SM ''U-78'' was one of the 329

submarine A submarine (or sub) is a watercraft capable of independent operation underwater. It differs from a submersible, which has more limited underwater capability. The term is also sometimes used historically or colloquially to refer to remotely op ...

s serving in the

Imperial German Navy The Imperial German Navy or the Imperial Navy () was the navy of the German Empire, which existed between 1871 and 1919. It grew out of the small Prussian Navy (from 1867 the North German Federal Navy), which was mainly for coast defence. Wilhel ...

in World Wa''r I''. ''U-78'' was engaged in the

naval warfare Naval warfare is combat in and on the sea, the ocean, or any other battlespace involving a major body of water such as a large lake or wide river. Mankind has fought battles on the sea for more than 3,000 years. Even in the interior of large la ...

and took part in the

First Battle of the Atlantic The Atlantic U-boat campaign of World War I (sometimes called the "First Battle of the Atlantic", in reference to the World War II campaign of that name) was the prolonged naval conflict between German submarines and the Allied navies in Atla ...

as a

minelayer A minelayer is any warship, submarine or military aircraft deploying explosive mines. Since World War I the term "minelayer" refers specifically to a naval ship used for deploying naval mines. "Mine planting" was the term for installing controll ...

. On 27 October 1918 low frequency communications from ''U-78 i''n the

Skagerrak The Skagerrak (, , ) is a strait running between the Jutland peninsula of Denmark, the southeast coast of Norway and the west coast of Sweden, connecting the North Sea and the Kattegat sea area through the Danish Straits to the Baltic Sea. The ...

were detected by the British submarine which sank her with the loss of her crew of 40. The commonly listed sinking date of 28 October 1918 is in error. The wreck has been identified in April 2014.

Original documents from Room 40

The following is a verbatim transcription of the recorded activities of SM ''U-78'' known to British Naval Intelligence, Room 40 O.B.:

SM ''U-78''. ''Kptlt.'' Dröscher, later to , but not before May 1917; then ''Kptlt.'' Vollbrecht. Was completed at Hamburg (Vulcan) in May 1916, joined the Kiel School and remained there until the 8th of July, when she went to Wilhelmshaven, and was attached to the 1st Half Flotilla. *11–27 July 1916. Left for the north. By about the 20th had laid 34 mines off
Skerryvore Skerryvore (from the Gaelic ''An Sgeir Mhòr'' meaning "The Great Skerry") is a remote island that lies off the west coast of Scotland, southwest of Tiree. Skerryvore Lighthouse is located on these rocks, built with some difficulty between 18 ...
. On the 23rd she was in action with the armed trawler CHRYSEA off Fair Island. Took 1 Danish S.S. as prize on the day before she returned to Heligoland. *20 August – 12 September 1916. Left, going northabout, for the south of Ireland and laid 34 mines off St. Govan’s Head on the night of the 1/2 September, and on the 27th August had chased S.S. ''FLOREAL'' off the
Butt of Lewis The Butt of Lewis ( gd, Rubha Robhanais) is the most northerly point of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides. The headland, which lies in the North Atlantic, is frequently battered by heavy swells and storms and is marked by the Butt of Lewis Lighthouse ...
. Returned northabout. *18–23 October 1916. Apparently on North Sea patrol. Stopped 6 Scandinavian S.S, allowing them to proceed. On last day out took as prize a Norwegian steamer. *29 October – 22 November 1916. Apparently went to coast of Norway to observe shipping; sank 1 Norwegian steamer. *3–22 February 1917. Laid mines at various points off the west coast of Scotland, going northabout both ways. Sank 1 steamer N. of Ireland, and possibly another N. of the Orkney Islands. *30 March – 19 April 1917. Went north, and watched the traffic on north coast of Ireland. Sand 3 S.S, 2 sailing vessels (6,500 tons). Laid mines in the
Little Minch The Minch ( gd, An Cuan Sgitheanach, ', ', '), also called North Minch, is a strait in north-west Scotland, separating the north-west Highlands and the northern Inner Hebrides from Lewis and Harris in the Outer Hebrides. It was known as ("Scot ...
and Lough Swilly. *29 May – 22 June 1917. Went northabout and laid mines off Inishtrahull, and at points off the N.W. coast of Scotland. Was engaged by HMS ''HELGOLAND'' (a submarine trap) near Tory Island on 9 June. Claimed 5,000 tons sinkings. She asked permission to return by Little Belt, but was told for a special reason she must come in by Nordmands Tief. *27 July – 13 August 1917. Laid mines in Sound of
Islay Islay ( ; gd, Ìle, sco, Ila) is the southernmost island of the Inner Hebrides of Scotland. Known as "The Queen of the Hebrides", it lies in Argyll just south west of Jura, Scotland, Jura and around north of the Northern Irish coast. The isl ...
. Claimed 2,500 tons sinkings. Returned at slow speed owing to failure of port engine. *She was to have gone out again in October 1917 but nothing is known of any cruise, and she was apparently not ready for service before June 1918. *16 June - ? 27 June 1918. Apparently laid mines east of Scotland. *? 14–21 July 1918. Left by the Kattegat, returned by the Bight. Had completed an unknown task in the North Sea by the 18th July. *? 19 August - ? 26 August 1918. In the North Sea. Made no report as to her undertaking, but returned at 3 knots with double motor trouble. *24 September – 1 October 1918. Laid mines on the east coast of Scotland. *About the end of October 1918 she left to lay mines in the North Sea and was sunk by HM submarine ''G2'' in " Note: S.S. = Steam Ship; S.V. = Sailing Vessel; northabout, Muckle Flugga, Fair I. = around Scotland; Sound, Belts, Kattegat = via North of Denmark to/from German Baltic ports; Bight = to/from German North Sea ports; success = sinking of ships

Summary of raiding history

References

Notes

Citations

Bibliography

* * * * * * * *

External links

Photos of cruises of German submarine U-54 in 1916-1918.A 44 min. German film from 1917 about a cruise of the German submarine U-35.
*

original documents, photos and maps about World War I German submarine warfare and British

Intelligence from

The National Archives National archives are central archives maintained by countries. This article contains a list of national archives. Among its more important tasks are to ensure the accessibility and preservation of the information produced by governments, both ...

, Kew, Richmond, UK.
Danish diver found U-78

Jyllands-Posten ''Morgenavisen Jyllands-Posten'' (; English: ''The Morning Newspaper "The Jutland Post"''), commonly shortened to ''Jyllands-Posten'' or ''JP'', is a Danish daily broadsheet newspaper. It is based in Aarhus C, Jutland, and with a weekday circulat ...

Video of discovery
{{DEFAULTSORT:U0078 World War I submarines of Germany 1915 ships U-boats commissioned in 1916 Ships built in Hamburg U-boats sunk in 1918 U-boats sunk by British submarines German Type UE I submarines Ships lost with all hands Maritime incidents in 1918