SM U-77


SM U-77 was one of 329 submarines serving in the Imperial German Navy in World War I, engaged in commerce warfare during the First Battle of the Atlantic.

Design

Type UE I submarines were preceded by the longer Type U 66 submarines. U-77 had a displacement of when at the surface and while submerged. She had a total length of, a pressure hull length of, a beam of, a height of, and a draught of. The submarine was powered by two engines for use while surfaced, and two engines for use while submerged. She had two propeller shafts. She was capable of operating at depths of up to.
The submarine had a maximum surface speed of and a maximum submerged speed of. When submerged, she could operate for at ; when surfaced, she could travel at. U-77 was fitted with two torpedo tubes, four torpedoes, and one deck gun. She had a complement of thirty-two.

Operations

U-77 was commanded by Kaptlt Erich Günzel, who was lost with her. She came off the stocks at Hamburg in 1916; in May and June was at Kiel School, and first entered North Sea with U-76 on 29 June, to join the 1st Half Flotilla.

Previously recorded fate

U-77 was thought to have sunk off Dunbar, Scotland in May 1916 as a result of a mine handling accident. The submarine involved was actually U-74.