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.

Contents
Service
SM U-19 (first row, second from the right)
Fate
History
Original documents from Room 40
Germany
Summary of raiding history
References Name: U-19
Notes Ordered: 25 November 1910
Citations Builder: Kaiserliche Werft Danzig
Further reading
Cost: 2,450,000 Goldmark
External links
Yard number: 13
Laid down: 20 October 1911
Service Launched: 10 October 1912
Commissioned: 6 July 1913
From 1 August 1914, to 15 March 1916, U-19 was
commanded by Constantin Kolbe. During this period she Fate: Surrendered 24 November
had the unfortunate distinction of becoming the first U- 1918.
boat casualty of World War I when she was rammed by
General characteristics
HMS Badger on 24 October 1914.[6] Her hull was badly
damaged, but she survived and was repaired. Class and type: German Type U 19 submarine
Displacement: 650 t (640 long tons) surfaced
On 22 January 1915 the Durward was near the Maas
lightship when they saw U-19 on the surface. They tried 837 t (824 long tons)
to escape, but as they could only manage 12 knots they submerged
were unable to do so. The mate of Durward, who was
Length: 64.15 m (210 ft 6 in)
later interviewed by the Daily Mail special correspondent
in Rotterdam [7] related how the second officer, who Beam: 6.10 m (20 ft 0 in)
spoke excellent English, had ordered them to lower a boat Height: 7.30 m (23 ft 11 in)
and come to talk to them. The captain and crew were
given ten minutes to leave the ship. The mate asked the Draught: 3.58 m (11 ft 9 in)
second officer whether he could return to the ship to Propulsion: 2 shafts
collect his clothes. He replied "Sorry, old man, it can't be
2 × MAN 8-cylinder two stroke
done. I am in the mercantile marine myself, having been in
diesel motors with 1,700 PS
the North German Lloyd service but now I am doing a bit
for my country." The commander of the U-boat towed the (1,677 bhp; 1,250 kW)
lifeboat to within 100 yards of the Maas lightship, even 2 × AEG double modyn with
stopping at one stage to repair the tow when it parted, after 1,200 PS (1,184 shp;
which the crew of Durward said goodbye to the 883 kW)
submarine and rowed to the lightship.
320 rpm submerged
Kolbe was relieved by Raimund Weisbach, who had Speed: 15.4 knots (28.5 km/h;
previously served as torpedo officer on U-20 and had (on
17.7 mph) surfaced
Kapitänleutnant Walther Schwieger's orders) launched the
torpedo that sank RMS Lusitania. During his brief 9.5 knots (17.6 km/h;
command, Weisbach carried out an unusual mission: he 10.9 mph) submerged
delivered the revolutionary Roger Casement and two other Range: 9,700 nmi (18,000 km;
agents to Banna Strand in Ireland in hopes that they would
11,200 mi) at 8 kn surfaced
foment an uprising that would distract the United
Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from World War I. 80 nmi (150 km; 92 mi) at 5
kn submerged
Weisbach was relieved on 11 August 1916, by Johannes
Spiess, who was relieved in turn on 1 June 1917, by Test depth: 50 m (164 ft 1 in)
Heinrich Koch. Koch turned the boat over on 25 October Boats & 1 dingy
1917, to Hans Albrecht Liebeskind, who commanded for landing
less than a month before being relieved on 17 November craft carried:
1917, by Spiess again. On 1 June 1918, Liebeskind took
Complement: 4 officers, 31 men
over again and commanded U-19 until the end of the war.
Armament: 4 × 50 cm (19.7 in) torpedo
U-19 conducted 12 patrols, sinking 46 ships totalling tubes (2 each bow and stern)
64,816 tons, including Santa Maria (5,383 tons) off
with 6 torpedoes
Lough Swilly on 25 February 1918, Tiberia (4,880 tons)
off Black Head near Larne on 26 February 1918, and 1 × 8.8 cm (3.5 in) SK L/30
HMS Calgarian (17,500 tons) off Rathlin Island on 1 gun (from 1916 2 ×)
March 1918. 1 × 10.5 cm (4.1 in) SK L/45
gun (from 1917)
Fate 1 × 3.7 cm (1.5 in) Hotchkiss
gun

Service record
Part of: Imperial German Navy
III Flottille
1 August 1914 – 19
September 1916
Baltic Flotilla
U-19's gun today 19 September 1916 - 1 May
1917
On 11 November 1918, U-19 was surrendered to the III Flottille
British, and was broken up at Blyth sometime in 1919 or 1 May 1917 – 11 November
1920. 1918

The main gun of U19 was donated to the people of Commanders: Kptlt. Constantin Kolbe[1]
Bangor, Co. Down and today sits near the War Memorial 1 August 1914 – 15 March
in the town's Ward Park. It was donated by the Admiralty 1916
in recognition of the valorious conduct of Commander
The Hon. Edward Bingham whilst on board HMS Nestor Kptlt. Raimund Weisbach[2]
while fighting in the Battle of Jutland in July 1916, for 16 March – 10 August 1916
which he received the Victoria Cross. Oblt.z.S. Johannes Spiess[3]
11 August 1916 – 4 July 1917
Original documents from Room 40 Lt.z.S. Heinrich Koch[4]

The following is a verbatim transcription of the 5 July 1917 – 15 October

recorded activities of SM U-19 known to British Naval 1917
Intelligence (better known as Room 40) during 1914- Oblt.z.S. Hans Albrecht
1918:[8] Liebeskind[5]
25 October – 16 November
1917
Kptlt. Johannes Spiess
17 November 1917 – 31 May
1918
Oblt.z.S. Hans Albrecht
Liebeskind
1 June – 11 November 1918
Operations: 12 patrols
Victories: 57 merchant ships
(97,921 GRT)
3 merchant ships damaged
(4,224 GRT)
1 merchant ship taken as a
prize (733 GRT)
3 auxiliary warships sunk
(13,220 GRT)
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

 Date Name Nationality Tonnage[Note 1] Fate[9]
21 January 1915 Durward United Kingdom 1,301 Sunk

2 June 1915 Salvador Denmark 165 Sunk

3 June 1915 Chrysoprasus United Kingdom 119 Sunk

3 June 1915 Dogberry United Kingdom 214 Sunk

3 June 1915 Ena May United Kingdom 90 Sunk

3 June 1915 Iona United Kingdom 3,344 Sunk

3 June 1915 Kathleen United Kingdom 92 Sunk

3 June 1915 Strathbran United Kingdom 163 Sunk

4 June 1915 Cortes United Kingdom 174 Sunk

4 June 1915 Dunnet Head United Kingdom 343 Sunk

4 June 1915 Ebenezer United Kingdom 113 Sunk

4 June 1915 Evening Star United Kingdom 120 Sunk

4 June 1915 Explorer United Kingdom 156 Sunk

4 June 1915 Petrel United Kingdom 182 Sunk

5 June 1915 Adolf Russian Empire 169 Sunk

5 June 1915 Bardolph United Kingdom 215 Sunk

5 June 1915 Curlew United Kingdom 134 Sunk

5 June 1915 Gazehound United Kingdom 138 Sunk

5 June 1915 Persimon United Kingdom 255 Sunk

5 June 1915 Star of the West United Kingdom 197 Sunk

6 June 1915 Japonica United Kingdom 145 Sunk

6 June 1915 Dromio United Kingdom 208 Sunk

9 June 1915 Svein Jarl Norway 1,135 Sunk

11 June 1915 Otago Sweden 1,410 Sunk

11 June 1915 Plymouth United Kingdom 165 Sunk

11 June 1915 Waago United Kingdom 154 Sunk

16 July 1915 Cameo United Kingdom 172 Damaged

21 April 1916 Feliciana United Kingdom 4,283 Sunk

22 April 1916 Jozsef Agost Foherzeg Kingdom of Italy 2,680 Sunk

22 April 1916 Ross United Kingdom 2,666 Sunk

23 April 1916 Parisiana United Kingdom 4,763 Sunk

23 April 1916 Ribston United Kingdom 3,048 Sunk

25 April 1916 Carmanian Norway 1,840 Sunk

12 September Imperial Russian

Elizabeth 4,444 Sunk
1916 Navy
12 September Ije (N-18) Imperial Russian 1,261 Sunk
 1916 Navy
22 September
Kennett United Kingdom 1,679 Sunk
1916
12 May 1917 Wirral United Kingdom 4,207 Sunk

17 May 1917 Vesterland Sweden 3,832 Sunk

20 May 1917 Arnfinn Jarl Norway 1,097 Sunk

26 May 1917 Norway Norway 1,447 Sunk

27 May 1917 Debora Denmark 159 Sunk

20 June 1917 Fido Norway 1,459 Sunk

21 June 1917 Black Head United Kingdom 1,898 Sunk

21 June 1917 Laatefos Norway 1,458 Sunk

22 June 1917 Bolette Norway 1,431 Sunk

31 August 1917 Miniota United Kingdom 6,422 Sunk

1 September 1917 Akaroa Norway 1,348 Sunk

12 September
Agricola United Kingdom 65 Sunk
1917
28 December 1917 Maxton United Kingdom 5,094 Sunk

28 December 1917 Santa Amalia United Kingdom 4,309 Sunk

2 January 1918 Nadejda Russian Empire 3,849 Sunk

25 February 1918 Santa Maria United States 5,383 Sunk

25 February 1918 Appalachee United Kingdom 3,767 Damaged

26 February 1918 Tiberia United Kingdom 4,880 Sunk

1 March 1918 HMS Calgarian Royal Navy 12,515 Sunk

1 March 1918 Thomas Collard United Kingdom 215 Sunk

1 March 1918 Lord Lister United Kingdom 285 Damaged

6 April 1918 Sterne Netherlands 108 Sunk

21 April 1918 Delta A Belgium 241 Sunk

23 April 1918 Peregrine United Kingdom 79 Sunk

23 April 1918 Tyne Wave United Kingdom 121 Sunk

25 April 1918 Hollandia I Netherlands 733 Captured as a prize

References

Notes
1. Merchant ship tonnages are in gross register tons. Military vessels are listed by tons
displacement.
Citations
1. Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat 5. Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat
commanders: Constantin Kolbe" (http://uboa commanders: Hans Albrecht Liebeskind" (ht
t.net/wwi/men/commanders/146.html). tp://uboat.net/wwi/men/commanders/176.ht
German and Austrian U-boats of World War ml). German and Austrian U-boats of World
I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net.
22 December 2014. Retrieved 22 December 2014.
2. Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat 6. Preston 1977, p. 29
commanders: Raimund Weisbach" (http://ub 7. http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/vie
oat.net/wwi/men/commanders/394.html).
8. National Archives, Kew: HW 7/3, Room 40,
German and Austrian U-boats of World War
History of German Naval Warfare 1914-1918
I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved (http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogu
22 December 2014.
e/displaycataloguedetails.asp?CATLN=6&C
3. Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat ATID=3981615&j=1) (Published below -
commanders: Johannes Spiess (Royal Room 40: German Naval Warfare 1914-
House Order of Hohenzollern)" (http://uboat. 1918)
net/wwi/men/commanders/335.html). 9. Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by U 19"
German and Austrian U-boats of World War
(http://uboat.net/wwi/boats/successes/19.ht
I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved
ml). German and Austrian U-boats of World
22 December 2014. War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net.
4. Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat Retrieved 22 December 2014.
commanders: Heinrich Koch" (http://uboat.n
et/wwi/men/commanders/145.html). German
and Austrian U-boats of World War I -
Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved
22 December 2014.

Further reading
Preston, Antony (1977). Destroyers (1977 ed.). Hamlyn. ISBN 9780600329558. - Total pages:
224
Gröner, Erich; Jung, Dieter; Maass, Martin (1991). U-boats and Mine Warfare Vessels. German
Warships 1815–1945. 2. Translated by Thomas, Keith; Magowan, Rachel. London: Conway
Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-593-4.
Spindler, Arno (1966) [1932]. Der Handelskrieg mit U-Booten. 5 Vols. Berlin: Mittler & Sohn.
Vols. 4+5, dealing with 1917+18, are very hard to find: Guildhall Library, London, has them all,
also Vol. 1-3 in an English translation: The submarine war against commerce.
Beesly, Patrick (1982). Room 40: British Naval Intelligence 1914-1918. London: H Hamilton.
ISBN 978-0-241-10864-2.
Halpern, Paul G. (1919). A Naval History of World War I. New York: Routledge. ISBN 978-1-
85728-498-0.
Roessler, Eberhard (1997). Die Unterseeboote der Kaiserlichen Marine. Bonn: Bernard &
Graefe. ISBN 978-3-7637-5963-7.
Schroeder, Joachim (2002). Die U-Boote des Kaisers. Bonn: Bernard & Graefe. ISBN 978-3-
7637-6235-4.
Koerver, Hans Joachim (2008). Room 40: German Naval Warfare 1914-1918. Vol I., The Fleet
in Action. Steinbach: LIS Reinisch. ISBN 978-3-902433-76-3.
Koerver, Hans Joachim (2009). Room 40: German Naval Warfare 1914-1918. Vol II., The Fleet
in Being. Steinbach: LIS Reinisch. ISBN 978-3-902433-77-0.
External links
Photos of cruises of German submarine U-54 in 1916-1918. (http://www.u54.suedholland-ferien
haus.de/html/s_m__u_54.html) Great photo quality, comments in German.
A 44 min. film from 1917 about a cruise of the German submarine U-35. (https://web.archive.or
g/web/20091130023342/http://www.europafilmtreasures.eu/PY/269/see-the-film-the_enchante
d_circle) A German propaganda film without dead or wounded; many details about submarine
warfare in World War I.
Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boats: U 19" (http://www.uboat.net/wwi/boats/index.html?boat=
19). German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net.
Room 40: (http://germannavalwarfare.info/indexbr.htm) original documents, photos and maps
about World War I German submarine warfare and British Room 40 Intelligence from The
National Archives, Kew, Richmond, UK.

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