SM U-121

History
German Empire
NameU-121
BuilderAG Vulcan, Hamburg
Cost6,177,000 Goldmark
Yard number95
Launched20 September 1918
In service9 March 1919
Fate
  • Surrendered on 9 March 1919 to France
  • Sunk as target off Cherbourg, 1 July 1921
General characteristics [1]
Class and typeType UE II submarine
TypeCoastal minelaying submarine
Displacement
  • 1,164 t (1,146 long tons) surfaced
  • 1,512 t (1,488 long tons) submerged
Length81.52 m (267 ft 5 in) (o/a)
Beam7.42 m (24 ft 4 in)
Height10.16 m (33 ft 4 in)
Draught4.22 m (13 ft 10 in)
Installed power
Propulsion2 shafts, 2 × 1.61 m (5 ft 3 in) propellers
Speed
  • 14.7 knots (27.2 km/h; 16.9 mph) surfaced
  • 7 knots (13 km/h; 8.1 mph) submerged
Range
  • 13,900 nmi (25,700 km; 16,000 mi) at 8 knots (15 km/h; 9.2 mph) surfaced
  • 35 nmi (65 km; 40 mi) at 4.5 knots (8.3 km/h; 5.2 mph) submerged
Test depth75 m (246 ft)
Complement4 officers, 36 enlisted
Armament

SM U-121[Note 1] was a Type UE II long-range minelaying U-boat of the Imperial German Navy intended for service in the Mediterranean. The Austro-Hungarian Navy allocated her the number SM U-84. She was built at Hamburg, Germany, by Aktiengesellschaft Vulcan and launched on 20 September 1918. Incomplete at the Armistice she was never commissioned in the Imperial German Navy but surrendered to the Allies at Harwich on 9 March 1919. Handed over to France, she was sunk as a gunnery target off Cherbourg on 1 July 1921.[2]

References

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Notes

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  1. ^ "SM" stands for "Seiner Majestät" (English: His Majesty's) and combined with the U for Unterseeboot would be translated as His Majesty's Submarine.

Citations

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  1. ^ Gröner 1991, p. 15.
  2. ^ Dodson, Aidan; Cant, Serena (2020). Spoils of War: the fate of enemy fleets after the two World Wars. Barnsley: Seaforth. p. 125. ISBN 978-1-5267-4198-1.

Bibliography

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  • Gröner, Erich; Jung, Dieter; Maass, Martin (1991). U-boats and Mine Warfare Vessels. German Warships 1815–1945. Vol. 2. Translated by Thomas, Keith; Magowan, Rachel. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-593-4.