SM U-37

History
German Empire
NameU-37
Ordered12 June 1912
BuilderGermaniawerft, Kiel
Yard number197
Laid down2 January 1913
Launched25 August 1914
Commissioned9 December 1914
FateStruck mine on 30 April 1915 in Straits of Dover
General characteristics
Class & typeType U 31 submarine
Displacement
  • 685 t (674 long tons) (surfaced)
  • 878 t (864 long tons) (submerged)
Length
Beam
  • 6.32 m (20 ft 9 in) (o/a)
  • 4.05 m (13 ft 3 in) (pressure hull)
Draught3.56 m (11 ft 8 in)
Installed power
Propulsion
  • 2 × shafts
  • 2 × 1.60 m (5 ft 3 in) propellers
Speed
  • 16.4 knots (30.4 km/h; 18.9 mph) (surfaced)
  • 9.7 knots (18.0 km/h; 11.2 mph) (submerged)
Range
  • 8,790 nmi (16,280 km; 10,120 mi) at 8 knots (15 km/h; 9.2 mph) (surfaced)
  • 80 nmi (150 km; 92 mi) at 5 knots (9.3 km/h; 5.8 mph) (submerged)
Test depth50 m (164 ft 1 in)
Boats & landing
craft carried
1 dinghy
Complement4 officers, 31 enlisted
Armament
Service record
Part of:
  • II Flotilla
  • Unknown start – 30 April 1915
Commanders:
  • Kptlt. Erich Wilcke
  • 9 December 1914 – 30 April 1915
Operations: 1 patrol
Victories:
  • 2 merchant ships sunk
    (2,811 GRT)
  • 1 merchant ship damaged
    (3,459 GRT)

SM U-37 was one of the 329 submarines serving in the Imperial German Navy in World War I. U-37 was engaged in naval warfare and took part in the First Battle of the Atlantic.