SM U-51 was a Type U 51 submarine, one of 329 submarines in the Imperial German Navy in World War I. She engaged in commerce warfare during the First Battle of the Atlantic.
She was ordered from Germaniawerft, at Kiel, on 23 August 1914 and laid down there on 19 December. She was launched on 25 November 1915 and commissioned on 24 February 1916. Kapitänleutnant Walter Rumpel was her captain for her entire career.
Operations Completed at Kiel about March 1916,National Archives, Kew: HW 7/3, Room 40, History of German Naval Warfare 1914–1918 she carried out trials at Kiel School until the end of April when she proceeded to Heligoland.National Archives, Kew: HW 7/3, Room 40, History of German Naval Warfare 1914–1918 British Naval Intelligence (better known as Room 40):National Archives, Kew: HW 7/3, Room 40, History of German Naval Warfare 1914–1918 monitored and recorded her activities. She was attached to the 2nd Half Flotilla and carried out a patrol in the North Sea between 2 May and 6 May 1916, traveling to Hanstholm in company with , escorted by two Zeppelins.National Archives, Kew: HW 7/3, Room 40, History of German Naval Warfare 1914–1918 She was again in the North Sea between 16 May and 3 June 1916, during the Battle of Jutland. She fired two torpedoes at the British battleship , but missed her.National Archives, Kew: HW 7/3, Room 40, History of German Naval Warfare 1914–1918
On 14 July the British submarine spotted U-51 leaving the Ems and torpedoed her. U-51 sank with the loss of 34 of her crew; four survivors were rescued.National Archives, Kew: HW 7/3, Room 40, History of German Naval Warfare 1914–1918
The wreck of U-51 was raised and broken up in 1968.
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