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Thursday 28 July 2016

German ocean going submarine SM U-21 1910-1919


Building ordered on 25 November 1910, laid down at the Kaiserliche Werft Danzig with yard number 15 in 1910, launched on 8 February 1913, commissioned on 22 October 1913, commissioned in the Austrian-Hungarian navy as SM U-36 on 21 September 1915, decommissioned on 1 October 1916, commissioned again in German navy and accidentally sunk underway towards England on 22 February 1919. Destroyed during the First World War 36 merchant ships with a total gross tonnage of 79.005 tons and the British warships HMS cruiser Pathfinder, battleships Majestic and Triumph and the French auxiliary cruiser Carthage and armoured cruiser Amiral Charner.

Double hulled project type 20 submarine wit as sister ships U 20, U 21 and U-22 which were the first German submarines fitted out with diesel engines. Displacement 650 (surfaced)-873 (submerged) tons and as dimensions 64,15 x 6,10 x 3,58 metres or 210.6 x 20.0 x 11.9 feet. Maximum diving depth 50 metres. Machinery consisted of 2-6 cylinder 850 hp MAN diesel engines and 2-600 hp AEG double Motordynamos allowing a speed of 15,4 (surfaced)-9,3 (submerged) knots. Crew numbered 35 men included 4 officers. Original armament 4-50cm torpedo tubes (bow 2, stern 2) or which she carried 9 torpedoes and 1-8,8cm gun until 1916. Since then 2-8,8cm guns.