SM U-88

SM U-88 was a Type U 87 submarine built for the Imperial German Navy (Kaiserliche Marine) in World War I. U-88 was engaged in the naval warfare and took part in the First Battle of the Atlantic.

U-88 is most notable for sinking and taking with her Kapitänleutnant Walther Schwieger, responsible for sinking the RMS Lusitania when he was commander of SMU U-20 (Germany). The submarine came to an end on 5 September 1917 when she struck a British mine and sank in the North Sea north of Terschelling at 53.95°N, 4.91667°W. Everyone on board U-88 was killed.

Design
Type U 87 submarines were preceded by the shorter Type U 81 submarines. U-88 had a displacement of 757 t when at the surface and 998 t while submerged. She had a total length of 65.80 m, a pressure hull length of 50.07 m, a beam of 6.20 m, a height of 9.35 m, and a draught of 3.88 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. She was capable of operating at depths of up to 50 m.

The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 15.6 kn and a maximum submerged speed of 8.6 kn. When submerged, she could operate for 56 nmi at 5 kn; when surfaced, she could travel 11380 nmi at 8 kn. U-88 was fitted with four 50 cm torpedo tubes (two at the bow and two at the stern), ten to twelve torpedoes, one 10.5 cm SK L/45 deck gun, and probably one 8.8 cm SK L/30 deck gun. She had a complement of thirty-six (thirty-two crew members and four officers).