SM U-109

SM U-109 was a Type U 93 submarine of the Imperial German Navy in World War I, taking part in the First Battle of the Atlantic. The building contract was confirmed 5 May 1916, and was awarded to Germaniawerft, Kiel. A Type 93 boat, she was launched 25 September 1917 and commissioned 7 November. She was under the command of Otto Ney. On 28 January 1918, she was sunk in the English Channel, possibly by a mine, while diving to avoid ships from the Dover Patrol (particularly drifter H.M. Beryl III). She sank no ships.

Design
Type U 93 submarines were preceded by the shorter Type U 87 submarines. U-109 had a displacement of 798 t when at the surface and 1000 t while submerged. She had a total length of 71.55 m, a pressure hull length of 56.05 m, a beam of 6.30 m, a height of 8.25 m, and a draught of 3.90 m. The submarine was powered by two 2400 PS engines for use while surfaced, and two 1200 PS engines for use while submerged. She had two propeller shafts and two 1.70 m propellers. She was capable of operating at depths of up to 50 m.

The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 16.4 kn and a maximum submerged speed of 8.4 kn. When submerged, she could operate for 50 nmi at 5 kn; when surfaced, she could travel 9280 nmi at 8 kn. U-109 was fitted with six 50 cm torpedo tubes (four at the bow and two at the stern), twelve to sixteen torpedoes, one 10.5 cm SK L/45 deck gun, and one 8.8 cm SK L/30 deck gun. She had a complement of thirty-six (thirty-two crew members and four officers).