SM UB-87

For other ships with the same name, see German submarine U-87.
UB-148 at sea, a U-boat similar to UB-87.
History
German Empire
NameUB-87
Ordered23 September 1916[1]
BuilderAG Weser, Bremen
Cost3,341,000 German Papiermark
Yard number287
Laid down23 February 1917[2]
Launched10 November 1917[3]
Commissioned27 December 1917[3]
FateSurrendered 20 November 1918, broken up at Brest[3]
General characteristics [3]
Class and typeType UB III submarine
Displacement
  • 516 t (508 long tons) surfaced
  • 647 t (637 long tons) submerged
Length55.85 m (183 ft 3 in) (o/a)
Beam5.80 m (19 ft)
Draught3.72 m (12 ft 2 in)
Propulsion
Speed
  • 13.4 knots (24.8 km/h; 15.4 mph) surfaced
  • 7.5 knots (13.9 km/h; 8.6 mph) submerged
Range
  • 8,180 nmi (15,150 km; 9,410 mi) at 6 knots (11 km/h; 6.9 mph) surfaced
  • 50 nmi (93 km; 58 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph) submerged
Test depth50 m (160 ft)
Complement3 officers, 31 men[3]
Armament
Service record
Part of:
  • V Flotilla
  • 14 March – 29 April 1918
  • III Flotilla
  • 29 April – 11 November 1918
Commanders:
  • Kptlt. Karl Petri[4]
  • 27 December 1917 – 30 September 1918
  • Oblt.z.S. Bernhard Hibsch[5]
  • 1 October – 11 November 1918
Operations: 5 patrols
Victories:
  • 3 merchant ships sunk
    (18,671 GRT)
  • 1 merchant ship damaged
    (12,045 GRT)

SM UB-87 was a German Type UB III submarine or U-boat in the German Imperial Navy (German: Kaiserliche Marine) during World War I. She was commissioned into the German Imperial Navy on 27 December 1917 as SM UB-87.[Note 1]

UB-87 was surrendered to France on 20 November 1918 in accordance with the requirements of the Armistice with Germany. She was broken up in Brest in 1921.[3]

Construction

Main article: Type UB III submarine

She was built by AG Weser of Bremen and following just under a year of construction, launched at Bremen on 10 November 1917. UB-87 was commissioned later that same year . Like all Type UB III submarines, UB-87 carried 10 torpedoes and was armed with a 8.8 cm (3.46 in) deck gun. UB-87 would carry a crew of up to 3 officer and 31 men and had a cruising range of 8,180 nautical miles (15,150 km; 9,410 mi). UB-87 had a displacement of 516 t (508 long tons) while surfaced and 647 t (637 long tons) when submerged. Her engines enabled her to travel at 13.4 knots (24.8 km/h; 15.4 mph) when surfaced and 7.5 knots (13.9 km/h; 8.6 mph) when submerged.


Summary of raiding history

Date Name Nationality Tonnage[Note 2] Fate[6]
3 September 1918 Highcliffe  United Kingdom 3,238 Sunk
6 September 1918 Milly  United Kingdom 2,964 Sunk
7 September 1918 Persic  United Kingdom 12,045 Damaged
9 September 1918 Missanabie  United Kingdom 12,469 Sunk

References

Notes

  1. ^ "SM" stands for "Seiner Majestät" (English: His Majesty's) and combined with the U for Unterseeboot would be translated as His Majesty's Submarine.
  2. ^ Tonnages are in gross register tons

Citations

  1. ^ Rössler 1979, p. 55.
  2. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boats: UB 87". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 13 February 2009.
  3. ^ a b c d e f Gröner 1991, pp. 25–30.
  4. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat commanders: Karl Petri". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 8 February 2015.
  5. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boat commanders: Bernhard Hibsch". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 8 February 2015.
  6. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit by UB 87". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 8 February 2015.

Bibliography