SMS U-9

SMS U-9 was a German Type U 9 U-boat.

She was one of 329 submarines serving in the Imperial German Navy, and engaged in commerce raiding (Handelskrieg) during World War I.

Her construction was ordered on 15 July 1908 and her keel was laid down by Kaiserliche Werft in Danzig.

She was launched on 22 February 1910 and commissioned on 18 April 1910.

On 16 July 1914, the crew of U-9 reloaded her torpedo tubes while submerged, the first time any submarine had succeeded in doing so.

On 1 August 1914, Kapitänleutnant Otto Weddigen took command.

On 22 September, while patrolling the Broad Fourteens, in the southern North Sea, U-9 found a squadron of three obsolescent British Cressy-class armoured cruisers.

(HMS Aboukir, HMS Hogue, and HMS Cressy, were sardonically nicknamed the "Live Bait Squadron").

They had been assigned to prevent German surface vessels from entering the eastern end of the English Channel.

She fired four of her torpedoes, reloading while submerged, and sank all three in less than an hour.

1,459 British sailors died. It was one of the most notable submarine actions of all time.

Members of the Admiralty who had considered submarines mere toys no longer expressed that opinion after this event.

On 15 October, U-9 sank the protected cruiser HMS Hawke.

On 12 January 1915, Johannes Spieß relieved Weddigen, and commanded U-9 until 19 April 1916.

During this period, she sank 13 ships totalling 8,635 GRT: 10 small fishing vessels and three British steamers (Don, Queen Wilhelmina and Serbino).

After April 1916, she was withdrawn from front-line duties to be used for training.

She was Surrendered 26 November 1918 and broken up at Morecambe in 1919.

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