German submarine SM U-39 sunk British steamship Ganges according to the Kriegsnachrichten of the Chef des Admiralstabes der Marine dated Berlin 14 August 1917

German submarine U 39©Warshipsresearch.blogspot.com

An item reported that the German submarine SM U-39 commanded by Kapitänleutnant WaltherForstmann (9 March 1883-2 November 1873) torpedoed and sunk on 30 July an unknown armed and fully loaded steamship (at least 5,500 ton) heading west towards Gibraltar 5 nautical miles south of Cap Spartel.(2)

Notes

1. Type U 31. Ordered on 12 June 1912, laid down at Germaniawerft, Kiel, Germany with yard number 199 on 27 March 1913, launched on 26 September 1914, commissioned on 13 January 1915, interned at Cartage, Spain since 18 May 1918 surrendered to France on 22 March 1919 and scrapped at Toulon, France in 1923.

2. The British Ganges of 4,177 ton.

Sources

Bundesarchiv RM-40-622

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