7. Selected Technical Data of Imperial German U-boats and their Torpedoes
| Type | Displace- ment m³ |
Diving Depth* [m] |
Propulsion [hp] |
max. Speed [kn] |
Range [nm/kn] |
Armament | Crew** |
| SM U-9 (equal to SM U 10 to U 12) |
493 sf 611 sm |
50 | 2x300 hp PM + 2x225 hp PM*** 2x580 hp EM |
14,2 sf 8,1 sm |
3,250/9 sf 75/5 sm |
2 BT, 2 ST 6 torpedoes |
4 - 25 |
| SM U 17 (equal to SM U 18) |
564 sf 691 sm |
50 | 4x350 hp PM*** 2x560 hp EM |
14,9 sf 9,5 sm |
6,700/8 sf 75/5 sm |
2 BT, 2 ST 6 torpedoes |
4 - 25 |
| SM U 21 (equal to SM U 19 to U 22) |
650 sf 837 sm |
50 | 2x850 hp DM 2x600 hp EM |
15,4 sf 9,5 sm |
7,600/8 sf 80/5 sm |
2 BT, 2 ST 6 torpedoes 1 x 8.8 cm UK |
4 - 31 |
| SM U-53 (equal to SM U-51 to U-56) |
715 sf 902 sm |
50 | 2x1,200 hp DM 2x600 hp EM |
17.1 sf 9.1 sm |
9,400/8 sf 55/5 sm |
2 BT, 2 ST 8 torpedoes 2 x 8.8 cm UK |
4 - 31 |
| SM U 117 (equal to SM U 118 to U 121) Type UE II |
1,164 sf 1,512 sm |
75 | 2x1,200 hp DM 2x600 hp EM |
14.7 sf 7.0 sm |
13,900/8 sf 35/4,5 sm |
4 BT 12 torpedoes 42 UC200 mines (+ 32 storage) |
4 - 36 |
| SM U 135 (equal to SM U 136 to U 138) Type 42 |
1,175 sf 1,531 sm |
75 | 2x1,750 hp DM 2x450 hp DG 2x845 hp EM |
17.7 sf 8.1 sm |
10,000/8 sf 50/4,5 sm |
4 BT, 2 ST 14 torpedoes 2 x 10,5 cm UK |
4 - 42 |
| SM U 139 (equal to SM U 140 to U 141) Type U-cruiser 46 |
1,930 sf 2,483 sm |
75 | 2x1,750 hp DM 2x450 hp DG 2x845 hp EM |
15.8 sf 7.6 sm |
12,630/8 sf 53/4,5 sm |
4 BT, 2 ST 19 torpedoes 2 x 15.0 cm UK |
6 - 56 (+ 1/20 prize- crew) |
| SM U 151 (equal to SM U 152 to U 157) former merchant U-boat |
1,512 sf 1,875 sm |
50 | 2x400 hp DM 2x400 hp EM |
12.4 sf 5.2 sm |
25,000/5.5 sf 65/3 sm |
2 BT 18 torpedoes 2 x 15.0 cm 2 x 10,5 UK |
6 - 50 (+ 1/20 prize- crew) |
| SM UB 13 (equal to SM UB 9 to UB 17) Type UB I |
127 sf 141 sm |
50 | 1x60 hp DM 1x120 hp EM |
6.5 sf 5.5 sm |
1,650/5 sf 45/4 sm |
2 BT 2 torpedoes 1 MG |
1 - 13 |
| SM UB 29 (equal to SM UB 24 to UB 28) Type UB II |
263 sf 292 sm |
50 | 2x142 hp DM 2x140 hp EM |
9.2 sf 5.8 sm |
6,500/5 sf 45/4 sm |
2 BT 4 torpedoes 1 x 5.0 cm UK |
2 - 21 |
| SM UB 116 (equal to SM UB 103 to UB 117) Type UB III |
516 sf 651 sm |
50 | 2x550 hp DM 2x394 hp EM |
13.6 sf 8.0 sm |
8,500/6 sf 55/4 sm |
4 BT,1 ST 10 torpedoes 1 x 8,8 cm UK |
3 - 31 |
| SM UC 1 (equal to SM UC 2 to UC 10) Type UC I |
168 sf 183 sm |
50 | 1x90 hp DM 1x175 hp EM |
6.2 sf 5.2 sm |
750/5 sf 50/4 sm |
12 UC 120 mines | 1 - 13 |
| SM UC 71 (equal to SM UC 65 to UC 73) Type UC II |
417 sf 493 sm |
50 | 2x350 hp DM 2x230 hp EM |
11.6 sf 7.0 sm |
9,430/7 sf 55/4 sm |
2 BT, 1 ST 7 torpedoes 1 x 10,5 cm UK 18 UC 200 mines |
3 - 23 |
| SM UC 80 (equal to SM UC 81 to UC 86) Type UC III |
474 sf 560 sm |
50 | 2x300 hp DM 2x385 hp EM |
11.5 sf 6.6 sm |
8,400/7 sf 40/4,5 sm |
2 BT, 1 ST 7 torpedoes 1 x 10,5 cm UK 18 UC 200 mines |
3 - 29 |
* All German U-boats were engineered with a diving depth safety factor of 2.5. That
means that at a constructed diving depth (Konstruktionstauchtiefe) of 50 m, the probable destruction depth
of the pressure hull was about 125m.
** First number shows the officers, the second the senior and junior rates.
*** Körting petrol motor
Acronyms:
PM = "Petrolmotor", Petrol Engine; DM = "Dieselmotor", Diesel Engine;
DG = Diesel Generator
EM = Electric Motor;
BT = Bow Torpedo Tube; ST = Stern Torpedo Tube; UK = "Unterseebootskanone", U-boat Deck Gun;
sf = surfaced; sm = submerged
Selected Technical Data of U-boat Torpedoes used by the Imperial Navy
| Torpedo Type |
Diameter [cm] |
Length [m] |
Propulsion [hp] |
Range/Speed [m/kn] |
Warhead [kg] | In use in U-boats since |
| C06 AV | 45 | 5.65 | Alcohol generated steam |
3,600/27 | 122 | 1914 |
| C06 D | 45 | 5.65 | Petrol generated steam with seawater injection |
5,900/27 | 122 | 1914 |
| G6 AV | 50 | 60 | Alcohol generated steam with sweetwater injection |
5,000/27 | 160 | 1914 |
| G6 D | 50 | 6.0 | Petrol generated steam with sweetwater injection |
8,400/27 | 164 | 1914 |
| G7 | 50 | 7.02 | Petrol generated steam with sweetwater injection |
9,800/27 | 195 | 1918 |
The 45 cm torpedoes were used only by the U-boats SM U 1 to U 18, SM U-66
to U-70, SM UB 1 to UB 17.
All torpedoes were equipped with a device allowing the torpedo to be shot at an angle to the
Target of up +/- 90 degrees.
See chapter 8. References.