SM U-80

SM U-80 was one of the 329 submarines serving in the Imperial German Navy in World War I. U-80 was engaged in the naval warfare and took part in the First Battle of the Atlantic.

U-80 is credited for sinking the SS Laurentic (1908), the 24th largest ship sunk in World War I by U-boats, at. She struck two mines laid by U-80 off Malin Head, and sank within one hour. She went down with 345 casualties, and 35 tons of gold ingots. U-80 is also credited with damaging the 6th largest ship, the RMS Celtic (1901), at, 15 February 1917 at 53.95°N, -4.66667°W. Celtic would be torpedoed later in the war by SMU UB-77, but was beached and later salvaged.

U-80 was surrendered to the Allies at Harwich on 16 January 1919 in accordance with the requirements of the Armistice with Germany. She was sold by the British Admiralty to George Cohen on 3 March 1919 for £2,300 (excluding engines), and was broken up at Swansea.

Design
Type UE I submarines were preceded by the longer Type U 66 submarines. U-80 had a displacement of 755 t when at the surface and 832 t while submerged. She had a total length of 56.80 m, a pressure hull length of 46.66 m, a beam of 5.90 m, a height of 8.25 m, and a draught of 4.86 m. The submarine was powered by two 900 PS engines for use while surfaced, and two 900 PS engines for use while submerged. She had two propeller shafts. She was capable of operating at depths of up to 50 m.

The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 9.9 kn and a maximum submerged speed of 7.9 kn. When submerged, she could operate for 83 nmi at 4 kn; when surfaced, she could travel 7880 nmi at 7 kn. U-80 was fitted with two 50 cm torpedo tubes (one at the port bow and one starboard stern), four torpedoes, and one 8.8 cm SK L/30 deck gun. She had a complement of thirty-two (twenty-eight crew members and four officers).