SM U-78
Introduction '''SM ''U-78''''' was one of the 329 submarines serving in the Imperial German Navy in World Wa''r I''. ''U-78'' was engaged in the naval warfare and took part in the First Battle of the Atlantic as a minelayer. On 27 October 1918 low frequency communications from ''U-78 i''n the Skagerrak 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. 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. 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 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. 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 DateNameNationalityTonnageFate16 July 1916''Vidar''2,178Captured as prize5 August 1916''Aranda''1,838Sunk2 September 1916''Kelvinia''5,039Sunk26 September 1916HMT ''Loch Shiel''216Sunk21 October 1916''Atle Jarl''1,249Captured as prize16 November 1916''Vega''1,204Sunk13 December 1916''Kursk''7,869Damaged7 February 1917''Väring''2,107Sunk13 February 1917''Barnsley''144Sunk15 February 1917''Stralsund''510Sunk3 March 1917''Meldon''2,514Sunk2 April 1917''Sagitta''1,981Sunk2 April 1917HMS ''Tithonus''3,463Damaged4 April 1917''Vladimir Reitz''2,128Sunk5 April 1917''Bris''101Sunk7 April 1917HMS ''Jason''810Sunk13 April 1917''Strathcona''1,881Sunk14 April 1917''Andromache''313Sunk19 April 1917HMT ''Lobelia''184Sunk17 June 1917''Fornebo''4,259Sunk13 December 1917''Arnewood''2,259Sunk
See also *Room 40
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. ** Room 40:  original documents, photos and maps about World War I German submarine warfare and British Room 40 Intelligence from The National Archives, Kew, Richmond, UK. * Danish diver found U-78, Jyllands-Posten. Video of discovery