SM U-87 facts for kids

Quick facts for kids History
German Empire
Name	U-87
Ordered	23 June 1915
Builder	Kaiserliche Werft Danzig
Yard number	31
Laid down	28 October 1915
Launched	22 May 1916
Commissioned	26 February 1917
Fate	Sunk 25 December 1917
General characteristics
Class and type	German Type U 87 submarine
Displacement	757 t (745 long tons) surfaced 998 t (982 long tons) submerged
Length	65.80 m (215 ft 11 in) (o/a) 50.07 m (164 ft 3 in) (pressure hull)
Beam	6.20 m (20 ft 4 in) (oa) 4.18 m (13 ft 9 in) (pressure hull)
Height	9.35 m (30 ft 8 in)
Draught	3.88 m (12 ft 9 in)
Installed power	2 × 2,400 PS (1,765 kW; 2,367 shp) surfaced 2 × 1,200 PS (883 kW; 1,184 shp) submerged
Propulsion	2 shafts, 2 × 1.66 m (5 ft 5 in) propellers
Speed	15.6 knots (28.9 km/h; 18.0 mph) surfaced 8.6 knots (15.9 km/h; 9.9 mph) submerged
Range	11,380 nmi (21,080 km; 13,100 mi) at 8 knots (15 km/h; 9.2 mph) surfaced 56 nmi (104 km; 64 mi) at 5 knots (9.3 km/h; 5.8 mph) submerged
Test depth	50 m (160 ft)
Complement	4 officers, 32 enlisted
Armament	4 × 50 cm (19.7 in) torpedo tubes (two bow, two stern) 10-12 torpedoes 1 × 10.5 cm (4.1 in) SK L/45 deck gun 1 × 8.8 cm (3.5 in) SK L/30 deck gun
Service record
Part of:	Imperial German Navy III Flotilla 24 April – 25 December 1917
Commanders:	Kptlt. Rudolf Schneider 26 February – 13 October 1917 Kptlt. Freiherr Rudolf von Speth-Schülzburg 13 October – 25 December 1917
Operations:	5 patrols
Victories:	23 merchant ships sunk (59,884 GRT) 2 merchant ships damaged (7,638 GRT)

SM U-87 was a submarine that served in the German Navy during World War I. The "SM" stands for "Seiner Majestät," which means "His Majesty's" in German. So, her full name means "His Majesty's Submarine U-87."

U-87 was involved in naval battles, especially during the First Battle of the Atlantic. She sank many cargo ships. On December 25, 1917, the British ship HMS Buttercup hit U-87 in the Irish Sea. Then, another British ship, HMS P.56, finished sinking her. Sadly, all 44 crew members of U-87 were lost.

Submarine Design and Features

The U-87 was the first of its kind, part of the German Type U 87 submarine class. These submarines were an improvement over earlier models.

When on the surface, U-87 weighed about 757 tons. When underwater, she weighed 998 tons. The submarine was about 65.80 meters (215 feet) long overall. Her strong inner hull, called the pressure hull, was 50.07 meters (164 feet) long.

Size and Shape

U-87 was 6.20 meters (20 feet) wide and 9.35 meters (30 feet) tall. Her draught, which is how deep she sat in the water, was 3.88 meters (12 feet).

Engines and Speed

The submarine had two powerful engines for moving on the surface. They produced 2,400 horsepower. For underwater travel, she used two electric engines that made 1,200 horsepower. These engines powered two propellers.

U-87 could travel at 15.6 knots (about 28.9 km/h) on the surface. Underwater, her top speed was 8.6 knots (about 15.9 km/h). She could travel about 11,380 nautical miles (21,076 km) on the surface at a slower speed of 8 knots. Underwater, she could go 56 nautical miles (104 km) at 5 knots. The submarine could dive to a depth of 50 meters (164 feet).

Weapons and Crew

U-87 was armed with four torpedo tubes. Two were at the front (bow) and two were at the back (stern). She carried 10 to 12 torpedoes. For fighting on the surface, she had two deck guns: one 10.5 cm (4.1 inch) gun and one 8.8 cm (3.5 inch) gun. A crew of 36 people operated the submarine. This included four officers and 32 other crew members.

Ships Sunk by U-87

U-87 went on 5 patrols during its service. During these patrols, it sank 23 merchant ships and damaged 2 others. Here is a list of the ships she attacked:

Date	Name	Nationality	Tonnage	Fate
23 May 1917	Bernisse	Netherlands	951	Damaged
23 May 1917	Elve	Netherlands	962	Sunk
26 May 1917	Lucipara	Russia	1,943	Sunk
26 May 1917	Saint Mirren	United Kingdom	1,956	Sunk
30 May 1917	Bathurst	United Kingdom	2,821	Sunk
30 May 1917	Hanley	United Kingdom	3,331	Sunk
2 June 1917	Eliofilo	Italy	3,583	Sunk
2 June 1917	Mississippi	France	6,687	Damaged
4 July 1917	Loch Katrine	United Kingdom	151	Sunk
8 July 1917	Valetta	United Kingdom	5,871	Sunk
10 July 1917	Seang Choon	United Kingdom	5,807	Sunk
11 July 1917	Kioto	United Kingdom	6,182	Sunk
12 July 1917	Castleton	United Kingdom	2,395	Sunk
16 July 1917	Tamele	United Kingdom	3,932	Sunk
19 July 1917	Artensis	Norway	1,788	Sunk
21 July 1917	Coniston Water	United Kingdom	3,738	Sunk
19 August 1917	Eika II	Norway	1,268	Sunk
21 August 1917	Oslo	United Kingdom	2,296	Sunk
22 August 1917	Alexander Shukoff	Denmark	1,652	Sunk
27 August 1917	Anna	Denmark	1,211	Sunk
27 August 1917	Aurora	Denmark	768	Sunk
13 December 1917	Little Gem	United Kingdom	114	Sunk
24 December 1917	Daybreak	United Kingdom	3,238	Sunk
25 December 1917	Agberi	United Kingdom	4,821	Sunk

Discovery of the Wreck

In August 2017, scientists from Bangor University in Wales found the sunken remains of U-87. They were using special sonar equipment called multibeam surveys. This discovery happened about 10 miles northwest of Bardsey Island.

The sonar images show that the wreck is mostly in one piece. However, there is a large damaged area near the conning tower. This damage was likely caused when the British escort ship P.56 hit U-87 during the battle.