SM U-59

For other ships of the same name, see German submarine U-59.

Career (German Empire)
Name:	U-59
Ordered:	6 October 1914
Builder:	AG Weser, Bremen (Werk 214)
Laid down:	13 July 1915
Launched:	20 June 1916
Commissioned:	7 Sep 1916
Fate:	Sunk 14 May 1917
General characteristics
Class & type:	German Type U 57 submarine
Displacement:	786 tons(sf) 954 (sm)
Length:	67 m
Draft:	3.79 m
Speed:	14.7 kn (sf) 8.4 (sm)
Test depth:	~50 m (164 feet)
Armament:	Deck gun: 88mm 276 rounds Torpedoes: 6, 2/2 (bow / stern tubes)

Service record
Part of:	Imperial German Navy
Commanders:	Freiherr Wilhelm von Fircks [1] 7 Sep 1916 - 14 May 1917
Operations:	4 patrols 14 ships sunk for a total of 28,050 tons. 1 ship damaged for a total of 6,526 tons.

SM U-59 was one of the 329 submarines serving in the Imperial German Navy (Kaiserliche Marine) in World War I. U-59 was engaged in the naval warfare and took part in the First Battle of the Atlantic. She struck a German mine and broke into two parts at Horns Reef (55.33N 07.15E) at about midnight on 14 May 1917. She lost 33 of her crew; there were 4 survivors. The wreck of U 59 was located in 2002.

SM-U59's deck gun is on display at the Strandingsmuseum St. George Thorsminde.

External links

• JD-Contractor presentation of diving expedition to the submarine U59 in 2002