SM U-93

SM U-93 was one of the 329 submarines serving in the Imperial German Navy in World War I. U-93 was engaged in the naval warfare and took part in the First Battle of the Atlantic.

Design
Type U 93 submarines were preceded by the shorter Type U 87 submarines. U-93 had a displacement of 838 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 3.94 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 16.8 kn and a maximum submerged speed of 8.6 kn. When submerged, she could operate for 52 nmi at 5 kn; when surfaced, she could travel 9020 nmi at 8 kn. U-93 was fitted with six 50 cm torpedo tubes (four at the bow and two at the stern), twelve to sixteen torpedoes, and one 8.8 cm SK L/30 deck gun. She had a complement of thirty-six (thirty-two crew members and four officers).

Operational history
After February 1917 she was commanded by the late author of books (e.g. U boat 202. The war diary of a German submarine, 1919) and experienced submarine commander Edgar von Spiegel von und zu Peckelsheim

On 30 April 1917 about 180 nmi south of Ireland, in the Atlantic, U-93 attacked HMS Prize, a three-masted topsail schooner (one of the Q ships) commanded by Lieutenant William Edward Sanders (who received a Victoria Cross for the action). HMS Prize was damaged by shellfire. After the 'panic party' had taken to the boats and the ship appeared to be sinking, the U-boat approached to within 80 yds of her port quarter, whereupon the White Ensign was hoisted and the Prize opened fire.

Within a few minutes the submarine was on fire and her bows rose in the air, whilst the Prize was further damaged. The U-boat disappeared from sight, and was believed to have been sunk by the crew of the Prize and by several of the German crew (including her captain) who had been blown or jumped into the sea.

Neither of the crippled ships had sunk, with the Prize being towed in flames back to Kinsale, while the U-93 struggled back to the Sylt nine days later after a dramatic escape effort through the British mine and destroyer barrages off Dover.

U 93 after repairs operated in the English channel. She was lost to unknown cause off Hardelot, France in January 1918. The wreck was located by divers in 2003.