# SM U-34 (Germany)

SM U-34 was a German U-boat of World War I. Launched on 9 May 1914, U-34 sank a total of 119 ships during 17 combat patrols, while damaging another 5 ships. The vessel had three commanders during its time: Kptlt. Claus Rucker, Kptlt. Johannes Klasing, Kptlt. Wilhelm Canaris, and Klasing again, in that order. On 18 October 1918, U-34 sailed for the last time, disappearing with all 38 crew members lost. Although it was claimed that she was depth charged and sunk near Gibraltar by HMS Privet on 9 November 1918, it is believed that the U-boat had been lost prior to that, but it has never been confirmed one way or the other.
U-34 sailed 17 patrols, sinking 119 ships for a total of 257,652 gross register tons (GRT), and damaging another five for 14,208 GRT.

## Design

Type U 31 submarines were double-hulled ocean-going submarines similar to Type 23 and Type 27 subs in dimensions and differed only slightly in propulsion and speed. They were considered very good high sea boats with average manoeuvrability and good surface steering.
U-34 had an overall length of 64.70 m (212 ft 3 in), her pressure hull was 52.36 m (171 ft 9 in) long. The boat's beam was 6.32 m (20 ft 9 in) (o/a), while the pressure hull measured 4.05 m (13 ft 3 in). Type 31s had a draught of 3.56 m (11 ft 8 in) with a total height of 7.68–8.04 m (25 ft 2 in – 26 ft 5 in). The boats displaced a total of 971 tonnes (956 long tons); 685 t (674 long tons) when surfaced and 878 t (864 long tons) when submerged.
U-34 was fitted with two Germania 6-cylinder two-stroke diesel engines with a total of 1,850 metric horsepower (1,361 kW; 1,825 bhp) for use on the surface and two Siemens-Schuckert double-acting electric motors with a total of 1,200 PS (883 kW; 1,184 shp) for underwater use. These engines powered two shafts each with a 1.60 m (5 ft 3 in) propeller, which gave the boat a top surface speed of 16.4 knots (30.4 km/h; 18.9 mph), and 9.7 knots (18.0 km/h; 11.2 mph) when submerged. Cruising range was 8,790 nautical miles (16,280 km; 10,120 mi) at 8 knots (15 km/h; 9.2 mph) on the surface, and 80 nmi (150 km; 92 mi) at 5 knots (9.3 km/h; 5.8 mph) under water. Diving depth was 50 m (164 ft 1 in).
The U-boat was armed with four 50 cm (20 in) torpedo tubes, two fitted in the bow and two in the stern, and carried 6 torpedoes. Additionally U-34 was equipped in 1915 with one 8.8 cm (3.5 in) Uk L/30 deck gun, which was replaced with a 10.5 cm (4.1 in) gun in 1916/17. The boat's complement was 4 officers and 31 enlisted.

## Summary of raiding history

| Date | Name | Nationality | Tonnage | Fate |
| 18 March 1915 | Blue Jacket | United Kingdom | 3,515 | Damaged |
| 18 March 1915 | Glenartney | United Kingdom | 5,201 | Sunk |
| 21 March 1915 | Cairntorr | United Kingdom | 3,588 | Sunk |
| 22 March 1915 | Concord | United Kingdom | 2,861 | Sunk |
| 1 June 1915 | Victoria | United Kingdom | 155 | Sunk |
| 2 June 1915 | Delta B | Belgium | 220 | Sunk |
| 2 June 1915 | Hirose | United Kingdom | 274 | Sunk |
| 3 June 1915 | Penfeld | France | 793 | Sunk |
| 4 June 1915 | Inkum | United Kingdom | 4,747 | Sunk |
| 7 June 1915 | Superb | Norway | 1,515 | Sunk |
| 4 September 1915 | Natal Transport | United Kingdom | 4,107 | Sunk |
| 8 September 1915 | Indien | France | 800 | Sunk |
| 9 November 1915 | Californian | United Kingdom | 6,223 | Damaged, sunk later by sister U-35. |
| 10 November 1915 | Bosnia | Italy | 2,561 | Sunk |
| 14 November 1915 | Treneglos | United Kingdom | 3,886 | Sunk |
| 15 November 1915 | Orange Prince | United Kingdom | 3,583 | Sunk |
| 19 November 1915 | Hallamshire | United Kingdom | 4,420 | Sunk |
| 24 December 1915 | Ville De La Ciotat | France | 6,431 | Sunk |
| 24 December 1915 | Yeddo | United Kingdom | 4,563 | Sunk |
| 29 December 1915 | Kenkoku Maru | Japan | 3,217 | Sunk |
| 30 December 1915 | Abelia | United Kingdom | 3,650 | Sunk |
| 1 January 1916 | Glengyle | United Kingdom | 9,395 | Sunk |
| 4 January 1916 | Coquet | United Kingdom | 4,396 | Sunk |
| 3 April 1916 | Ellaston | United Kingdom | 3,796 | Sunk |
| 3 April 1916 | Sneaton | United Kingdom | 3,470 | Sunk |
| 5 April 1916 | Chantala | United Kingdom | 4,951 | Sunk |
| 6 April 1916 | Yonne | United Kingdom | 4,039 | Sunk |
| 8 April 1916 | Zafra | United Kingdom | 3,578 | Sunk |
| 11 April 1916 | Angus | United Kingdom | 3,619 | Sunk |
| 11 April 1916 | Imperator | Russia | 394 | Damaged |
| 12 April 1916 | Orlock Head | United Kingdom | 1,945 | Sunk |
| 12 April 1916 | Vega | France | 2,957 | Sunk |
| 15 May 1916 | Mira | France | 3,050 | Sunk |
| 16 May 1916 | San Andrea | Italy | 225 | Sunk |
| 18 May 1916 | Adamantios Korais | Greece | 2,947 | Sunk |
| 20 May 1916 | Erminia | Italy | 1,544 | Sunk |
| 20 May 1916 | Fabbricotti F. | Italy | 150 | Sunk |
| 20 May 1916 | Languedoc | France | 1,612 | Sunk |
| 21 May 1916 | Myosotis | France | 356 | Sunk |
| 21 May 1916 | Tjømø | Norway | 1,453 | Sunk |
| 22 May 1916 | Australia | Italy | 1,586 | Sunk |
| 22 May 1916 | Genista | Italy | 1,856 | Sunk |
| 22 May 1916 | Istros | Greece | 1,891 | Sunk |
| 22 May 1916 | Orealla | Italy | 1,876 | Sunk |
| 22 May 1916 | Roberto G | Italy | 587 | Sunk |
| 23 May 1916 | Cornigliano | Italy | 2,862 | Sunk |
| 23 May 1916 | Regina | Russia | 593 | Sunk |
| 30 May 1916 | Julia Park | United Kingdom | 2,900 | Sunk |
| 21 August 1916 | Maria | Italy | 242 | Sunk |
| 22 August 1916 | San Pietro | Italy | 53 | Sunk |
| 24 August 1916 | Alix | Italy | 141 | Sunk |
| 24 August 1916 | Angelina | Italy | 153 | Sunk |
| 25 August 1916 | Socoa | France | 2,772 | Sunk |
| 27 August 1916 | Torridon | Italy | 1,526 | Sunk |
| 28 August 1916 | Gorgona | Italy | 861 | Sunk |
| 29 August 1916 | Fede | Italy | 1,273 | Sunk |
| 31 August 1916 | Santa Maria | Italy | 947 | Sunk |
| 31 August 1916 | Nostra Signora Assunta | Italy | 1,256 | Sunk |
| 31 August 1916 | Quinto | Italy | 836 | Sunk |
| 1 September 1916 | Baron Yarborough | United Kingdom | 1,784 | Sunk |
| 1 September 1916 | Giuseppe | Italy | 180 | Sunk |
| 4 September 1916 | Pasquale Lauro | Italy | 1,188 | Sunk |
| 4 September 1916 | Silverstream | Italy | 1,224 | Sunk |
| 7 September 1916 | Luigia | Italy | 917 | Sunk |
| 8 September 1916 | Elizabeth IV | Norway | 7,395 | Sunk |
| 10 September 1916 | Elli | Greece | 631 | Sunk |
| 10 September 1916 | Spiridon | Greece | 562 | Sunk |
| 12 September 1916 | Panaghia Akathistou | Greece | 421 | Sunk |
| 26 October 1916 | Valborg | Denmark | 207 | Sunk |
| 28 October 1916 | Germaine | Greece | 2,573 | Sunk |
| 29 October 1916 | Marie Therese | France | 219 | Sunk |
| 2 November 1916 | Giovanni Anteri Beretta | Italy | 332 | Sunk |
| 4 November 1916 | Mogador | France | 1,364 | Sunk |
| 8 November 1916 | Luigi Pastro | Italy | 3,228 | Sunk |
| 8 November 1916 | Sheldrake | United Kingdom | 2,697 | Sunk |
| 19 March 1917 | Angiolina | Italy | 3,541 | Damaged |
| 20 March 1917 | Paul Et Marie | France | 321 | Sunk |
| 23 March 1917 | Artemis | Greece | 528 | Sunk |
| 23 March 1917 | Bellatrix | Norway | 2,568 | Sunk |
| 23 March 1917 | Noli | Italy | 1,569 | Sunk |
| 28 March 1917 | Antonietta R. | Italy | 84 | Sunk |
| 28 March 1917 | Carlo T | Italy | 134 | Sunk |
| 28 March 1917 | Giuseppina | Italy | 223 | Sunk |
| 28 March 1917 | Giuseppina Rosa | Italy | 132 | Sunk |
| 28 March 1917 | La Maria | Italy | 43 | Sunk |
| 28 March 1917 | Pietro Lofaro | Italy | 291 | Sunk |
| 28 March 1917 | Raffaele | Italy | 53 | Sunk |
| 4 May 1917 | Francesco C. | Italy | 984 | Sunk |
| 9 May 1917 | Harpagus | United Kingdom | 5,866 | Sunk |
| 10 May 1917 | Carmen | Spain | 319 | Sunk |
| 11 May 1917 | Lefkosia | Greece | 1,087 | Sunk |
| 11 May 1917 | Medjerda | France | 1,918 | Sunk |
| 12 May 1917 | Zanoni | United Kingdom | 3,851 | Sunk |
| 14 May 1917 | Gravelinoise | France | 129 | Sunk |
| 14 May 1917 | Tejo | Portugal | 201 | Sunk |
| 15 May 1917 | Tung Shan | United Kingdom | 3,999 | Sunk |
| 16 May 1917 | Dorothy Duff | United Kingdom | 186 | Sunk |
| 16 May 1917 | Patricio | Spain | 2,164 | Damaged |
| 17 May 1917 | Alfonso | Italy | 230 | Sunk |
| 19 May 1917 | Mardinian | United Kingdom | 3,322 | Sunk |
| 20 May 1917 | Caspian | United Kingdom | 3,606 | Sunk |
| 21 May 1917 | Saint Michel | France | 175 | Sunk |
| 28 June 1917 | Minerve | France | 723 | Sunk |
| 30 June 1917 | Mont Viso | France | 4,820 | Sunk |
| 3 July 1917 | Marthe Roux | France | 1,962 | Sunk |
| 4 July 1917 | Fratelli Bianchi | Italy | 3,542 | Sunk |
| 7 July 1917 | Wilberforce | United Kingdom | 3,074 | Sunk |
| 12 July 1917 | Ondine | France | 84 | Sunk |
| 2 December 1917 | Berwick Law | United Kingdom | 4,680 | Sunk |
| 2 December 1917 | Minas | Greece | 2,506 | Sunk |
| 6 December 1917 | Ilvington Court | United Kingdom | 4,217 | Sunk |
| 12 December 1917 | Emanuele C. | Italy | 284 | Sunk |
| 28 January 1918 | Djibouti | France | 4,305 | Sunk |
| 30 January 1918 | Maizar | United Kingdom | 7,293 | Sunk |
| 6 February 1918 | Ville De Verdun | France | 4,576 | Sunk |
| 12 April 1918 | Autolycus | United Kingdom | 5,806 | Sunk |
| 12 April 1918 | Moyune | United Kingdom | 4,935 | Sunk |
| 19 April 1918 | Elka | Greece | 2,128 | Sunk |
| 19 April 1918 | Lord Charlemont | United Kingdom | 3,209 | Sunk |
| 22 April 1918 | Dronning Maud | United Kingdom | 2,663 | Sunk |
| 28 August 1918 | Emilia G. | Italy | 246 | Sunk |
| 28 August 1918 | Johanne | Denmark | 234 | Sunk |
| 4 September 1918 | Richard | Norway | 175 | Sunk |
| 9 September 1918 | Policastra | United Kingdom | 4,594 | Damaged |
| 9 September 1918 | War Arabis | United Kingdom | 5,183 | Sunk |