German Submarine Warfare 1914-1918 in the Eyes - British Naval ...

Table 23: German warships commissioned 1915-1918, numbers 98
Ships Commissioned
1,000
BRT
B C D U* Total
1915 1 4 80 52 137 128
1916 2 5 86 108 201 214
1917 1 1 69 87 158 134
1918 2 59 85 146 109
Total 4 12 294 332 642 585
* all classes
Private merchant submarines 99
The quasi-commercial undertaking of long-range U-Commerce submarines
presaged their use in war. Two of these merchant boats were ordered from Kruppowned
Germania Yard, Kiel, in October, 1915. The U-Deutschland and U-Bremen
(1510 BRT each), were commissioned in May, 1916. The former made two
commercially successful cruises to the United States, generating profits that
exceeded its two million Reichsmark construction costs on the first trip. Six followon
boats were ordered immediately. U-Bremen disappeared without trace, likely the
victim of a sea mine. Following American’s declaration of war in April, 1917 the
boats were armed and taken into Imperial Navy service.
The Scheer-Program from August 1918
When Scheer became Chief of a centralised Imperial Navy he sought to
initiate an immense submarine building program of 450 new boats. Production
would double from sixteen hulls monthly to thirty-two hulls by December, 1919. 100
Moreover, he wanted to standardize boat types. Manufacture of parts would be
done inland for later assembly in shipyards. 101 It was modern, innovative and too
late. Scheer was informed that industrial and shipyard production capabilities were
sufficient to meet his plan but that available labour was insufficient. In 1918, 70,000
workers worked in submarine construction. An additional 40,000–50,000 would be
needed immediately. 102 Scheer demanded 50,000 workers from the Army for a 25%
increase in production and another 70,000 workers for a 70% increase in 1919. The
Army conditionally conceded 40,000 men, “if the situation at the Western front
would allow it.” It was not to be. 103
98 Numbers based on: Groener, Deutsche Kriegsschiffe; and on: Roessler, Ubootbau.
99 Roessler, U-Bootbau, pp. 100-103.
100 Weir, Kaiser's Navy, p. 169.
101 Rössler, Ubootbau, p. 122.
102 Granier, Seekriegsleitung, p. 155.
103 Rössler, Ubootbau, p. 122.
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