SM U-96 was a Type U 93 submarine and one of the 329 submarines serving in the Imperial German Navy in World War I. U-96 was engaged in the naval warfare and took part in the First Battle of the Atlantic. She was launched in 1917. On 6 December 1917, she collided with the submarine at Barfleur, France (); UC-69 sank with the loss of eleven of her crew. U-96 survived the war.
Design Type U 93 submarines were preceded by the shorter Type U 87 submarines. U-96 had a displacement of when at the surface and while submerged. She had a total length of , a pressure hull length of , a beam of , a height of , and a draught of . The submarine was powered by two engines for use while surfaced, and two engines for use while submerged. She had two propeller shafts. She was capable of operating at depths of up to .
The submarine had a maximum surface speed of and a maximum submerged speed of . When submerged, she could operate for at ; when surfaced, she could travel at . U-96 was fitted with six torpedo tubes (four at the bow and two at the stern), twelve to sixteen torpedoes, and one SK L/45 deck gun. She had a complement of thirty-six (thirty-two crew members and four officers).
Summary of raiding history DateNameNationalityTonnageMerchant ship tonnages are in gross register tons. Military vessels are listed by tons displacement.Fate2 June 1917Shamrock170Sunk2 June 1917St. Bernard186Sunk8 June 1917Orator3,563Sunk9 June 1917Baron Cawdor4,316Sunk14 July 1917Emanuel203Sunk21 July 1917Paddington5,084Sunk23 July 1917Radioleine4,029Damaged29 July 1917Anitra593Sunk1 October 1917Carrabin2,739Sunk3 October 1917Hurst4,718Sunk4 October 1917Rupee39Sunk4 October 1917Young Clifford47Sunk6 October 1917Bedale2,116Sunk8 October 1917Greldon3,322Sunk8 October 1917Memphian6,305Sunk9 October 1917HMS Champagne5,360Sunk9 October 1917Peshawur7,634Sunk23 November 1917La Blanca7,479Sunk24 November 1917Sabia2,807Sunk26 November 1917Drot2,923Sunk28 November 1917Agenoria2,977Damaged28 November 1917Apapa7,832Sunk30 November 1917Derbent3,178Sunk20 March 1918Custodian9,214Damaged25 March 1918Destro859Sunk28 March 1918Inkosi3,661Sunk30 March 1918Geraldine61Sunk30 March 1918St. Michan43Sunk31 March 1918Conargo4,312Sunk27 May 1918Michiel Taal Johsz86Sunk5 June 1918Polwell2,013Sunk9 June 1918Vandalia7,333Sunk4 August 1918Reinhard239Sunk7 August 1918Highland Harris6,032Sunk
Original documents from Room 40
See also Room 40
References
Notes
Citations
Bibliography
External links Photos of cruises of German submarine U-54 in 1916-1918. A 44 min. German film from 1917 about a cruise of the German submarine U-35.
Room 40: original documents, photos and maps about World War I German submarine warfare and British Room 40 Intelligence from The National Archives, Kew, Richmond, UK.