew: HW 7/3, Room 40, History of German Naval Warfare 1914-1918 (Published below - Room 40: German Naval Warfare 1914-1918)

SM U-78. Kptlt. Dröscher, later to , but not before May 1917; then Kptlt. Vollbrecht. Was completed at Hamburg (Vulcan) in May 1916, joined the Kiel School and remained there until the 8th of July, when she went to Wilhelmshaven, and was attached to the 1st Half Flotilla. 11–27 July 1916. Left for the north. By about the 20th had laid 34 mines off Skerryvore. On the 23rd she was in action with the armed trawler CHRYSEA off Fair Island. Took 1 Danish S.S. as prize on the day before she returned to Heligoland. 20 August – 12 September 1916. Left, going northabout, for the south of Ireland and laid 34 mines off St. Govan’s Head on the night of the 1/2 September, and on the 27th August had chased S.S. FLOREAL off the Butt of Lewis. Returned northabout. 18–23 October 1916. Apparently on North Sea patrol. Stopped 6 Scandinavian S.S, allowing them to proceed. On last day out took as prize a Norwegian steamer. 29 October – 22 November 1916. Apparently went to coast of Norway to observe shipping; sank 1 Norwegian steamer. 3–22 February 1917. Laid mines at various points off the west coast of Scotland, going northabout both ways. Sank 1 steamer N. of Ireland, and possibly another N. of the Orkney Islands. 30 March – 19 April 1917. Went north, and watched the traffic on north coast of Ireland. Sand 3 S.S, 2 sailing vessels (6,500 tons). Laid mines in the Little Minch and Lough Swilly. 29 May – 22 June 1917. Went northabout and laid mines off Inishtrahull, and at points off the N.W. coast of Scotland. Was engaged by HMS HELGOLAND (a submarine trap) near Tory Island on 9 June. Claimed 5,000 tons sinkings. She asked permission to return by Little Belt, but was told for a special reason she must come in by Nordmands Tief. 27 July – 13 August 1917. Laid mines in Sound of Islay. Claimed 2,500 tons sinkings. Returned at slow speed owing to failure of port engine. She was to have gone out again in October 1917 but nothing is known of any cruise, and she was apparently not ready for service before June 1918. 16 June - ? 27 June 1918. Apparently laid mines east of Scotland. ? 14–21 July 1918. Left by the Kattegat, returned by the Bight. Had completed an unknown task in the North Sea by the 18th July. ? 19 August - ? 26 August 1918. In the North Sea. Made no report as to her undertaking, but returned at 3 knots with double motor trouble. 24 September – 1 October 1918. Laid mines on the east coast of Scotland. About the end of October 1918 she left to lay mines in the North Sea and was sunk by HM submarine G2 in "

Note: S.S. = Steam Ship; S.V. = Sailing Vessel; northabout, Muckle Flugga, Fair I. = around Scotland; Sound, Belts, Kattegat = via North of Denmark to/from German Baltic ports; Bight = to/from German North Sea ports; success = sinking of ships

Summary of raiding history DateNameNationalityTonnageMerchant ship tonnages are in gross register tons. Military vessels are listed by tons displacement.Fate16 July 1916Vidar2,178Captured as prize5 August 1916Aranda1,838Sunk2 September 1916Kelvinia5,039Sunk26 September 1916HMT Loch Shiel216Sunk21 October 1916Atle Jarl1,249Captured as prize16 November 1916Vega1,204Sunk13 December 1916Kursk7,869Damaged7 February 1917Väring2,107Sunk13 February 1917Barnsley144Sunk15 February 1917Stralsund510Sunk3 March 1917Meldon2,514Sunk2 April 1917Sagitta1,981Sunk2 April 1917HMS Tithonus3,463Damaged4 April 1917Vladimir Reitz2,128Sunk5 April 1917Bris101Sunk7 April 1917HMS Jason810Sunk13 April 1917Strathcona1,881Sunk14 April 1917Andromache313Sunk19 April 1917HMT Lobelia184Sunk17 June 1917Fornebo4,259Sunk13 December 1917Arnewood2,259Sunk

SM U-78

Bron en licentie