SM U-19 (Germany)

SM U-19 was a German Type U-19 U-boat built for the Imperial German Navy. Her construction was ordered on 25 November 1910, and her keel was laid down on 20 October 1911, at the Kaiserliche Werft Danzig. She was launched on 10 October 1912, and commissioned into the Imperial German Navy on 6 July 1913.

Service From 1 August 1914, to 15 March 1916, U-19 was commanded by Constantin Kolbe. During this period she had the unfortunate distinction of becoming the first U-boat casualty of World War I when she was rammed by on 24 October 1914. Her hull was badly damaged, but she survived and was repaired.

On 22 January 1915 the Durward was near the Maas lightship when they saw U-19 on the surface. They tried to escape, but as they could only manage 12 knots they were unable to do so. The mate of Durward, who was later interviewed by the Daily Mail special correspondent in Rotterdam related how the second officer, who spoke excellent English, had ordered them to lower a boat and come to talk to them. The captain and crew were given ten minutes to leave the ship. The mate asked the second officer whether he could return to the ship to collect his clothes. He replied "Sorry, old man, it can't be done. I am in the mercantile marine myself, having been in the North German Lloyd service but now I am doing a bit for my country." The commander of the U-boat towed the lifeboat to within 100 yards of the Maas lightship, even stopping at one stage to repair the tow when it parted, after which the crew of Durward said goodbye to the submarine and rowed to the lightship.

Kolbe was relieved by Raimund Weisbach, who had previously served as torpedo officer on and had (on Kapitänleutnant Walther Schwieger's orders) launched the torpedo that sank . During his brief command, Weisbach carried out an unusual mission: he delivered the revolutionary Roger Casement and two other agents to Banna Strand in Ireland in hopes that they would foment an uprising that would distract the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from World War I.

Weisbach was relieved on 11 August 1916, by Johannes_Spieß, who was relieved in turn on 1 June 1917, by Heinrich Koch. Koch turned the boat over on 25 October 1917, to Hans Albrecht Liebeskind, who commanded for less than a month before being relieved on 17 November 1917, by Spiess again. On 1 June 1918, Liebeskind took over again and commanded U-19 until the end of the war.

U-19 conducted 12 patrols, sinking 58 ships totalling 99,182 combined tons, including Santa Maria (5,383 GRT) off Lough Swilly on 25 February 1918, Tiberia (4,880 GRT) off Black Head near Larne on 26 February 1918, and (12,515 GRT) off Rathlin Island on 1 March 1918.

Fate

On 11 November 1918, U-19 was surrendered to the British, and was broken up at Blyth sometime in 1919 or 1920.

The main gun of U19 was donated to the people of Bangor, Co. Down and today sits near the War Memorial in the town's Ward Park. It was donated by the Admiralty in recognition of the valorous conduct of Commander The Hon. Edward Bingham whilst on board while fighting in the Battle of Jutland in July 1916, for which he received the Victoria Cross.

Summary of raiding history DateNameNationalityTonnageMerchant ship tonnages are in gross register tons. Military vessels are listed by tons displacement.Fate21 January 1915Durward1,301Sunk2 June 1915Salvador165Sunk3 June 1915Chrysoprasus119Sunk3 June 1915Dogberry214Sunk3 June 1915Ena May90Sunk3 June 1915Iona3,344Sunk3 June 1915Kathleen92Sunk3 June 1915Strathbran163Sunk4 June 1915Cortes174Sunk4 June 1915Dunnet Head343Sunk4 June 1915Ebenezer113Sunk4 June 1915Evening Star120Sunk4 June 1915Explorer156Sunk4 June 1915Petrel182Sunk5 June 1915Adolf169Sunk5 June 1915Bardolph215Sunk5 June 1915Curlew134Sunk5 June 1915Gazehound138Sunk5 June 1915Persimon255Sunk5 June 1915Star of the West197Sunk6 June 1915Japonica145Sunk6 June 1915Dromio208Sunk9 June 1915Svein Jarl1,135Sunk11 June 1915Otago1,410Sunk11 June 1915Plymouth165Sunk11 June 1915Waago154Sunk16 July 1915HMT Cameo172Damaged21 April 1916Feliciana4,283Sunk22 April 1916Jozsef Agost Foherzeg2,680Sunk22 April 1916Ross2,666Sunk23 April 1916Parisiana4,763Sunk23 April 1916Ribston3,048Sunk25 April 1916Carmanian1,840Sunk12 September 1916Elizabeth4,444Sunk12 September 1916Ije (N-18)1,261Sunk22 September 1916Kennett1,679Sunk12 May 1917Wirral4,207Sunk17 May 1917Vesterland3,832Sunk20 May 1917Arnfinn Jarl1,097Sunk26 May 1917Norway1,447Sunk27 May 1917Debora159Sunk20 June 1917Fido1,459Sunk21 June 1917Black Head1,898Sunk21 June 1917Laatefos1,458Sunk22 June 1917Bolette1,431Sunk31 August 1917Miniota6,422Sunk1 September 1917Akaroa1,348Sunk12 September 1917Agricola65Sunk28 December 1917Maxton5,094Sunk28 December 1917Santa Amalia4,309Sunk2 January 1918Nadejda3,849Sunk25 February 1918Santa Maria5,383Sunk25 February 1918Appalachee3,767Damaged26 February 1918Tiberia4,880Sunk1 March 191812,515Sunk1 March 1918HMT Thomas Collard215Sunk1 March 1918 HMT Lord Lister285Damaged6 April 1918Sterne108Sunk21 April 1918Delta A241Sunk23 April 1918Peregrine79Sunk23 April 1918Tyne Wave121Sunk25 April 1918Hollandia I733Captured as prize

References

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Citations

SM U-19 (Germany)

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