# SM U-96

SM U-96 was a Type U 93 submarine and one of the 329 submarines serving in the Imperial German Navy in World War I. U-96 was engaged in the naval warfare and took part in the First Battle of the Atlantic. She was launched in 1917. On 6 December 1917, she collided with the submarine SM UC-69 at Barfleur, France (49°47′N 1°10′W﻿ / ﻿49.783°N 1.167°W﻿ / 49.783; -1.167); UC-69 sank with the loss of eleven of her crew. U-96 survived the war.

## Design

Type U 93 submarines were preceded by the shorter Type U 87 submarines. U-96 had a displacement of 838 tonnes (825 long tons) when at the surface and 1,000 tonnes (980 long tons) while submerged. She had a total length of 71.55 m (234 ft 9 in), a pressure hull length of 56.05 m (183 ft 11 in), a beam of 6.30 m (20 ft 8 in), a height of 8.25 m (27 ft 1 in), and a draught of 3.94 m (12 ft 11 in). The submarine was powered by two 2,300 metric horsepower (1,700 kW; 2,300 shp) engines for use while surfaced, and two 1,200 metric horsepower (880 kW; 1,200 shp) engines for use while submerged. She had two propeller shafts. She was capable of operating at depths of up to 50 metres (160 ft).
The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 16.8 knots (31.1 km/h; 19.3 mph) and a maximum submerged speed of 8.6 knots (15.9 km/h; 9.9 mph). When submerged, she could operate for 47 nautical miles (87 km; 54 mi) at 5 knots (9.3 km/h; 5.8 mph); when surfaced, she could travel 8,290 nautical miles (15,350 km; 9,540 mi) at 8 knots (15 km/h; 9.2 mph). U-96 was fitted with six 50 centimetres (20 in) torpedo tubes (four at the bow and two at the stern), twelve to sixteen torpedoes, and one 8.8 cm (3.5 in) SK L/30 deck gun. She had a complement of thirty-six (thirty-two crew members and four officers).

## Summary of raiding history

| Date | Name | Nationality | Tonnage | Fate |
| 2 June 1917 | Shamrock | United Kingdom | 170 | Sunk |
| 2 June 1917 | St. Bernard | United Kingdom | 186 | Sunk |
| 8 June 1917 | Orator | United Kingdom | 3,563 | Sunk |
| 9 June 1917 | Baron Cawdor | United Kingdom | 4,316 | Sunk |
| 14 July 1917 | Emanuel | Denmark | 203 | Sunk |
| 21 July 1917 | Paddington | United Kingdom | 5,084 | Sunk |
| 23 July 1917 | Radioleine | France | 4,029 | Damaged |
| 29 July 1917 | Anitra | Norway | 593 | Sunk |
| 1 October 1917 | Carrabin | United Kingdom | 2,739 | Sunk |
| 3 October 1917 | Hurst | United Kingdom | 4,718 | Sunk |
| 4 October 1917 | Rupee | United Kingdom | 39 | Sunk |
| 4 October 1917 | Young Clifford | United Kingdom | 47 | Sunk |
| 6 October 1917 | Bedale | United Kingdom | 2,116 | Sunk |
| 8 October 1917 | Greldon | United Kingdom | 3,322 | Sunk |
| 8 October 1917 | Memphian | United Kingdom | 6,305 | Sunk |
| 9 October 1917 | HMS Champagne | Royal Navy | 5,360 | Sunk |
| 9 October 1917 | Peshawur | United Kingdom | 7,634 | Sunk |
| 23 November 1917 | La Blanca | United Kingdom | 7,479 | Sunk |
| 24 November 1917 | Sabia | United Kingdom | 2,807 | Sunk |
| 26 November 1917 | Drot | Norway | 2,923 | Sunk |
| 28 November 1917 | Agenoria | United Kingdom | 2,977 | Damaged |
| 28 November 1917 | Apapa | United Kingdom | 7,832 | Sunk |
| 30 November 1917 | Derbent | United Kingdom | 3,178 | Sunk |
| 20 March 1918 | Custodian | United Kingdom | 9,214 | Damaged |
| 25 March 1918 | Destro | United Kingdom | 859 | Sunk |
| 28 March 1918 | Inkosi | United Kingdom | 3,661 | Sunk |
| 30 March 1918 | Geraldine | United Kingdom | 61 | Sunk |
| 30 March 1918 | St. Michan | United Kingdom | 43 | Sunk |
| 31 March 1918 | Conargo | United Kingdom | 4,312 | Sunk |
| 27 May 1918 | Michiel Taal Johsz | Netherlands | 86 | Sunk |
| 5 June 1918 | Polwell | United Kingdom | 2,013 | Sunk |
| 9 June 1918 | Vandalia | United Kingdom | 7,333 | Sunk |
| 4 August 1918 | Reinhard | Russian Empire | 239 | Sunk |
| 7 August 1918 | Highland Harris | United Kingdom | 6,032 | Sunk |

## Original documents from Room 40

   The following is a verbatim transcription of the recorded activities of SM U-96 known to British Naval Intelligence, Room 40 O.B.:
   "SM U-96. Kaptlt Jess, from U-79, in September 1918 to U-90. Came off the stocks at Kiel early in 1917, joined the Kiel School and remained there until about the end of May, when she left for the North Sea, being attached to the 4th Flotilla.
   * 29 May – 21 June 1917. To S.W. of Ireland, northabout both ways, with U-95 on the way North as far as Shetlands. Claimed 8,000 tons.
   * 10–30 July 1917. To S.W. of Ireland northabout both ways. Claimed 7,600 tons. Reported periscope damaged by a collision.
   * 24 September – 16 October 1917. Went through Channel and operated in western approaches and Irish Sea. Returned northabout and by Sound. Sank 9 vessels of which Lloyds Registered Tonnage was 34,881 tons. Submarine claimed 37,000 tons.
   * 21 November – 9 December 1917. To Irish Sea by Channel both ways. Claimed 35,000 tons. While returning from this cruise U-96 rammed UC-69 off Barfleur, an officer and 10 men of UC-69 being drowned.
   * 14–20 February 1918. Went north but returned with defects.
   * 14 March – 8 April 1918. To Irish Sea. Northabout both ways. Back via Sound. Claimed 19,000 tons. Seems to have been used in attempt to cut off transports from England to north of France.
   * 25 May – 22 June 1918. To Irish Sea and south of Ireland via Bight and northabout. Back northabout and Sound. Sank 2 S.S. and fired on fishing fleet. Attacked 2 U.S. destroyers unsuccessfully, also 4 S.S. Was depth-charged on 4 June in Irish Sea, and returned with various defects. (Possibly depth-charged by HMS Viola on 18 June in 61°49′N 0°20′W﻿ / ﻿61.817°N 0.333°W﻿ / 61.817; -0.333.)
   * 30 July – 23 August 1918. Went northabout, found North Channel unsafe and proceeded to St. George’s Channel. Sank 1 S.S. only, and returned with starboard engine out of order, and bearings of port engine damaged.
   * 20 November 1918. Surrendered at Harwich."
   Note: S.S. = Steam Ship; S.V. = Sailing Vessel; northabout, Muckle Flugga, Fair I. = around Scotland; Sound, Belts, Kattegat = via North of Denmark to/from German Baltic ports; Bight = to/from German North Sea ports; success = sinking of ships