SM U-41 (Germany)
Introduction '''SM ''U-41''''' was one of the 329 submarines serving in the Imperial German Navy in World War I. ''U-41'' engaged in naval warfare and took part in the First Battle of the Atlantic.
Design German Type U 31 submarines were double-hulled ocean-going submarines similar to Type 23 and Type 27 subs in dimensions and differed only slightly in propulsion and speed. They were considered very good high sea boats with average manoeuvrability and good surface steering. ''U-41'' had an overall length of , her pressure hull was  long. The boat's beam was  (o/a), while the pressure hull measured . Type 31s had a draught of  with a total height of . The boats displaced a total of ;  when surfaced and  when submerged. ''U-41'' was fitted with two Germania 6-cylinder two-stroke diesel engines with a total of  for use on the surface and two Siemens-Schuckert double-acting electric motors with a total of  for underwater use. These engines powered two shafts each with a  propeller, which gave the boat a top surface speed of , and  when submerged. Cruising range was  at  on the surface, and  at  under water. Diving depth was .The U-boat was armed with four  torpedo tubes, two fitted in the bow and two in the stern, and carried 6 torpedoes. Additionally ''U-41'' was equipped in 1915 with one  Uk L/30 deck gun.The boat's complement was 4 officers and 31 enlisted.
Fate After the British heard of the sinking of the ''Anglo-Columbian'' on 23 December,  , a British Q-ship in the guise of the American-flagged merchantman ''Baralong'' set out from Falmouth to present itself as a target.U-41 stopped the  merchantman ''Urbino'' on 24 December about 70 miles from Bishop Rock''.'' ''U-41'' sent a boarding party aboard to inspect the cargo. After finding war material on board, the Germans put the merchant crew off the ship in the lifeboats. ''U-41'' was in the process of sinking ''Urbino'' with gunfire when, "''Baralong",'' arrived on the scene at around 9:45, flying an American flag. ''Baralong'' turned away so that ''U-41'' would be forced to use her diesel engines to catch up, and in doing so be fully surfaced. U-41 signalled ''Baralong'' to send their papers across in a ships boat. The crew of ''Baralong'' went through the motions of preparing a boat, while at same time readying for combat, and in doing so closed the distance to 700 yards and turned so her hidden guns were able to bear. ''Wyandra'' then fired its guns accompanied by rifle fire from Marines onboard. ''U-41'' got off one shell in return before the crew abandoned the deck gun. One of ''Wyandra''s shots hit the submarine's conning tower killing the commander ''Kapitänleutnant''  Hansen and six others. After other hits, ''U-41'' listed then dived but then rose again before sinking - only ''Oberleutnant zur See'' Iwan Crompton (badly wounded) and the helmsman escaping to be picked up along with the 42 from the ''Urbino'' by ''Wyandra''. After Crompton returned to Germany in 1917, he claimed ''Wyandra'' had run down the lifeboat he was in. It was also claimed that the ''Wyandra'' had not struck the American flag before firing which was a violation of the rules of war; while the use of a False Flag was allowed, it was required that a belligerent identify itself before initiating hostilities.The event generated widespread outrage in Germany, especially among ''Kriegsmarine'' officers. The sinking was also commemorated in a propaganda medal designed by the German medallist Karl Goetz.
Summary of raiding history DateNameNationalityTonnageFate2 May 19153,706Sunk2 May 1915''Cruiser''146Sunk2 May 1915''Martaban''148Sunk2 May 1915''Mercury''222Sunk2 May 1915''St. George''215Sunk3 May 1915''Oscar''107Sunk3 May 1915''Roxane''355Captured as prize25 May 1915''Nebraskan''4,409Damaged26 May 1915''Morwenna''1,414Sunk27 May 1915''Cadeby''1,130Sunk28 May 1915''Ethiope''3,794Sunk28 May 1915''Spennymoor''2,733Sunk28 May 1915''Tullochmoor''3,520Sunk29 May 1915''Cysne''623Sunk29 May 1915''Dixiana''3,329Sunk29 May 1915''Glenlee''4,140Sunk16 July 1915''Balva''1,165Sunk17 July 1915''General Radetzky''2,118Sunk24 July 1915''Grangewood''3,422Sunk25 July 1915''Celtic''264Sunk25 July 1915''Cydonia''259Sunk25 July 1915''Emblem''157Sunk25 July 1915''Gadwall''192Sunk25 July 1915''Honoria''179Sunk25 July 1915''Leelenaw''1,923Sunk28 July 19154,248Sunk23 September 1915''Anglo-Colombian''4,792Sunk23 September 1915''Chancellor''4,586Sunk23 September 1915''Hesione''3,363Sunk24 September 1915''Urbino''6,651Sunk
References ===Notes======Citations===
Bibliography **
External links ** Historic England project to research First World War Submarine wrecks *Howell, D; Croce, P (2014)  'UB-41 and UB 75, off Robin Hood's bay: Marine Geophysical Survey Report', Wessex Archaeology* SS Urbino at Wrecksite.eu