1 1915
1.1 operations @ dardanelles
1.2 pola flotilla
1.3 war on commerce
1.4 ancona incident
1915
operations @ dardanelles
in april 1915, imperial german navy sent first submarines mediterranean in response anglo-french dardanelles campaign, after became obvious austro-hungarian allies little against small submarine force, nevertheless successful in defending adriatic.
the first u-boat sent—u-21—achieved initial success, sinking royal navy predreadnought battleships hms triumph , majestic on 25 , 27 may respectively on way constantinople, ran severe limitations in dardanelles, swarms of small craft , extensive anti-submarine netting , booms restricted movements. in addition, germans dispatched number of ub , uc type boats; these sent in sections rail pola assembled transit constantinople. 1 lost, end of 1915 germans had established force of 7 u-boats @ constantinople, misleadingly named mediterranean u-boat division.
the pola flotilla
at same time, germans determined establish force in adriatic open commerce war against allied trade in mediterranean.
by end of june 1915, germans had assembled further 3 pre-fabricated type ub submarines @ pola in istria, 2 of them intended transfer austrian navy. assembling 3 type uc minelaying submarines, ordered converted transports carry small quantities of critical supplies turkey. however, ub submarines hindered short operational range , dardanelles currents, , in july u-21—the u-boat decent operating range—was damaged mine , confined constantinople.
on 21 july, ocean-going submarines u-34 , u-35 detached service in baltic , sent cattaro (in present-day montenegro), germans deciding make use of austrian bases rather constantinople, since there better supply , repair facilities in adriatic , avoided submarines having negotiate dangerous passage through dardanelles. in august, u-33 , u-39 joined german flotilla stationed @ cattaro, following pleas german military attaché in constantinople, reported royal navy s close naval support inflicting heavy losses on turkish forces @ gallipoli beachheads.
the war on commerce
the mediterranean attractive theatre of operations german admiralstab s war on allied commerce; significant proportion of british imports passed through it, critical french , italian trade, , submarines able operate in in northern-hemisphere autumn , winter, when poor weather hampered naval operations in atlantic , north sea. additionally, there choke points through shipping had pass, such suez canal, malta, crete, , gibraltar. finally, mediterranean offered advantage fewer neutral ships encountered, such u.s. vessels, , fewer american citizens travelled waters.
the german campaign in mediterranean agreed have begun in october 1915, when u-33 , u-39, followed later u-35, ordered attack approaches salonika , kavalla. month, 18 ships sunk, total of 63,848 long tons (64,873 t). decided same month further reinforcements called for, , further large u-boat—u-38—sailed cattaro. since germany not yet @ war italy, though austria was, german submarines ordered refrain attacking italian shipping in eastern mediterranean italians might expect hostile action german submarines. when operating in west, line of cape matapan, german u-boats flew austrian flag, , sinking without warning policy adopted, since large merchant ships attacked on suspicion of being transports or auxiliary cruisers.
the german admiralty decided type ub ii submarine ideal mediterranean service. since these large shipped in sections rail pola type ub i, materials construction , german workers assemble them sent instead. meant shortage of workers complete u-boats service in home waters, seemed justified successes in mediterranean in november, when 44 ships sunk, total of 155,882 long tons (158,383 t). total in december fell 17 ships (73,741 long tons (74,924 t)) still on ½ total tonnage sunk in theaters of operation @ time.
the ancona incident
in november 1915, u-38—sailing under austrian flag , commanded kapitanleutnant (k/l) max valentiner—caused diplomatic incident when sank italian passenger liner ss ancona off coast of tunisia. ancona—bound messina new york city—was booked , on 200 lives lost, including 9 americans. coming did 6 months after sinking of british liner rms lusitania off ireland, ancona incident added growing outrage in u.s. on unrestricted submarine warfare, , u.s. secretary of state robert lansing despatched sternly-worded protest vienna.
in december 1915, valentiner caused further outrage when sank passenger liner ss persia without warning. 343 lives lost.
in further incident in march 1916, german minelayer uc-12 blown own mines while laying mine field off taranto harbor. italian divers inspected wreck , established identity. knowledge germany—technically ally—was assiduously mining naval bases contributing factor in italy’s decision in may 1916 declare war on germany.
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