SM U-8

U-8 in harbour. Note the upper rudder on the deck
History
German Empire
NameU-8
Ordered8 April 1908
BuilderGermaniawerft, Kiel
Cost2,540,000 Goldmark
Yard number150
Laid down19 May 1909
Launched14 March 1911
Commissioned18 June 1911
FateSunk on 4 March 1915
General characteristics
Class & typeType U 5 submarine
Displacement
  • 505 t (497 long tons) surfaced
  • 636 t (626 long tons) submerged
Length
Beam
  • 5.60 m (18 ft 4 in) (o/a)
  • 3.75 m (12 ft 4 in) (pressure hull)
Draught3.55 m (11 ft 8 in)
Propulsion
  • 2 shafts
  • 2 × Körting 6-cylinder and 2 × Körting 8-cylinder two stroke paraffin motors with 900 PS (660 kW; 890 shp)
  • 2 × SSW electric motors with 1,040 PS (760 kW; 1,030 shp)
  • 550 rpm surfaced
  • 600 rpm submerged
Speed
  • 13.4 knots (24.8 km/h; 15.4 mph) surfaced
  • 10.2 knots (18.9 km/h; 11.7 mph) submerged
Range3,300 nmi (6,100 km; 3,800 mi) at 9 knots (17 km/h; 10 mph)
Test depth30 m (98 ft)
Boats & landing
craft carried
1 dinghy
Complement4 officers, 25 men
Armament
Service record
Part of
  • I Flotilla
  • 1 August 1914 – 4 March 1915
Commanders
  • Kptlt. Konrad Gansser
  • 1–31 August 1914
  • Kptlt. Alfred Stoß
  • 1 September 1914 – 4 March 1915
Operations1 patrol
Victories5 merchant ships sunk
(15,049 GRT)

SM U-8 was one of 329 U-boatss which served in the Imperial German Navy during World War I.

A Type U 5 submarine, she was built at Germaniawerft in Kiel between 1909 and 1911. The boat was launched on 14 March 1911 and commissioned into the Navy on 18 June. The boat was scuttled in the English Channel in March 1915.