Amanda Knapp
German U-boats (an abbreviation of Unterseeboot, the German word for 'undersea boat') were naval submarines used by Germany in the First and Second World Wars. They were used to disrupt merchant traffic towards the UK and were responsible for sinking 8,000 merchant vessels and warships, killing tens of thousands. Inside the submarines, conditions were cramped and unhygienic, with 50 men sharing two toilets, and sailors unable to shower or change their clothes during patrols that could last two months.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | U-boat (short for Unterseeboot, the German word for "undersea boat") |
| Use | Naval submarines operated by Germany, particularly in the First and Second World Wars |
| Crew | 50 men |
| Toilets | 2 |
| Weapons | Deck guns and torpedoes |
| Range | 5,000 miles without refuelling |
| Speed | Could travel along the entire British coast |
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What You'll Learn
- German U-boats were used to disrupt merchant traffic towards the UK during both World Wars
- The submarines were cramped, with 50 men sharing two toilets
- Sailors couldn't shower or change their clothes during patrols that could last two months
- The U-boats could attack ships 20 times their size from above and below the surface
- They were powered by diesel fuel
German U-boats were used to disrupt merchant traffic towards the UK during both World Wars
German U-boats, or submarines, were used to disrupt merchant traffic towards the UK during both World Wars. By the start of World War I in 1914, Germany had 20 combat-ready U-boats, which were more sophisticated than other countries' submarines. These U-boats could travel 5,000 miles without refuelling, allowing them to operate along the entire British coast. They were used to wage unrestricted submarine warfare against the UK, with the aim of disrupting merchant traffic and forcing the UK out of the war.
During World War I, German U-boats terrorised trans-Atlantic ships, sinking 8,000 merchant vessels and warships and killing tens of thousands. They prowled the oceans in search of prey and could attack ships 20 times their size from both above and below the surface with their deck guns and torpedoes.
Inside the submarines, conditions were dimly lit and claustrophobic. Sailors couldn't shower or change their clothes during patrols that could last up to two months at sea. They inhaled a foul cocktail of bilge water, sweat and diesel fumes, and mildew blossomed on their shoes. Fifty men shared two toilets, one of which doubled as a food locker at the start of patrols.
German U-boats continued to be used and perfected during World War II, becoming even more fearsome weapons. They were the most formidable naval weapons in both world wars, devastating trans-Atlantic shipping.
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The submarines were cramped, with 50 men sharing two toilets
German U-boats were naval submarines operated by Germany during the First and Second World Wars. They were cramped, with 50 men sharing two toilets, one of which doubled as a food locker at the start of patrols. The submarines were dimly lit and claustrophobic, and sailors couldn't shower or change their clothes during patrols that could last up to two months.
The conditions on board were challenging, to say the least. The air was filled with a foul cocktail of bilge water, sweat, and diesel fumes. Mildew blossomed on the sailors' shoes, and charts even rotted from the oppressive heat and dampness. The submarines were also extremely cramped, with 50 men sharing a very small space. This lack of space meant that the sailors had to be creative with their living arrangements, and they often had to share bunks or sleep in shifts.
The toilets on board the submarines were also a source of contention. There were only two toilets for 50 men, and one of them doubled as a food locker at the start of patrols. This meant that the sailors had to wait in line to use the facilities, and the toilets couldn't function when the submarine was 80 feet or more below the surface due to the outside water pressure.
The sailors on board the U-boats also had to deal with the constant threat of attack. The submarines were used to disrupt merchant traffic and sink ships, and they were often the target of counterattacks. The sailors had to be constantly on guard, and the stress of living in such close quarters with the constant threat of danger only added to the challenging conditions on board.
Despite the difficult conditions, the German U-boats were extremely effective weapons. They could travel 5,000 miles without refuelling, allowing them to operate along the entire British coast. They were also more sophisticated than other countries' submarines, and they played a crucial role in both world wars.
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Sailors couldn't shower or change their clothes during patrols that could last two months
German U-boats were naval submarines operated by Germany, particularly in the First and Second World Wars. The term is an anglicised version of the German word U-Boot, a shortening of Unterseeboot (under-sea boat).
Inside the dimly lit, claustrophobic submarines, sailors couldn't shower or even change their clothes during patrols that could last two months at sea. Fifty men shared two toilets, one of which doubled as a food locker at the start of patrols. The toilets couldn't function when 80 feet or more below the surface because of the outside water pressure.
The conditions inside the submarines were oppressive, with crews inhaling a foul cocktail of bilge water, sweat and diesel fumes. Mildew blossomed on their shoes, and charts even rotted from the heat and dampness.
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The U-boats could attack ships 20 times their size from above and below the surface
German U-boats were naval submarines used in the First and Second World Wars. They were formidable naval weapons, devastating trans-Atlantic shipping and sinking 8,000 merchant vessels and warships, killing tens of thousands. U-boats could attack ships 20 times their size from both above and below the surface with their deck guns and torpedoes. They were so effective because they could travel 5,000 miles without refuelling, allowing them to operate along the entire British coast.
U-boats were cramped, dimly lit and lacked basic facilities. Fifty men shared two toilets, one of which doubled as a food locker at the start of patrols. The toilets couldn't function when 80 feet or more below the surface because of the outside water pressure. The air inside the submarines was a foul cocktail of bilge water, sweat and diesel fumes.
The first four German U-boats—U-1, U-2, U-3, and U-4—were commissioned before 1910, and all four served in a training capacity during the war. German U-boats used during World War I were divided into three series. The U designation was generally reserved for ocean-going attack torpedo U-boats.
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They were powered by diesel fuel
German U-boats were naval submarines operated by Germany, particularly in the First and Second World Wars. The term is an anglicised version of the German word U-Boot, a shortening of Unterseeboot, which means 'under-sea boat'.
The U-boats were also powered by Siemens-Schuckert AG (SSW, Berlin) for electrical engines, the former Accumulatoren Fabrik AG (today VARTA/VHB, Hagen) for battery facilities, and also the Maschinenfabrik Augsburg-Nurnberg (MAN, Augsburg) for diesel engines.
Inside the submarines, sailors inhaled a foul cocktail of bilge water, sweat and diesel fumes. Mildew blossomed on their shoes, and charts even rotted from the oppressive heat and dampness. Sailors couldn't shower or even change their clothes during patrols that could last two months at sea.
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Frequently asked questions
German U-boats were naval submarines operated by Germany, particularly in the First and Second World Wars. They were used to disrupt merchant traffic towards the UK and force the UK out of the war. They were also used to sink 8,000 merchant vessels and warships and kill tens of thousands.
German U-boats were dimly lit and claustrophobic, with 50 men sharing two toilets. Sailors couldn't shower or change their clothes during patrols that could last two months at sea. Crews also inhaled a foul cocktail of bilge water, sweat and diesel fumes.
German U-boats could travel 5,000 miles without refuelling, allowing them to operate along the entire British coast.
